The Regent Theatre has announced the appointment of former interim General Manager John Galway to the role of Executive Director.

Mr. Galway replaces Alexandra Seay, who resigned after a five-year term as Artistic Director on December 8.

During a brief stint as a part-time manager of the theatre earlier this year, Mr. Galway helped Ms. Seay to launch the first annual County Adaptation Film Festival by overseeing the theatre’s regular operations.

A 30-year film and media industry veteran, most recently Mr. Galway ran the Harold Greenburg fund at Bell Media, which funded Canadian filmmakers and scriptwriters.

He also founded the Toronto Irish Film Festival, which will mark its 15th anniversary in 2025.

“That’s actually how I came to start working with The Regent,” he says. “For the last couple of years I’ve arranged to screen an Irish film here on St. Patrick’s Day, in part to publicize the Toronto festival.”

Mr. Galway and his wife, Michele Maheux, moved to Hillier from Toronto eight years ago. “That makes me brand new here,” he laughs. The couple keep an apartment in Toronto, “but this is home for us now.” 

“The people here, and the vibrant cultural scene and the food and maker scene — they have all drawn us in.”

Not to mention The Regent.

Ms. Maheux served as Executive Director & COO of the Toronto International Film Festival for more than 25 years, overseeing its transformation from a provincial outpost to one of five or six of the most important film festivals around the world. Now retired, she is an executive career coach and consultant. 

Both Mr. Galway and Ms. Maheux served on the County Adaptation Film Festival Advisory Committee last year. Mr. Galway left the Advisory when he was recruited as a part-time GM.

At that time, he was juggling multiple commitments — running the Producers Lab for the Whistler Film Festival, helping with the Ontario Screen Creators Conference in London, Ontario, and wrapping up production on a documentary feature film called Give Me Some Truth.

He was thrilled to see the job ad in the Gazette last month advertising a full-time leadership position. “That’s the kind of role where you can really dig in deep,” he said. “I am looking forward to helping make The Regent everything it can be over the next few years, building on its clear and important role as a community hub and one of the anchors of Main Street.”

“I already know the Regent has an excellent and incredibly enthusiastic staff and volunteer contingent. Together, we are keen to expand its offerings as well as work with other arts organizations, filmmakers and musicians.”

“I see all kinds of ways in which we can grow our audience and have people come to the theatre more often. One of the unique things about The Regent is that it can host a variety of performance forms — live music, theatre, comedy, and, of course, all kinds of film.”

“I look forward to reaching out to existing and new community partners like County Arts, County Stage, the Jazz Festival, BigLake Arts — there are many others.

“We are all so dedicated to building community here in the County, collaboration is top of mind for me as it benefits us all. Sharing our audiences, resources, and talent just seems to make sense.”

“Our community partners, including The Royal, the wineries, the new Bay of Quinte Film Office and Visit the County – among others – came together to launch CAFF, our fledgling film festival. We want to ensure CAFF continues to earn its place in the County’s annual calendar of events with the help of all these great partners.”

Isabel Gomez-Moriana, a member of The Regent’s Board of Directors, noted, “John established an excellent rapport with staff during his time here. We are really lucky that a person of John’s expertise, and so well respected in the film industry, was able to take on a full-time role.”

“I know I speak for all of the staff of the Regent as well as the Board when I say we could not be more pleased.”