AWCS In The Classroom - Meet our Teachers
MEET OUR TEACHERS
Em Williamson is a writer, artist, educator, and indie game developer (Burning Palms: A Lesbian Experience. Twine browser game, 2021), who has been teaching poetry classes for youth for over seven years. Em believes that many youth have a genuine interest in art and writing and can be incredibly engaged in the classroom -- as long as they're taught in a way that engages them. As an educator, Em is constantly looking for creative ways to teach youth that will both allow them to succeed in school, and help them discover a lifelong love for reading, writing, and language. Em is available for poet visits through the AWCS.
Degrees
- BA English degree, summa cum laude - made the Dean's List all 4 semesters for academic excellence
- MA English degree (in progress) - creative writing focus
- Graduate Scholarships Program (CGS) Master's Competition in 2022 (research grant)
Awards
- Winner of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
- Recipient of the following scholarships: Jason Lang Scholarship for academic achievement, Dr. Allan P. Markin Scholarship for academic achievement, Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship, and Florence Katherine Harington academic.
Publications
- Williamson, Em. “Staked: Carmilla, Unspeakable Desires, and Lesbian Invisibility.” The Attic: The St. Mary's University Journal of Undergraduate Papers, vol. 7, no. 1, 2021.
- Williamson, John, and Em Williamson. Review of Unloved: Huronia’s Forgotten Children, directed by Barri Cohen. Canadian Journal of Disability Studies, vol. 12, no. 4, forthcoming.
Feature Performances:
- Invited spoken word poetry performances at The Ink Spot YYC Poetry Collective Slam Finals (2016), Woolf's Voices (2017), Raw Voices YYC (2017), South Country Fair Spoken Word Poetry Showcase (2017), High River The Venue Spoken Word Poetry Showcase (2019), & The Alcove Live Artist Showcase (2021).
- Conference presenter at the 2016 Alberta GSA conference
Kim Firmston is a published YA author, internationally produced playwright, editor, D&D enthusiast, and producer/writer/director of documentaries. Not only did Kim co-develop the AWCS Youth Program over ten years ago, but she is now the AWCS Program Director for Youth Education. Although she has spent a lifetime navigating neurodiversity and learning disabilities, Kim has turned these flaws into assets and translated her struggles into lessons and techniques designed to reach even the most writing-adverse youth. Kim has been an instructor for over three decades and still has the energy of a platoon of kindergarteners. Kim is available for author visits through the AWCS. See her website here: www.kimfirmston.com
Awards
- Adaptation in the Impoverished City (Documentary) Screened at the Bright Future Independent Film Festival in Gothenburg, Semi-Finalist in the Calgary Independent Film Festival, Finalist in the Vancouver Independent Film Festival
- Best Books for Kids & Teens -- Canadian Children's Book Centre 2012 (Starred Selection), 2013, & 2016
- Stupid (Novel) Shortlisted - Stellar Award - Red Cedar Young Reader's Choice Awards 2016
- Stupid - translated into French under the title Olivier
- One of the Year's Best - Resource Links - 2012 & 2013
- Life Before War (short story) Short-listed in the 2008 CBC Literary Award, short story category. Nominated for the Writers Guild of Alberta Howard O'Hagen Award, the Journey Prize, and The National Magazine Awards.
