I believe that art & creativity shapes our world 

​

I believe that art education should be recognized as essential subject within the curriculum so that all children are given equal opportunity to express themselves creatively each and everyday.  It has been proven that kids, teens and adults of all ages are happier people when they're given opportunities to express themselves in a nurturing atmosphere. Especially in today's lightning fast-paced world, young minds need a place to be creative, to be themselves while they express themselves at their own pace.  

I am continuously inspired by the great Leonardo da Vinci. He was born one year after the Age of Renaissance and because his parents were not married, was not permitted too attend proper education. Despite this lack, and societal rules, he chose to follow his heart and utilized his curious nature to discover the world on his own terms. 

 Creatively problem-solving is the way through everything

My goal is for  kids to enjoy the process of learning and I fully encourage  individual expression. When it comes time for them  leave the Studio , it is my hope that they are empowered by their accomplishments. As a child, perfection

 is often believed to be the goal, however it is the enjoyment-process of creative learning that is the way of traveling.  Adult brains assume the goal is only the outcome, but really it's only looking for fun! 

Kids and their creativity are our future.  So through my time with Serendipity Pre-Kindergarten, The Okotoks Community Programs and my Inspiration Studio I am grateful for the opportunities to teach children ages 6-108 and lucky to offer courses for creative adults ready and willing to jump in on the fun!

My Volunteer Work began in 2003 with the Okotoks Arts Council

​

By 2003 I joined the Okotoks Arts Council holding a variety of positions to further the respect and recognition for the arts in Okotoks. Soon my skills as an artist and event planner were recognized and I became a major influence and contributor running arts and craft activities for The Okotoks Children Festival, and painting live on several OAC Floats for the Annual Okotoks Parade. Along with many other tried and true members, I brought in new people with skills I didn't have and slowly became their unofficial marketing and promotional designer as member of their new Arts Outreach Committee. I was involved in many other activities such as strategic planning, website re-design, social media management, marketing efforts, Volunteer Connector, managing their Showpass accounts, attending board development meetings as well as planning a few AGM's. I remained a faithful board member up until February 2020 at the OAC's AGM to allow some fresh ideas, members and to free up time to finish my marketing course. 

​

​

October 2017 saw my debut and to my newly discovered skill as an Event Planner and Market Director.

Myself and a very small subcommittee of passionate fans of magic and mystery, the Okotoks Arts Council's "Wizarding World of Okotoks." I volunteered to run the Artisan's Market and my duties grew exponentially. With no real experience in this role,  I found myself collecting, curating and coordinating a fairly large collection of vendors and artists. Our committee was fierce! So along with the committee, I also took on marketing the event on social media, designing registration forms, taking registration, booking the location and preparing customized signage. As the months, weeks and days crept along, it was time to place each vendor with a healthy amount of competition ... so I also made a Vendors Map for them to find their way. The event was an incredible success bringing 180,000 guests out to Okotoks to celebrate the magic created by J.K.Rowling and Okotoks saw an influx of income to the tune of $300,000.00!!! 

The "Wizarding World Event" EXPANDS!  

​

ENTER Enchanted Okotoks!  Since our 38 vendors and 40+ participating businesses were really looking forward to a second 'wizarding event', I got to thinking about just how much I love Okotoks and the businesses and the grand people who run them along Elizabeth Street, McRae Street, North Railway Street and Elma Street and the idea struck me! Okotoks is truly ENCHANTING! I wrote out an entirely different event showcasing each type of business with ideas on how to show their uniqueness in a fantastical way. Upon our first committee of Wizards meeting, everyone was talking about how we could expand on the theme, including medieval knights, steampunk, faery realms, unicorns, mermaids, trolls, Irish dancing and so much more. I had stayed up all night up until about 2 or 3 am and was ready for our 9:00 a.m. meeting with copies in hand to share. 

​

By May of 2018, it was presented to and accepted by OAC Board of Directors, Planning was underway that NIGHT! We had a unicorn, a mermaid pod, a giant spider, a faery kingdom, new members joined our committee, then we got a medieval encampment, entertainers, dancers, faerie scavenger hunts, brand new maps, a DnD Epic Quest Game, 40 + local business participation and of course, The Enchanted Okotoks Artisan Market complete with kids crafts and cauldrons!  And I was even interviewed by the Okotoks Western Wheel and it continued on for another magical year:) 

2019 was our third magical event and while it was a smidge different, our fan base had expanded and everyone was excited to come out one more time. That year, I managed to connect up four groups to initiate a youth market within our local Library. 20 youth vendors were amazing entrepreneurs and quite a few sold out! 

Then, the snow came. It forced many events and vendors indoors or to close up early. Then the wind came... and more people were brought to my two artisan markets! All three years were great experiences in which I learned a vast amount of things, on a rollercoaster-like curve of intertwining curves! Enchanted Okotoks has been determined to evolve as an economic driver for Okotoks, so going forward it is my hope that the Economic Development Team and the Okotoks Arts Council team-up will bring even more celebration of creativity and magic back to the core of the amazing streets of downtown Okotoks! And of course, I'd love to be a part of it!