Creative colleagues

WHO’S OUT THERE?

Teachers have their own ­extracurricular activities. Some volunteer. Some write books. Others produce podcasts, create art or make music. Here are some ­endeavours undertaken by your ­colleagues “out there.”

 

PODCASTS


Mountain Mysteries

Susan Denman, as well as some colleagues in the education field, lend their voices to the Mountain Mysteries podcast. Part of the Nels Nelson audio drama series, Mountain Mysteries is a fully cast audio drama that follows private investigator Jake DeBrunt as he solves Spruce Point’s latest ­mysteries. It is suspenseful and humorous. Only one season is out, but the team is busy working on ­season two!

Mountain Mysteries is available through a variety of ­podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

SUSAN DENMAN
Two Hills Mennonite School, Two Hills
https://anchor.fm/nelsnelsonaudiodramas

 

BUSINESS


Paisley and Polkadots Custom Cookies

What started as a fun hobby for Kristy Moore — providing ­cookies for friends and family — has ­blossomed into a steady business. Paisley and Polkadots Custom ­Cookies caters to weddings, baby showers, birthdays and graduations. For Kristy, after a busy week of teaching, sitting down to decorate cookies is a great way to decompress and relax (plus she gets to eat all the broken ones!).

KRISTY MOORE
West Dalhousie School, Calgary
Instagram: @paisleyandpolkadotsyyc;
Facebook: @paisleyandpolkadotscookies

 

BOOKS


1st Legion of Utopia

 The newest release from Calgary teacher James Davidge, this graphic novel centers on the first meeting of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation, the political party that, in the 1960s, pressured Canada to adopt universal health care. With art by Bob Prodor and Nick Johnson, and cover, lettering and design by Ryan Ferrier, this graphic novel both captivates and educates! Also check out Davidge’s other graphic novels on Alberta ­history: The Duchess Ranch of Old John Ware and Thirteen Minutes.

JAMES DAVIDGE
Willow Park School, Calgary
www.jamesdavidge.ca

 

VOLUNTEERING


Alberta ­Community Bat Program

As a volunteer with the Alberta Community Bat Program, Tracy Flach has engaged in public talks on bat conservation and outreach, and has provided art, writing and editing for public education and bat conservation documents.

Tracy recently ventured to parts of Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan on field excursions to collect bat guano at bridge sites. This guano gets sent to labs for DNA species identification, helping to map out potentially important conservation areas for different species.

TRACY FLACH
Substitute teacher, Edmonton
www.albertabats.ca

 

What’s new with you? If you’d like to make a submission for publication in Who’s Out There?, email a summary (50–75 words) to section editor Lindsay Yakimyshyn at lindsay.yakimyshyn@ata.ab.ca.

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