Please consider me in your search for a Client Care Assistant for PChAD. I believe I have personal attributes and work and life experience that combine to make me an ideal candidate for this position.
I have over 10 years of experience a teaching a variety of subjects (mostly art and mathematics) to students of primarily junior high, high school and adult ages. My international teaching experience began in Tripoli, Libya where I taught art to students in Middle and Upper School at ISM International School. My Upper School students were taught using the Irish Leaving Certificate, which included instruction in Art and Art History. I next taught IGCSE and IB PYP, MYP and Diploma Art at the International School of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where I guided my students through the rigorous IB Diploma Art exam process. Moving on to the International School of Jeddah, KSA, I taught A-Level, IB Diploma and Middle School Art and Middle School Mathematics and then joined Kongsberg International school, teaching IB MYP Art and Mathematics. After teaching Vocational Mathematics and Secondary School Mathematics in the UAE and Japan, respectively, I returned to Canada in 2012. In all these positions, I established close connections with my students and supported them as they prepared to move forward with their education and career plans. Two highlights of this teaching experience that demonstrate student/teacher cooperation are the student illustrated video based on my children’s novel, The Apple of Albert’s Eye, and the video, God is Love, produced with my students in the UAE.
Settling in Prince George in 2013, I worked as a care provider in group homes for young adults dealing with various cognitive and physical challenges for the Prince George Association for Community Living (AiMHi) and Thompson Community Services. Informal counseling was a significant part of my role and I worked with individuals dealing with drug and alcohol dependencies and mental health issues, including autism and depression. In addition to preparing meals according to a nutritionist’s specifications, I drove clients to various appointments and helped them develop individual recreational programs. For my work with AiMHi, I completed a five-day training program that included: St. John’s First Aid Certificate (CPR), CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, Foodsafe Level 1 and WHMIS.
On a more personal level, while in Prince George, I met a number of people dealing with drug dependency issues. I helped one man to overcome his 27-year addiction by taking him to detox, providing him with a place to live and making sure he received medical treatment for ulcerous leg wounds that weren’t responding because of his drug use. Another individual has been clean for the last 16 months and is now an addictions support worker in Surrey, BC.
My return to Canada also saw me develop my WordPress website to highlight my creative abilities in writing, photography, art, music and video production. I use my blog and twitter (now known as X) account to promote my work and my belief in a better world. I believe the healing process, for myself and others, can be fostered through art.
I am active in the community as a member of Edmonton’s Interfaith Society for Education and Action and a member of the Alberta Crafts Council. I have had discussions with Harcourt House Artist Run Centre regarding studio space and the use of its pottery facilities; volunteered with the Latitude 53 Gallery by helping paint the new gallery and participated in its workshops and had my photograph, Spool on the Water, accepted for the EPL juried show, FLOW.
The philosophy that I bring to my life, and to this position should I be selected, is one of overarching positivity and the belief in Love without opposite. I maintain that, through our power of decision, we can choose to forgive and live in the now and not be overshadowed by the past. As an artist, I’ve created a number of works along this line and my Happy Face Series, is one example. Instead of a Death Star, I created a Life Star. Teach Only Love, and Believe Be Love, continue that theme.
My music video, Brand New Song, showcases my art and also references the need to help people with drug dependency issues.
I have a working knowledge of MS Office (including PowerPoint), Illustrator, Photoshop, WordPress and various video editing programs.
I moved to Edmonton in 2021 and, that fall, I served as a Janitor at the Mustard Seed administered homeless shelters at Knox Evangelical and Strathcona Baptist churches. In this position, I interacted with shelter clients and staff on a regular basis.
I currently serve as a Second Cook at the Cenovus Energy Site near Fort MacMurray for Horizon North and have completed courses in Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ), Food Safe, Workplace Violence course, H2S Alive and Defensive Driving for the company.
I believe I bring a tremendous amount of “life experience” to filling this role and have a genuine interest in making this a better world through caring for others. Accordingly, let me suggest we meet to discuss the contribution I could make to your organization in filling this role.