artSpace is proud to introduce you to the talented line-up of instructors taking part in the first annual Kids' Summer College of the Arts.

Sheri Anderson ~ Yoga Instructor

" I was born in Fort St John, BC spent some time away and have now returned. I am a Mom to a 4 Year old Boy. I have a passion for Yoga and a healthy lifestyle. I am educated in the BCRPA Fitness Theory, Weight Training, Yoga Fitness, as well as Yoga Fit Kids. Personally, I have been practicing Yoga for the past 5 years, and have found it to be a wonderful component in my life. I plan on focusing my Yoga studies on Children and Youth in the Future. I love working with people. I look forward to being part of the team at the North Peace Cultural Centre's Kids' Summer College of the Arts. I look forward to meeting you!"

Chalene Scott ~ Musical Theatre Instructor

Chalene has been doing theatre since before she could talk and is now, eighteen years later, studying it at Capilano University in Vancouver.  She loves to sing and dance, too, which makes her a great person for the Musical Theatre portion of the Kids' Summer College of the Arts.  She is so happy to have the chance to bring her schooling to a younger generation and to be able to meet all these amazing kids.  Best summer ever!!

 

Holly Kirkpatrick ~ Masks & Puppetry Instructor

Holly Kirkpatrick has had an epic career in relations to the Fine Arts.  Beginning at a young age Holly showed great promise.  Contributing to local theatre productions and receiving numerous awards for her artistic endeaors at school and through Stage North.  While in grade 12 at North Peace Secondary School, Holly applied to art school and was accepted.  She also received the Art Council Bursary and District #60 Art Award in 1993.  Holly took 6 years to journey through Art College, whereby she also had numerous opportunities to work in a variety of industries including: Service, health and wellness through Yoga Instruction, Interior & Exterior Paints, Art Framing, Art Supplies, & the Commercial Art gallery setting. She also volunteered her time to Public & Artist Run Galleries and performing arts organizations in Calgary, AB.   Holly was also involved in working with “The Old Trout Puppet Workshop,” an innovative Canadian group of puppeteers whose cutting edge shows are often geared towards adult audiences.  In 1999 Holly graduated from the Alberta College of Fine Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.  In 2007, after continuing her education, Holly received her Teacher Certification from Simon Fraser University.  Holly has been working at Bert Bowes since 2007 and has worked with artSpace as an instructor during Spring Break Camp's and Pro-D days.  Holly has also worked at the instructor of the Peace Gallery North's Summer Art Camp for the past 2 years.  •Out of all of the experiences Holly has had, she has gathered many stories, and learned a great deal.  •Because of expert Teachers; guides and many advisors she, feels lucky to have, had along the way, Holly enjoys teaching art workshops to kids from age 5 and up. She is ever aiming to inspire healthy creativity in youth.

Justin Tomlinson ~ Rythm & Guitar Instructor

Justin Tomlinson started teaching himself guitar when he was 12. While messing around on a guitar at a wedding party, Justin was noticed by a young lady. She explained to Justin how impressed she was. She was shocked that he hadn’t taken any lessons. She offered him a couple of free lessons with her brother Jeff Bond, which ended up being several years of study. Jeff Bond is a renowned classical guitarist in the southern Ontario region. Born in Edmonton, but raised in the slums of Niagara Falls Ontario, Justin recently moved to B.C. to teach music, and enjoy the natural beauty of the endless outdoors, and escape Ontario for eternity. Justin can teach students of any age from beginners to advanced players. He also has experience with several other instruments, such as; drums and the kazoo. When Justin isn’t playing guitar, he is probably sleeping.

Rodina Patrick ~ Groove Instructor

"My name is Rodina Patrick, I am a Certified Yoga Instructor, Groove Method Fascilitator, Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor.  My path into the fitness industry started with Yoga, which was a practice that has helped me change my life in many ways.  It was in this change that I decided to teach to share with my participants the knowledge I had learned through my own practice.  As I continue to learn, grow, and evolve I am honoured to share with you the Groove Method.  The Groove is a new style of dance fitness that allows participants to explore their bodies through creative and intuitive movement with a limited emphasis on choreography.  Check out my website for class schedule, cool info, videos and articles at www.rodinapatrick.com."
 

