“Theatre is my sport”

Journey as an Educator

Heather has worked with children for the past 20 years. In high school she began running programs at Summer Camps, transitioning over the years into various leadership roles and eventually Camp Director. While in Post-Secondary at Rosebud School of the Arts, she co-directed the Rosebud Children’s Choir, devising and directing the students in original creative content. She has worked extensively with people of all ages and abilities while directing and producing large community productions at Foothills Alliance Church.

As a Mother of 3, she has homeschooled her own children, and instructed and facilitated Drama classes from Grade 1-6 with the Bearspaw Christian Homeschool program. For three years she has taught Jr. High Drama at Airdrie Christian Acadamy, developing and teaching the Sr. High Drama program as well. In 2017, she stepped into the role of Theatre Arts Associate at Youth Singers of Calgary where she helps direct the Theatre Arts portion of the Company’s mainstage Jubilee shows, and also creates and instructs weekend workshops. Students range in age from Grade 4 through Young Adult. Heather is also on the YSC Daycamp and PD Day Team that develops and facilitates curriculum and final shows for registered students.

Heather also has experiencing working with students with a range of abilities and restrictions. She had the opportunity to learn and grow in her experience with the Deaf community on The NeverEnding Story at Storybook Theatre, which was an inspiring immersion into diverse ways of communication and storytelling.

Teaching and experiencing theatre is incredibly important. It has the capacity to emotionally, physically, intellectually, and spiritual impact all involved: whether an audience member, cast, or production crew. For both young and old alike, it develops connection to each other and ourselves: through the intimacy of imagination and the communal social connection.

Acting builds life skills: it develops an awareness of the individual and their place in society. It builds self-confidence, self-discipline and self-respect. It demands and develops teamwork, collaboration, and communication skills. It fosters the ability to thoughtfully engage in the world, while encouraging us to see stories from other perspectives. The world needs art, but more importantly, it needs artists. And there’s the capacity to create one in all of us.