Our Voices Creation and Performance Group
Born in Moose Jaw Sask., Marion Bascom moved east with her family in 1955. She is widowed with three supportive children and five splendid grandchildren. A graduate of the Nightingale School of Nursing and Queen’s University, her career was in teaching and administration. For 23 years her work involved creating a positive space for seniors in long term care and supportive housing.
From 2002 to 2012, she spent three months each year helping out in a clinic in a squatter camp in South Africa. She continues to return to South Africa annually to sustain precious relationships and work with her friend in a school clinic for poor rural children.
Marion says, "I came to Our Voices purely out of curiosity … and stayed. The process and purpose were bewildering at first, but the people were fascinating, open and friendly. Out of seemingly random conversation, ideas emerged, and from her jottings, our playwright Catherine would come back with scripts for us to try on. As time went on, these became our own - we heard our own stories, our own words. It has been an amazing experience, and I thank everyone involved for the joy and exhilaration this has been.”
From 2002 to 2012, she spent three months each year helping out in a clinic in a squatter camp in South Africa. She continues to return to South Africa annually to sustain precious relationships and work with her friend in a school clinic for poor rural children.
Marion says, "I came to Our Voices purely out of curiosity … and stayed. The process and purpose were bewildering at first, but the people were fascinating, open and friendly. Out of seemingly random conversation, ideas emerged, and from her jottings, our playwright Catherine would come back with scripts for us to try on. As time went on, these became our own - we heard our own stories, our own words. It has been an amazing experience, and I thank everyone involved for the joy and exhilaration this has been.”
Sytske Drijber was born in Holland, and immigrated to Canada when she was a small girl with her parents. They settled on the prairies, but eventually moved to Puslinch. She joined the army and served in Japan and Indonesia. She married and moved to Rockwood where she worked as a reporter for the former Eramosa Community News for many years.
Sytske is a nonagenarian who works as hard as any young seventy-year-old. A week before our 2014 performance, she was in hospital and we all prayed she would be able to join us. She did! Sytske told the doctors and nurses about Our Selfies, and they asked “What’s your secret?”
Sytske is a nonagenarian who works as hard as any young seventy-year-old. A week before our 2014 performance, she was in hospital and we all prayed she would be able to join us. She did! Sytske told the doctors and nurses about Our Selfies, and they asked “What’s your secret?”
Stan Jensen: It’s been a while since I was on stage and the rust was obvious! Forty years ago I took my first acting lesson and I’ve been involved in theatre mainly as an actor and director ever since. I also spent 12 years as a Board member for Elora Community Theatre. Thanks to all involved in this production. It’s a rewarding experience.
Juanita Johnstone is extremely proud to be joining the Our Voices Troupe for her first performance on stage.
Juanita is an accomplished visual artist, best known for her Guelph nocturnes. Besides art she keeps busy volunteering within the arts community, the elementary schools and with the homeless.
Juanita is passionate about life long learning and is currently studying math in preparation for a university course with a view to becoming an astrophysicist. Juanita appreciates everyone involved in this production. She finds each of them inspiring.
Juanita is an accomplished visual artist, best known for her Guelph nocturnes. Besides art she keeps busy volunteering within the arts community, the elementary schools and with the homeless.
Juanita is passionate about life long learning and is currently studying math in preparation for a university course with a view to becoming an astrophysicist. Juanita appreciates everyone involved in this production. She finds each of them inspiring.
Susan Koswan’s career has been varied and colourful, working and volunteering in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. But it wasn’t until she had kids and became a stay-at-home mom that she realized her inner-environmentalist. She successfully lobbied to ban the sale and use of lawn chemicals in Ontario, intervened in a Supreme Court Case, wrote and published an Eco-SciFi novel, 2080: The Return of Pareto, and was host and community producer for The Green Scene, a 6-part TV series on Rogers. She currently serves on the executive of the Grand River Environmental Network, and aspires to sing and play guitar more often and better.
Pierre Leclipteux is a graphic designer and vintage motorcycle enthusiast who likes to frighten the children at Halloween.
Donna Little is a semi-retired Psychodramatist. As a trainer with The Toronto Centre for Psychodrama , she has worked with students since 1980. Her first love as a teenager was drama. For ten years she was in the chorus of a Gilbert and Sullivan group enjoying the fun of performing.
Pauline MacDonald was born on a dairy farm in southwestern Ontario in 1924. Animals were her friends and playmates and she could milk a cow before she was six. After high School, she spent three years in Nurses Training at Victoria Hospital in London Ontario, then received a B.Sc. in Nursing at the University of Western Ontario. At Western, Pauline joined the Players Guild and did well in crowd scenes. The School of Public Health bravely did a play on their own but it was so not memorable that she doesn't even remember the name.
Pauline worked for the the Victoria Hospital Cancer Clinic and for the V.O.N. in London, and later for Wellington Dufferin Guelph Health Unit for thirty years. In 1955 she married Thomas McGregor MacDonald. They had four children, all of whom still live within one hundred miles of Guelph. Tom died in 1997.
She still lives rural, although just barely. The city of Guelph is kitty-corner across the road.
