ELECT
MARION MEYERS
Elect a creative thinker with vision, community passion, and proven leadership
Why Marion
Successful Grant Writer
I’ve been successful attracting over $500K in Regional, Provincial and Federal funding to Scugog over the past few years. This funding enabled Scugog Arts to hire local staff, create space and programs for artists and presenters, grow the free Culture Days festival and bring visitors to Scugog. The return on investment of this funding is exceptional.
Proven Planner
Working for major corporations, small businesses, municipal governments, charitable organizations and community groups, I’ve been responsible for budgets from $5,000 to $20 million. Many of the projects required managing multi-disciple teams, and solving complex problems. My approach using Creative Problem Solving techniques, Program Charters and strategic planning has resulted in strong, unique solutions and business growth.
Dynamic Leadership
Growing Scugog Arts to meet the needs of our community was based on developing more and better programming. This lead to growth from $70K to $350K for arts, culture, and heritage programs in just 6 years. I’ve lead the creation of programs such as the Villages of Scugog murals, Art Waves Podcast, and small town BIG arts festival. Other programs such as Culture Days and Scugog Studio Tour have been enhanced under my direction.
Extensive Community Involvement
It all started with serving on the Utica Hall Board, which lead to joining the Port Perry Agricultural Society. I served on two School Community Councils which lead to being a driving force behind the destination Imagination teams at R.H. Cornish and Port Perry High. Starting my Strategic Planning and Brand Development company lead me to facilitating rebranding for Durham Community Foundation, Durham Economic Development, Scugog Township and Brock Township, which in turn lead me to joining the Board of Durham Community Foundation, and Scugog Township committees and task forces. As a visual artist with a love of live theatre and music I was recruited to join the boards of Theatre on the Ridge and Scugog Council for the Arts (not that they had to twist my arm!)
Team Builder
I’ve led teams in retail operations, national advertising and sales promotion, strategic planning, and brand develpment. As Director of Cosmetic Operations Ontario at Shoppers Drug Mart I lead a team of three with non-direct reports of over 150 and then as Director of Advertising & Sales Promotion I directed the Shoppers Drug Mart Advertising Agency. At Coca-Cola my term as Director of Marketing Works was demanding and rewarding with my team of twelve and six agencies.
Supporting Agricultural Heritage
I’m not a farmer but I sure appreciate the stewardship of our land and the food they provide us. And I applaud how Blackstock Agricultural Society and Port Perry Agricultural Society are inclusive and invite everyone to join their communities at annual fairs. I joined the Port Perry Fair Board because Rod McKay and Robert Smith asked me to help with marketing. And I volunteered for 12 years doing that. I also served on the Durham Federation of Agriculture Steering Committee to produce a feasibility study & business plan for a Durham Region Agriculural Centre. I believe that the Port Perry Fairgrounds are a unique feature of our small town and understand why people want to continue having a public park in town.
Vision for Scugog
A community that truly celebrates our rich culture and history while taking creative and fresh ideas to new levels.
Small-town and Rural Vibe
Respect, maintain and add vitality to our small-town and rural vibe.
The time is now for Scugog to be more than just another small town on a lake surrounded by farms. It seems every small town as a sign for their heritage district. We have a unique heritage to defend, a beautiful landscape, a culture to celebrate and a proximity to Toronto that others envy. Defining our assets from our Grain Elevator to our lake, from theatre to art galleries, craft breweries to farm amrkets, architecture to open spaces, and family-owned and operated businesses and services, and quality local health care, will lead us to a list of what our citizens value, so that all activities, by-laws and services of our town can be measured against respecting these assets.
A Welcoming Community
Establish a Welcoming Community initiative to enhance lifestyles for young families and seniors, and our visitors.
I’ve volunteered at Scugog Arts for years and the organization has a continual mission to engage people, organizations and governments with resources and opportunities, enriching lives through the arts, building diversity and contributing to economic development and cultural tourism. Scugog Arts understands that this is not their work alone. They wish to partner and lead a Welcoming Community Initiative devised by and comprised of other township-wide organizations and businesses. The goal could be to work in tandem so that the initiative partners make active commitments and ongoing efforts to ensure an inclusive welcoming environment for all who come to Scugog to live, work or visit.
Another goal of the project could be to tackle ongoing township-wide matters to foster a cohesive relationship between residents, tourism businesses and the vast arts, culture and heritage community. We could manage this through an ongoing community conversation series.
