The recent dismissal of Rosemary Thomson from the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra (OSO), as reported by numerous media outlets like Global BC, has sent shockwaves through the musical world. Her claim of wrongful dismissal and the community’s response have become a focal point in discussions about employment practices in the arts.
Thomson, with nearly 16 years under her baton as the OSO’s music director, faced an abrupt termination six months prior to her planned retirement. This dismissal, according to her, involved a clause in her employment contract that is usually reserved for the worst workplace offences. She argues that she did not engage in any acts of serious misconduct, and that she should not have been fired for cause.
Thomson’s final show, ‘Amplify,’ intended to celebrate BIPOC artists and challenge traditional orchestral norms, seems to be at the heart of the dispute.
Thomson claims she was fired without merit because of allegations relating to the recent OSO concert, which featured “guest artists representing Indigenous cultures and improvisatory traditions outside the OSO’s classical roots.”
“I feel like this whole thing has been really unjust and wrong and I need to stand up for myself.”
“I’m 100 per cent confident that we will prove they did not have cause, which makes them in breach of my contract, and I will be vindicated,” Thomson told the Okanagan Newspaper...
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