The City's Employee Spotlight series recognizes and celebrates our people and the great work they do serving the residents of Thunder Bay.
Employee Spotlight: Caitlyn McMillan
Anyone who has visited the third floor of City Hall in Thunder Bay might recall a large oil painting of a mother nursing her infant. Maternity was bequeathed to the City of Thunder Bay by Mary Riter Hamilton, in honour of her late husband and stillborn child whom she lost in her mid-20s while establishing a life in Port Arthur. The loss led Mary to become a professional artist, and she went on to study art and travel extensively including enduring harrowing conditions abroad to produce the largest known collection of First World War art.
Caitlyn McMillan’s position as Cultural Development & Public Art Coordinator with the City of Thunder Bay emphasizes the significance of such relevant artworks in the City’s collection, which recently saw Dr. Laura Lewis, an Associate Professor at the Kings School of Social Work, visit City Hall to study the painting for a legacy paper on Mary Riter-Hamilton.
“Art has real tangible value and is an asset that appreciates over time, and the City owns a considerable collection, much of it touching on our history and culture or having some type of connection to our city and region,” says Caitlyn. “Part of my job is help raise awareness and appreciation of local art and artists in the community and beyond.”
Caitlyn, an artist herself, began working at the City in April 2025 after returning to Thunder Bay, where she had previously lived and worked while studying Fine Art at Lakehead University from 2004 to 2008.
“I love Thunder Bay—the people and places, the wilderness and the lake; we are surrounded by inspiration here,” she says. “Without a doubt, Thunder Bay is home, and that’s not about to change—even with all this snow.”
The experience of studying art and working in art galleries, as well as running her own art business that provided programming to introduce and mentor artists of all ages provides Caitlyn with helpful insight that she applies in her current role. She describes her time thus far on the job as busy, juggling internal and public art projects, the Arts & Heritage Awards, Culture Days, and activating the Baggage Building, while collaborating with community groups to support cultural elements in special events and advancing the City’s Culture Plan to “Create. Connect. Grow.”
“There’s a lot happening right now. Things are always evolving at the City, so there’s a lot to catch up on with where we’re at and where we want to be in terms of our art inventory and awareness projects, while also planning for upcoming Call to Artists, including Victoriaville Re-Imagined.”
Overall, Caitlyn sees a growing interest in art, and she aims to ensure that it remains accessible and user-friendly for everyone, and that people understand its importance.
“Art can be life-changing, especially as a balance to today’s fast-paced world and short attention spans. It offers a chance to slow down, explore, and express ourselves in a meaningful way,” she says. “And, on a deeper level, art is therapeutic. I’m a strong believer that it is one of the most effective healing tools available. It can be fun and creative, and an opportunity to freely express oneself beyond words.”
To learn more about the City of Thunder Bay’s art collection, visit City Art Collection online or contact Caitlyn directly at caitlyn.mcmillan@thunderbay.ca.
Employees are encouraged to nominate a colleague for an upcoming Spotlight and help shine a light on the great work underway at the City.
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