Arts, Culture & Heritage Plan
Build a cross-sector Arts, Culture and Heritage Plan.
I discovered that the Scugog Strategic Plan is all about the structure of running our municipality and the services that in the past were considered the purview of a town council, the things we need based on an old standard. These buckets of Parks & Recreation, Roads, Animal Control, By-Law, Snow Clearing and Fire Service are all necessary. Yet, they do not cover all areas that make small town and rural life wonderful and Scugog unique. A ten-year Culture Plan could bring our many volunteers, community organizations, businesses and charitable organizations together in a way that would be very powerful. Planning together would build stronger relationships between Council, Township staff and the many community groups we are blessed to have.
Ten-Year Strategic Plan Enhancement
Ensure that arts, culture and heritage are supported in our next ten-year plan. Add vitality to living, working and visiting Scugog as we review By-laws, budgets, programs services and advisory panels. Find more ways to communicate facts on plans for roads, waterfront revitalization, parks and other items of importance to our community.
Scugog’s position in Durham Region
Position Scugog as the vital heritage small town and rural community of Durham Region.
Scugog is in a unique position in this period of growth in Durham Region and the province as a whole. The GTA has lost much of the open space between communities and many family farms while towns have grown to touch each other. Scugog can be THE “small town rural” place in Durham and needs to seek support for this position from our southern neighbors. We can lean into this position!
Creative Thinking In Action
Community projects, thoughtful planning and ideas brought to life
Art Waves Podcast
A Scugog Arts podcast featuring conversations with local arts and culture practitioners. Listen to Featured Episodes Jack Doak Chief Kelly LaRocca Ross Lomas Paula Lishman Chuck Thibeault
Supporting PRIDE
When community groups create events, the Scugog Arts team is always happy to be involved. The PRIDE chairs outside the Scugog Arts Space were created by artists (me included) and the public during Pride in the Park 2026.
Villages of Scugog Murals
You may remember me spearheading the creation of four murals, designed by Jon Colwell, which hung along the east side of the old hardware store. Our landlord at the time, Jack Doak, was very keen to see this happen. When Scugog Arts moved to the Royale LePage building...
Hiring Young People to Work in the Arts
At Scugog Council for the Arts we hire summer student each year with funding from the Canada Summer Jobs program. Each year we'd hire one, and I said "let's hire and train more!" So now we've grown the program and hire and train between five and seven university...
My Story
I moved to the Township of Scugog in 1992 with my husband and two children. My children attended Epsom Public School, R.H. Cornish Public School and Port Perry High School. One has travelled the world for school and work and is completing a PhD at the University of Toronto, while the other returned to Port Perry as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner.
I am an artist member and Board Member of Scugog Arts, where I have served as Past Chair, Programs Chair and Grant Chair. I am also an artist member of the Lake Scugog Studio Tour and a past board member of Theatre on the Ridge.
- Artist member and Board Member (Past-chair, Programs Chair, Grant Chair) Scugog Council for the Arts
- Artist member of Lake Scugog Studio Tour
- You can see my art at Scugog Arts Space or on my website Marion Meyers Art
- Past Board Member of Theatre on the Ridge
Community Service
- Utica Hall Board member, 1993–2000
- School community councils at Epsom Public School and R.H. Cornish Public School, 1997–2000
- Destination Imagination team leader at R.H. Cornish Public School and Port Perry High School, 2000–2006
- Port Perry Agricultural Society Board, 2000–2012
- Durham Community Foundation Board, 2008–2012
- Scugog Council for the Arts volunteer beginning in 2010 and Board Chair from 2015–2026
- Theatre on the Ridge Board, 2013–2026
- Scugog Tourism Advisory Committee, 2018–2022
Community Involvement
- Scugog Women’s Networking Breakfast
- 100 Women Who Care Scugog
- Scugog Chamber of Commerce business member, 2008–2014
- Scugog Studio Tour, 2013–present
- Royal Canadian Legion Port Perry Branch member
Community Projects
- Durham Federation of Agriculture, member of Project Steering Committee to produce feasibility study and business plan for Durham Region Agricultural Centre 2028-2019
- Open Streets Task Force, provided extensive gree facilitation services for Econonic Development Committee 2021
- Scugog Tourism Strategic Plan and Scugog Shore Museum Strategic Plan, active team member
- Sideroads of Scugog advisroy panel and editorial contributor
Career
(the one that paid me!)
