Heather is an active storyteller, singer-songwriter who performs both traditional
stories along with her own stories. She brings them to life through singing, the
use of homemade instruments and props, and playing the guitar.
Heather's experience working in a mid-size library for 13 years in Children's and
Youth Services provided many opportunities to develop programming skills which eventually
led her out in the community to a full time career as a presenter and performer.
For students between grades four to twelve, Heather likes to include original contemporary,
folk, and blues music with personal tales that are profound or humorous. She tells
tales that inspire teens to want to write, use instrumentation, sing and tell their
own stories to one another.
Her workshops for students and teachers:
- provide an introduction to the importance of storytelling;
- demonstrate how to use your own 'voice';
- model diverse curriculum related stories such as folktales, legends and personal
tales.
These are delivered in both casual and performance styles interspersed with music,
props, songs and poetry. She also provides song writing inspiration and participation.
Heather is the creator of a successful storytelling Creative Arts Workshop series
for Early Childhood Education Montessori teachers at a Scarborough Montessori Training
Centre. She also provides other spring-board ideas for teachers and instructors
of children and youth programs.
As the initiator and Project Chair for a large educational multicultural storytelling
program she helped celebrate the Town of Whitby's sesquicentennial (150th) year
in 2005. During September and October the program reached approximately 2,000 grade
four to six students and over 80 community listeners at a public concert!
Heather was the Public Relations representative for the Durham Folklore Society
for close to ten years. She is the innovator and Artistic Director of their annual
family concert, Halloween Happening, which has taken place in the Durham Region
for over six years and is now a community service program to Simcoe Hall Settlement
after-school program.
A regular initiator of community programming, Heather also implimented and
coordinated Tellabration and World Storytelling Day Concerts, which are now
annual presentations involving all members of the storytelling group.
She continues to partake in performances and group activities with the Durham
Folklore Society.
Heather is a well received performer at festivals, concerts and several public venues
throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
She performs in schools, at festivals, in concert, and at many public venues, mostly
in Ontario, however has told in schools and conducted workshops in Southern California
as well.