Evaluation all all nominations and applications for Foundation Awards is done by an independent jury of arts professionals. Our jury process, reviewed by Canada Council in 2009 strives  to offer all artists a fair and impartial adjudication process.

The 2009 Strathbutler and Nel Oudemans jury members

 Hugh French

Hugh French is the director and co-founder of the Tides Institute and Museum of Art in Eastport. The institute is an innovative cultural center which combines a mixture of cultural resources (museum, research, art production facilities and workshops) with regional renewal. Located on the Maine/New Brunswick border, the institute focuses on the region's broader Canadian-American relationships, working as much in Canada as in the United States. His current work has lead him to champion international art exchanges working with provincial, state and national governments. In 2007-8 he initiated exchange exhibitions bringing Maine sculptor, Bernard Langlais to NB and Strathbutler winner and printemaker Dan Steeves, to Maine. Prior to his work in Eastport, Hugh was involved for 19 years with the establishment of the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies in Portland, and departed in 2001 as associate director. He holds a master's degree in history from the University of New Brunswick.

Irene Klar

 Irene Klar was born in Montreal in 1950. She holds degrees in Physical Therapy and Science from McGill University (1971, 1972) and a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Alberta in 1977. She has lived in Alberta since 1973. Irene Klar taught watercolours at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Extension 1978 - 1987 and lectured in Art History at Grant McEwan Community College in 1978.

People, their textiles, pattern decoration and colours serve as inspiration for Irene Klar. Her interest in universal design elements has taken her on far reaching travels: from Alaska to Australia, from Guatemala and Peru to Morocco and South Africa. These themes are incorporated into her paintings and prints, which are full of the intense colours of the marketplaces.

Irene Klar was commissioned to do paintings for the Amnesty International Canada 1993 calendar and the 1994 Amnesty USA pocket calendar. In 1998, Irene Klar created an image for a poster in support of the Trans-Canada Trail. USC commissioned a serigraph for women's projects in Africa and Asia. In 2008, she illustrated the children's book "Nine Minutes" published by Yeowon Media in Korea. The National American Indian Heritage Month poster, November 2008, in Washington, DC features her artwork.

Her paintings and original prints are represented in galleries in Canada and the United States. In addition, Irene Klar Studio has an extensive line of gifts including stationery and textiles.

Ron Shuebrook

Ron Shuebrook’s work both as an artist and an academic recommend him highly for the role of a juror for the Strathbutler Award. Formerly President and Vice President Academic of Ontario College of Art and Design, he led the College to the acquisition of degree granting status in 2002 and the $43 million renewal of the Toronto campus that included the innovative Sharp Centre for Design by Sterling Prize winning architect, Will Alsop, in 2005.Shuebrook also received an honorary doctorate from OCAD in 2005 for his contribution to art and education in Canada. Upon retirement from OCAD in 2008, he was designated a Professor Emeritus. He is also past President of the Royal Canadian Academy of Art and former President of the Universities Art Association of Canada. Ron is a prolific artist whose paintings, drawings and constructions have been exhibited regionally, nationally and internationally. His work displays a sustained concern with the critically expressive opportunities for abstraction as well as a respect for rigorously organized formal elements. His work is collected widely both privately and in such public institutions as the National Gallery of Canada, Art Gallery of Ontario, the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.