Marion has 40 years of experience creating and leading teams and developing and executing strategic marketing and business plans.
Her work has included television, radio, print and outdoor advertising, sales and trade promotions, public relations, websites, social media strategies, fundraising, special events and packaging. She has also created and facilitated training workshops and mentoring programs for the business and education sectors.
Marion specializes in Creative Problem Solving, Brand Building and Project Management.
Creative Infusion | 2000–2020
Artist Booking Agency (2014-2020)
Marion Meyers was booking gigs for a handful of great musicians based in Toronto.
Brand Developer, Strategic Planner (2000-2014)
Provided Brand Development, Strategic Planning Facilitation and Training to various companies, organizations and governments. Clients included Alzheimer’s Society of Durham, Blockbuster, CBC, Carmen Jewellery, Coca-Cola Ltd., Community Foundation of Durham, Compton Communications, The Regional Municipality of Durham, Durham District School Board, Garmaise Investment Technologies, Guardian Capital Management, Oshawa Little Theatre, Scugog Chamber of Commerce, Theatre 3×60, Toronto Military Family Resource Centre, Township of Scugog, Township of Brock, Twist Marketing, Whitby Chamber of Commerce, White Rose, Worldsource Wealth Management and York Region School Board.
Coca-Cola Ltd. (1995 to 1999)
Marketing Works Team Leader, Brand Program Development & Execution
Provided expertise and leadership to flawlessly develop and execute marketing programs grounded in brand and business strategy. Lead various cross functional teams and agencies in the creation of Brand specific, Education and At-Work channel and Occasion Based Marketing consumer promotions, messaging activities, merchandising, radio merchandising, graphics, in-venue events, special events, web sites, field and trade communications, and promotional packaging activities.
Director, Sales Promotion
Recruited, developed and led team of Consumer Sales Promotion and Customer Marketing Managers to create and execute Sales Promotions and merchandising programs for all Coca-Cola Ltd. brands, customer channels and key customers.
Sales Promotion Manager
Created and executed national and regional Brand programs including on-pack promotions, point of sale merchandising, PR campaigns, product launches, package design, web sites, trade and sales communications. Conducted successful negotiations for cross promotion partnerships, sponsorships and prize packages. Provided creative direction for concept brainstorms, concept development, copy writing, photography, illustration and graphic design. Developed new processes for budget control and program management. Led and developed Sales Promotion Co-coordinators. Executed projects in a timely manner and on budget. Managed all aspects of execution on projects with budgets ranging from $5,000 to over $4 million. Created and executed Key Account programs for customers in the Grocery, Drug, Mass Merchandiser and Petroleum channels.
Quadrant Marketing (1993 – 1995)
Account Supervisor
Developed new business clients. Created and executed consumer sales promotions, special events, trade support, system videos, gift with purchase and premium offers and data base marketing programs for consumer packed goods manufacturers and retailers. Developed the objectives, strategies and action plans for national and local programs for clients including Grand & Toy, Radio Shack, Laura Secord, Coca-Cola Ltd., Kraft Canada, Heinz, Hilroy and Carlton Cards. Executed all aspects including budgets, schedules, copy writing, art direction, production and fulfillment.
Shoppers Drug Mart (1977-1993)
Director, Advertising and Promotions (1986 – April 1993)
Created national and regional promotions and events for its chain of over 600 retail stores. Supervised advertising agency as key liaison for company, including all aspects of advertising. Consulted to ad agency to develop advertising strategies and media buys. Worked with various teams to create TV, Radio, Video, Magazine, Newspaper, Point of Purchase, F.S.I., Direct Mail and Outdoor advertising. Negotiated contracts for and managed two controlled distribution magazines, Images and HealthWatch. Created the trademark, “HealthWatch.” Managed the implementation of a new advertising vehicle, in-store radio. Developed and managed the marketing plans for Retail Postal Outlets and Home Health Care Centres within the Shoppers Drug Mart system. Created promotions that built awareness and business for Life Brand and the Cosmetics Departments. Liaison with and directed Public Relations and Merchandising in the areas of promotions and cause related programs. Led teams to develop and execute fund raising programs for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and L.E.A.F. These programs raised $100,000 and $160,000 respectively. Advised senior management on all areas of advertising and promotion. Led and trained Sales Promotion Assistants. Special assignments included Co-Chair of semi-annual Marketing Conferences and “Anchorwoman” of SDMTV.