Brianne Logeman ~ Visual Arts Instructor

"Hello everyone, my name is Brianne Logeman and I have lived in Fort St. John for most of my life. Upon graduating from North Peace Senior Secondary school in 2001 I married my high school sweetheart and started to take courses towards entering the teaching program part-time while my husband attended school full-time. Upon my husband's graduation I entered the local teaching program, known as AHCOTE, through Simon Fraser University. After graduating from the program in 2008 my husband and I decided to spend a semester teaching at a high school in rural China. When we returned I was luckily enough to get a job teaching art and drama at Duncan Cran Elementary School. In July of 2009 my husband and I had our first child and I went on maternity leave. With my maternity leave coming to an end I am excited to get back to teaching, and not just teaching, but teaching art! With a love and passion for the Fine Arts and a year's worth of teaching art experience, I am looking forward to a wonderful month full of fun and learning."

Angela Kimmie ~ Cake Decorating Instructor

"Hi there!  I'm Angela Kimmie, I have over ten years in cake decorating experince. And 2 years teaching experince. I am very passionate about cake and am looking foreward to teaching your children about cake at the Kids' Summer College of the Arts!"

Clarice Eckford ~ Drama Instructor

Clarice Eckford is a poet and professional actor whose work has appeared in publications and theatres throughout Canada. As a theatre professional, she was last seen as Sister James in Doubt at the Citadel Theatre. Clarice received three Elizabeth Sterling Haynes nominations for acting in Kingfisher Days, The Love Course and The Lonesome West. She is a graduate from the BFA Acting Program at the University of Alberta, and she is a co-founder of Pony Productions, an award-winning independent company, known for producing short new works by Canadian playwrights.
 

Becca Chmelyk ~ Dance

"I began dancing at the age of 10 at The Move Dance Centre in Fort St. John. The disciplines of dance that I did were: ballet, jazz, tap, musical theatre, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary and pointe.  I competed at several competitions both as a soloist, and a member of various sized dance groups. I received several awards and scholarships. I was chosen twice to represent the Peace River North Festival of the Arts at the Provincial competitions in ballet and contemporary dance.

Tanya Shymko ~ Kids' Summer College of the Arts Director

Tanya has a background in visual arts, training at NLC in Dawson Creek, as well as NAIT in Edmonton, AB. Along with her education, Tanya is also self-taught in several mediums. With this knowledge, she became an art instructor with the artSpace program for the past 11 years, and has been Coordinator of the Program since 2001. Over the past several years, Tanya has seen a great evolution of the artSpace Program as it has grown into an outlet for children to learn and flourish in all of the arts. She is looking forward to the energy and creativity of the that will blossom during the Kids' Summer College of the Arts, and hopes to see many Fort St. John kids participating!
 

Susan McGarvey ~ Kids' Summer College of the Arts Assistant Director

After getting her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, Susan spent a year teaching remedial reading to students at a school on the island of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia, then she headed back home, to Indiana, and spent 2 years teaching at a small, 2 room school in rural Indiana as Principal and teacher of grades 5 - 8.  Somewhere along the way, she met a man from Fort St. John, and the rest, as they say, is history!  Since settling in Fort St. John in August 2000, Susan has had 2 boys and while looking for things to keep them entertained, found her way to artSpace.  Loving the programs her boys participated in so much led to her beginning to teach some artSpace classes in the 2006/2007 season and she's been here ever since!
 

Suzanne Friesen ~ artSpace Instructor, Kids' Summer College of the Arts Kitchen Staff

Sonya Feeney ~ artSpace Instructor, Kids' Summer College of the Arts Kitchen Staff

You may recognize Sonya from the local toy store where she worked for 3 years. An native of Ontario, Sonya works as a nurse at the FSJ Hospital. She is also the Group Commisioner for the Fort St. John Beavers. Mother of a 6-year-old boy, Sonya has been involved with Soccer, Hockey and Taekwondo with her son. Sonya has been with artSpace for 2 years working with the NID days, Spring break camp and teaching the Mad Science Class. Sonya enjoys the outdoors, camping, crafts and spending time with her family.