Former head of local museum suing for wrongful dismissal, defamation

Museum alleges she overpaid herself, but Barbara Doyle says pay was transparent, reported to council

The former managing director of Kawartha Lakes Museum & Archives (formerly the Olde Gaol Museum) has filed a wrongful dismissal and defamation suit against the museum and the members of the board of directors at that time.

Doyle – a former NDP candidate who has run for both the provincial and federal wings of the party – says she was placed on a temporary layoff on Oct. 1, 2025, “due to financial constraints facing the organization.”

She was later terminated “for cause” on Nov. 17, 2025, “and I am challenging that decision in court.”

Doyle says the records and meeting at the time clearly reflected a financial layoff. “It was framed as temporary until grant reimbursement funds were received,” she tells Kawartha Lakes Weekly.

She alleges the reasons for her dismissal “shifted after the fact,” stating that the allegations made against her “have caused significant harm to my professional reputation.”

In the museum’s statement of defence, it declares that during Doyle’s layoff – which resulted from a shortage of funds to pay any employee salaries – the board “conducted an internal investigation into the mismanagement of the KLMA finances, including the negligence and misconduct of Ms. Doyle in her position as Managing Director of KLMA.”

The statement of defence notes the investigation was performed internally by the board during late September and October 2025, whereupon “the Board concluded that Ms. Doyle’s actions and omissions as the Managing Director of the KLMA were intentionally deceptive and dishonest, or alternatively, grossly negligent, causing the KLMA significant and irreparable damage, and constituted just cause to terminate Ms. Doyle’s employment without further notice or payment.”

Doyle was at the museum from 2018 to 2025, serving in both volunteer and paid capacities, ultimately as managing director from 2022-2025.

She says she led a period of significant expansion and improvements for the museum including securing more than $2 million in grant funding.

“I dispute any claims of wrongdoing and maintain that compensation and financial records were transparent and accessible,” she says, saying the impact of the allegations has been significant, both professionally and personally.

“It has been difficult. I did draw EI but have also had to rely on some family support when my savings ran out,” she said.

Kawartha Lakes Weekly also reached out to Kawartha Lakes Museum & Archives directly for comment.

Kristina Miethner, president of the board, said the board “does not comment upon private employment matters.”

“As well, this matter is currently before the Court and we respectfully believe that it is best for the Court process to resolve any issues in relation to Ms. Doyle’s employment without public comment by the Museum,” said Miethner.

While Doyle acknowledges the main allegation by the museum is that she overpaid herself for the last three years, she says her pay “is completely transparent, well documented, reported to council and required two board members to sign my paper paycheques. It was in our approved budget.”

She says the rate stayed the same since she successfully spearheaded a request for city funding for the institution in 2023. “There are a lot of allegations saying I didn’t inform the board of financial issues, but I literally have documentation going back years as to ongoing (financial) issues, with board member signatures on them.”

As for her plans since the termination, Doyle says looking for other work has been difficult in a competitive job market.

“I really don’t want to leave Kawartha Lakes. This is my community. In the meantime, I am volunteering for a museum that can’t afford paid staff. I miss the work and I want to be useful.”

The allegations by those involved have not been adjudicated by the Court.