Publications
Start Again - (poem) 2020 - 135 Short Story Dispenser anthology
Creep Con - (Hi Low/ YA Novel - Lorimer - Fall 2015)
Stupid - ( Hi Low / YA Novel - Lorimer -Spring 2014)
Touch - ( Hi Low / YA Novel - Lorimer -Spring 2013)
Boiled Cat - (Punk Rock/YA novel - Create Space - Spring 2013)
Hook Up - (Hi Low / YA Novel - Lorimer - 2012)
Schizo - (Hi Low / YA Novel - Lorimer - 2011)
Life Before War - Short Story, 2009 - FreeFall Magazine Volume XIX, Number 2
Returning Home - Short Story, 2006 - Alexandra Reader anthology
Collaborations
- Founder and Instructor for Alexandra Centre Society's Youth Theatre Camp in conjunction with the Calgary Fringe Festival, 2011-now
- Writing Instructor for the Writers' Guild of Alberta's youth Writing Residency - WordsWorth 2009-current
- Calgary Public Library - Lit Con - co-organizer and instructor, 2022 & 2023
- Calgary Public Library - Reality Is Optional writing pods
- Beakerhead/Ramsay Robots Organizer and Writing Lead
- TD Book Week Tour - Visiting Author for Labrador
- YMCA Teen Newcomer Writing Workshop Instructor
Anne Hodgson was a teacher with the Calgary Board of Education for 39 years before retiring in 2019. She has worked with all ages, as well as ESL, and Special Needs students. Her specialities include Creative Writing, English Language Arts, History, Art, and Drama. She particularly enjoys working with middle school students. Anne was chosen to be a founding staff member at two new innovative schools in Calgary. Monterey Park School was voted one of the Canada’s top elementary schools when Anne was on staff. Since retiring, Anne has been an instructor with AWCS, has worked as an Artist in Residence in a K to 9 school, tutored, and has given various workshops to children and adults. Anne is well known for her innovative and engaging methods of bringing Language Arts, History, and the Arts to life for her students.
Anne is also a professional actor, director, writer, and playwright who has toured Canada, and a visual artist.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in English
University of New Brunswick
Diploma of Education
McGill University
Various Select Workshops and study related to:
Learning through the Arts
Critical Thinking and Inquiry
Historical Thinking Concepts
Creative Writing ( Rosemary Nixon, Marty Chan, Joan
Clark)
Canada’s Role in Wars – Juno Beach Summer Institute for
Educators 2018 – (one of 23 teachers chosen from across
Canada)
Awards:
Multiple playwriting awards – StoryBook Theatre
Acting and Directing Awards – Alberta One Act Festival
- Workshop Theatre
Select Publications and Workshops Given:
Original scripts and adaptations produced by various theatre companies
Original children’s stories performed by ‘Short and Tall Tales’ across Alberta.
Shakespeare Intensive - Summer Camp – StoryBook Theatre – program director and instructor for 10 years
‘Teaching Watercolour Painting to Children’ – PD Day for teachers
‘Hooked on Shakespeare’ – Calgary City Teachers’ Convention
‘Teaching Shakespeare to ESL Students’ – CBE Area PD day
‘Playwriting’ – Lit Con – Calgary Public Library
Eli Smart (He/They) is a local award winning Director/Writer/Producer from YYC. He started with the AWCS at the young age of 9, where he began his writing journey which, in turn, kickstarted his Filmmaking and Theater journey, which he began at age 15. Eli’s passion for Filmmaking has given them many amazing opportunities, and shown him that the best part about the arts is the community surrounding it. Whether it’s staying up late with your friends trying to finish a project, or sharing ideas while juggling the ones you already have, being in the arts is one of the greatest joys in the world, and Eli is honored to be a part of it!!
Degrees
Diploma of Film and Video Production from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (2024)
Creating a TV series Workshop | Vancouver Film School | 2021
Script Writing: Write a Pilot Episode for TV or a Web Series | Michigan State University | 2020
Awards
Adaptation in the Impoverished City (Documentary) Screened at the Bright Future Independent Film Festival in Gothenburg, Semi-Finalist in the Calgary Independent Film Festival, Finalist in the Vancouver Independent Film Festival
Reality is Optional Optional Guide to Taking Over the World (Documentary) Winner of the Calgary International Genre Film Festival Best Social Justice Short Awards, Honorable Mention in the 2024 Blackbird Film Festival
Calgary Youth of Distinction Awards (YODA) |Finalist in the Peer Support category·
Publications
Adaptation in the Impoverished City (Documentary) Released on TELUS Optik and Youtube in 2021
Reality is Optional Optional Guide to Taking Over the World (Documentary) released on TELUS Optik and Youtube in 2023
Break the System (Documentary) released on Youtube apart of the SAIT Film Festival 2024 in 2024
Collaborations
Founder of the Alexandra Writer Center Society’s Movie Club in 2021
Executive Director Shadow apart of the Calgary Fringe Festival in 2023
Apart of the Alberta Theatre Project’s Student Writer’s Program from 2019-2022
Board member of the Calgary Fringe Festival