Pauline worked for the the Victoria Hospital Cancer Clinic and for the V.O.N. in London, and later for Wellington Dufferin Guelph Health Unit for thirty years. In 1955 she married Thomas McGregor MacDonald. They had four children, all of whom still live within one hundred miles of Guelph. Tom died in 1997.
She still lives rural, although just barely. The city of Guelph is kitty-corner across the road.
Jean Martin arrived in Canada in August 1968 having sailed from Liverpool with her husband Bill, son Chris (7) and daughter Ann (4). They lived in Vancouver for 7 years. During that time Jean helped establish the Women’s Resources Centre at U.B.C., facilitated many group discussions, worked as a seasonal income tax consultant , helped the Girl Guides and did research for a friend writing a book on nuclear power as well as being an active member of the Toastmistress’ club.
Then a job offer for her husband brought them to Ontario. Her teaching certificate and 10 year’s experience were not “valid” in Canada so she took a couple of courses at York University and a school principal friend offered her a one day job to fill in for a sick teacher. That was enough for her to decide she would find another career so she took a Real Estate course and worked successfully at that for ten years. A move then to Rockwood to enjoy the village life and have time for technical writing with her husband. The play Shivaree was a happy way to get to know people in this wonderful community - and so it continues with today’s play. Thank you Catherine for making it continue.
Then a job offer for her husband brought them to Ontario. Her teaching certificate and 10 year’s experience were not “valid” in Canada so she took a couple of courses at York University and a school principal friend offered her a one day job to fill in for a sick teacher. That was enough for her to decide she would find another career so she took a Real Estate course and worked successfully at that for ten years. A move then to Rockwood to enjoy the village life and have time for technical writing with her husband. The play Shivaree was a happy way to get to know people in this wonderful community - and so it continues with today’s play. Thank you Catherine for making it continue.
Jean McClelland was born in Toronto, did a 13 year country detour in Acton, and settled in Guelph in 1984. She has a son and three young grandchildren who are the delight of her life.
One of her hobbies is writing Personal Poetry for family, friends and to detail the events in her life. A book is in the works.
She was an avid fan of theatre watching but never expected to participate in one. Jean loves the other side of the camera and spending time with like photographers and the Crones of Rockwood.
Our Voices was a surprise and the wonderful people involved helped guide us through.
One of her hobbies is writing Personal Poetry for family, friends and to detail the events in her life. A book is in the works.
She was an avid fan of theatre watching but never expected to participate in one. Jean loves the other side of the camera and spending time with like photographers and the Crones of Rockwood.
Our Voices was a surprise and the wonderful people involved helped guide us through.
Alberta Nye is a documentary filmmaker, a career that began after “retirement.” She has completed two films and is working on her third, all around the subject of death and dying. Alberta has three children and two grandchildren. She travels frequently, keeping up with family and friends. Her interests include photography, reading, spirituality and some amateur acting.
Gloria Nye is a writer and an artist. Now that she is “retired” she has more time to do the things she loves. One of which is to edit and help people publish their stories. Her own novel, Medieval Love, the first in the Dragonfly Series, is followed by The Woman Who Painted Herself Inside Out. Coming soon to Amazon.
She was involved in Community Theatre thirty years ago and is excited to be back on the boards. “It has been gratifying and fun to work with dedicated and creative people in this Canada 150 project. Thank you to everyone involved: a talented playwright, an encouraging and supporting director, an indefatigable stage manager and so many more dedicated helpers behind the scenes, and to my hardworking fellow actors. This is a great time to be a senior and for us to have this chance to share our experiences from the past as we look forward to a fulfilling future.”
She was involved in Community Theatre thirty years ago and is excited to be back on the boards. “It has been gratifying and fun to work with dedicated and creative people in this Canada 150 project. Thank you to everyone involved: a talented playwright, an encouraging and supporting director, an indefatigable stage manager and so many more dedicated helpers behind the scenes, and to my hardworking fellow actors. This is a great time to be a senior and for us to have this chance to share our experiences from the past as we look forward to a fulfilling future.”
Tania Orton is an architect and an artist. For many years she was involved in community theatre, working on props and sets, but this is her first time on stage. From Brazil originally, there’s only one other continent, besides Antarctica, that she hasn’t lived on. Tania is delighted for this opportunity to hit the boards with such a wonderful group. She likes long walks on the beach, broccoli and her shoe size is seven and a half.
Anne Snell escaped Toronto in 1990 to try a new career - a small business in Rockwood. She hung a sign Full Circle Craft Gallery outside her home and welcomed artists, crafts folk and customers to enjoy her selection of artifacts. Saturdays found her at a table in the Guelph Farmers’ Market.
Now it’s second retirement time, and a chance to do unusual things - like acting in a play! What fun it has been! Many thanks to my fellow creator-actors and to the enthusiastic experienced folk who helped to make all happen.
Now it’s second retirement time, and a chance to do unusual things - like acting in a play! What fun it has been! Many thanks to my fellow creator-actors and to the enthusiastic experienced folk who helped to make all happen.