Meeting Place
CORNEIL BYL
Corneil says he is “ambidextrous” when it comes to using both sides of his brain. By day, you can find him crunching equations and working out structural designs as a civil engineer in training. In his free time, you will find him engaged in one of his artistic passions, which include photography, composing and playing music, and drawing and painting. Growing up in rural Ontario as the oldest of five, Corneil began snapping images of anything that moved—or didn’t move—around his family’s property at an early age, igniting an interest in photography that would develop and thrive to this day. Turn to page 8 to see his glorious photo essay, Spring in Bloom.
MARIA JORDAN MACKEIGAN
Born in Mexico, Maria and her family moved to the United States when she was 11. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in business management; she then earned her master’s in elementary education and taught second grade. In 2006, she married her soulmate Greg and moved to Canada. They now have two daughters: Ana Maria, nine, and Jordan Grace, three, who is “living the beauty of Down syndrome” and is the subject of this issue’s Cause for Applause on page 28.
TIMOTHY MOHAN
Within the art community, he is known simply as Mohan. Self-taught and colour blind, he combines a variety of artistic skills honed over the years into striking visuals with incredible depth and detail. Photography, painting, drawing and airbrush all come into play to create a multi-faceted, cohesive whole. Of Métis descent, Mohan grew up along the shores of Georgian Bay, and has always been inspired by his surroundings—and music. His work has been described as a merger of vibrant colour and spiritual energy; yet, at the same time, it’s very soothing and calming. Find out more in Showcase on page 38.
BRIAN C. MERRITT
Born in England in 1933, Brian attended school there, and served as an engineering officer in the British merchant navy, before immigrating to Montreal in 1973. He moved to Ontario in 1979, where he pursued a career in engineering services and quality management systems. After retiring from Westinghouse in 1993, Brian was self-employed as a consultant in quality management training and auditing until 1999. He and wife Elizabeth, who make their home in Grimsby, Ont., are the proud parents of two children and grandparents of two grandchildren. Brian’s hobbies include writing, painting and boating. Brian is our first Birds and Blooms contributor, turn to page 42 to read his story.