Please consider me in your search for a Marketing and Visitor Services Coordinator.

I am interested in this position because I have a son and grandchildren in Sparwood and have an art, community service, communications and marketing background that fits well with this position.

Making art and communicating in a variety of media has been a part of my entire life. After studying Commercial Art in high school, I enrolled in a BFA program at the U of A, later completing an Art Education degree. A gallery of my early work highlights the fact it often uses simple graphic shapes.

After completing my degree, while also serving as a writer/production editor for the Students’ Union, Gateway, I joined The University of Calgary as a Communications Officer II. In that position, I worked with university administrators to develop and implement strategic communications plans for students, staff, faculty and the public. As co-editor of the bi-weekly, Gazette, I researched and wrote copy covering virtually all Faculties and often presented technical information to a more general audience. My article, New ways to slice the mapping pie and its accompanying commissioned illustration and my profile of new staff member, Beatrice Medicine, are two examples. I also supplied photography, illustration and design skills to further market the university to its various communities.

Except for 10 years overseas teaching, I have lived in Alberta or BC. I have a keen interest in the region’s development, history and art history. While at the U of C, I completed university courses in Art & Architecture Canada: 1870 – 1960+, Topics in Prairie Canada (with Grant MacEwan) and Communications Research Methods

After five years at the U of C, I accepted a position as a Journalism Instructor at Grant MacEwan, teaching newswriting, photography, graphic design and mass media. Moving to Vancouver, I served as Western Editor for Canadian Forest Industries Magazine, providing copy on all aspects of the business including harvesting, safety and milling.

Settling in Nanaimo, I freelanced as a weekly reporter for The Nanaimo Business Examiner, writing business-related articles and worked as a reporter for the Nanaimo Free Press. My Nanaimo experience also included owning and operating Val-Pak, a direct-mail advertising franchise, where I provided customers an all-inclusive service: promotion design, leaflet printing, distribution, and redemption analysis. As owner, I negotiated all sales contracts.

In Campbell River, serving as the Marketing Manager for T-MAR Industries, I promoted the company’s existing inventory of logging products from log loaders to road builders to grapples and helped promote new product additions. My duties also included conducting customer surveys; producing advertising copy, brochures and videos; purchasing company swag and launching the company’s newsletter, The T-MAR Times. I also was project coordinator for the company’s participation in DEMO 2000, a “live forestry” exhibition.

A downturn in the forest industry led to 10 years overseas teaching art and later, mathematics, in Libya, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Norway, the UAE and Japan. Highlights of this period include a number of two-dimensional works and video productions that include: a student illustrated video of my children’s story, The Apple of Albert’s Eye, in Saudi Arabia; a  short film, God is Love, made with my Emirati students in Al Ain, UAE; a documentary, Truck Logging in Africa, in Cameroon; the video introduction to a high school production of The Rocky Monster Show, in Jeddah and my video application for the position of Traveling Ambassador for Air Transat, in Dubai.

Returning to Canada in 2012, I relocated to Prince George, BC and launched 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 have a working knowledge of MS Office (including PowerPoint), Illustrator, Photoshop, WordPress and Movie Studio

In Prince George, I worked in a number of positions, including as a Community Support Worker and Residential Care Worker. Many of my clients were of First Nations ancestry and I provided them with informal counseling and support; medication administration and recreation and development activities. I also served as a Licensed Property Manager and volunteered in the Salvation Army’s food recovery program. Prince George, like many other parts of Canada, has issues with homelessness, poverty and drug use, which prompted me, in part, to create my music video to my song, Brand New Song.

I am lifetime observer of and believer in a better word for all, and by that, I mean culturing a state of mind that centers on love, peace, freedom and joy, regardless of external circumstance. My Happy Face Series, is a visual expression of that tenet. For a greater understanding of my philosophy, see my critique, Rethinking War.

I have been active as an artist in Edmonton since moving to the city in 2021, participating in workshops with the Latitude 53 Gallery as well as helping to paint their new space. My photograph, Spool on the Water, is on display as part of Edmonton’s juried show, FLOW and my work has also been selected for a number of online galleries. As a practicing artist, I am familiar with the submission process.

I’ve also been active in efforts to market my own clothing line arts and crafts through participation in the South Edmonton Common Farmer’s Market and through UNITE operated by the Makers Keep, that provides spaces for artisan vendor. You can see my offerings on my website store.

I hope you see a breadth of experience and creative ability in me that would serve the Fernie & District Historical Society well in the position of Marketing & Visitor Services Coordinator. Accordingly, let me suggest we meet to discuss the possibility of joining your organization in this position.

I have a reliable vehicle and a valid driver’s license.