YouthWrite ZOOMS OnLine (Ages 12-14)
not available for sale
July 06 - July 10, 2020
For Ages 12-14
A unique opportunity for kids to expand their writing horizons. Campers will receive online guidance from published authors and learn writing techniques for specific genres.
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WhenJuly 06th - July 10th 2020 8:30 am - 4:30 pm | 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm |
WhereONLINE Alberta and Everywhere! |
WhoGuest instructors: Cobra Collins Natasha Deen Kris Demeanor Jacqueline Guest Our Super Supers: Becky Collins Moe Ehmed Dylan Thomas Evans Phil Mozejko Julie Murphy Étienne Fillion-Sauvé Mackenzie Trofimuk Mason Repka and Joey Lucius (special guests) YouthWrite Coordinator: YouthWrite Coordinator: YouthWrite Designer: |
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Our Special Evening Guest Presenter - Hilary McMahon, Literary Agent
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Guest Instructors
You'll work with for one hour a day with each of these amazing instructors, professionals in their individual writing and creative fields. (Lots of fun and YouthWrite shenanigans between and after classes, so never fear: you WON'T be sitting at your computer all day long!)
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Ghada Alatrash
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BioGhada Alatrash is Syrian-Canadian. She is a professor at at Mount Royal University in the Women’s and Gender Studies Department and holds her PhD in Educational Research: Languages and Diversity from the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary. Ghada's research speaks to the lived experience of the Syrian Diaspora in Canada, and she is the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship for her research. Recently the Liberal MP Candidate for Calgary Signal Hill in the recent Federal Election, she is also the author of Stripped to the Bone: Portraits of Syrian Women and she has been invited to speak on her book as a TEDx speaker. A Globe and Mail opinion columnist, Ghada has also been profiled in several media including CBC, PBS, BBC, Aljazeera,and Gulf News, among others.
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CourseNo Matter Your Gender: Let's talk about F-word--Feminism - "My father is my idol of a feminist. I am raising my sons to be feminists." Feminism is not about man-hating, bra-burning bunch of angry women! It is a call for equality and equity for all. In this class we will unknot the notion of feminism (the f-word), a word that seems to scare the life out of people; we will unlearn the myths, and we will critically think about what feminism is and listen to its call for equity and social justice. |
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Cobra Collins
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BioCobra Collins (she/her) is a Métis poet and Spoken Word artist of significant height based in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) - Treaty 7 Territory. Cobra was the captain and coach of Calgary’s 2015 and 2016 Slam team, representing Calgary on a national level at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, and was a member of Calgary’s Inkspot Spoken Word Collective, home of Calgary's official poetry Slam. She has participated in several nationwide spoken word festivals, as well as collaborated with artists of different backgrounds for dance (Fluid Movements Arts Festival) and performance festivals (IKG 1 and 2 ! Live Performance Festivals). Her work has been published in an anthology of emerging poets, Drifting Like a Metaphor, and nominated for The Alberta Magazine Award. Twice shortlisted as a nominee for Calgary's 2016 & 2018 poet laureate, Cobra truly believes that our words can change us. |
CourseLet’s Get Loud!!! - In these trying and uncertain times, your voice matters. The art of spoken word and slam poetry can be used to effect change and build community. Spend the week crafting new work or bring words you’ve been waiting to share. In a safe (digital) space to dig deeper, we'll explore how to tell your stories in a dynamic and energetic way, how to connect with an audience, and, more importantly, how to connect with ourselves and our voices. We'll end our exciting week of creation with a showcase of your work throughout the week by creating a friendly Youthwrite ZOOMS OnLine Poetry Slam, crowning our first ever Youthwrite “Slam Champion”! |
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Natasha Deen
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BioNatasha Deen writes for kids, teens, and adults, and enjoys visiting libraries and schools to help people to find and tell the stories that live inside of them. Her novel, In the Key of Nira Ghani, was a Most Anticipated novel for both Barnes & Noble and Chapters-Indigo, nominated for a Red Maple Award, MYRCA Award, and the R. Ross Annett Award, and is a Junior Library Guild selection. When she’s not writing, spends an inordinate amount of time trying to convince her pets that she’s the boss of the house. Visit Natasha at her website. |
Blue Pencil Café
Blue Pencil Café: Looking for another pair of eyes on that story? Wondering if there’s a way out of your writer’s block? Sign up for Blue Pencil Café with Natasha and get some help brainstorming your character’s backstory, navigating that plot bump, reviewing your pages, or trouble-shooting your way out of that story block. |
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Kris Demeanor
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BioKris Demeanor is a songwriter, poet, theatre and film artist who has released seven recordings of original songs, most recently Entirely New Beasts, with beats and co-writes by Rae Spoon. He's opened for artists such as Billy Bragg, Ray Davies, Tegan and Sarah, and Black Francis and has toured Australia and Europe numerous times solo and with his Crack Band. Kris was the inaugural Poet Laureate of Calgary (2012-14) and co-edited with Dymphny Dronyk The Calgary Project, a compilation of poetry by Calgary writers. Recent work includes Making Treaty 7, a multi-disciplinary show featuring First Nations and non-aboriginal artists illuminating Alberta's history; writing songs for CBC’s The Irrelevant Show; collaborating with Ian Tyson on two songs for his latest record; and Shelter From the Storm, a songwriting project with clients of Calgary's Drop-in Centre. In January 2020 , Kris debuted his one-man show of music and monologue, Russell: Straight Up, a comedic take on the enabled white male. |
CourseLyrical Miracles - If you write poetry, stories, or spoken word, you’re already a songwriter! A beat and a melody can be the perfect delivery system for creative language, and you don’t have to know how to play a note on an instrument to write an amazing song lyric.Speaking of instruments, bring what you’ve got or bring your voice. The goal for the week is to have at least one song written either individually or with a partner or small group, and one song we write together, a little everyday, over the course of the week. |
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Jacqueline Guest
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BioJacqueline Guest began writing professionally in Grade 5 when she was paid twenty-five cents by her brother to write his Language Arts essay. She now has twenty novels with topics ranging from comic book superheroes and mysterious meteorites to dangerous dinosaurs. While doing research for her books she has stood on an iceberg, flown a kite in a hurricane, and dodged hungry lions! Jacqueline and her computer live in a log cabin in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
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CourseStar Writers – Blazing Across the Sky! - Join Jacqueline Guest for a stellar experience as you learn everything you need to know about writing an out-of-this- world story! This is a class for writers who want their words to blaze across the sky! Bring your imagination, a journal, a pen and your space suit! |
The Amazing Supers
Handpicked and multi-talented, YouthWrite Supers are the centre of our camps. As artists, teachers and mentors, they bring the X-Factor to YouthWrite.
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Moe AhmedMohamed is a actor currently studying at the National Theatre School of Canada and entering his final year. Mohamed is also a musician under the name Just Moe. Mohamed was also a YouthWriter during 2015 & 2016, and it changed his life immeasurably for the better, so he is beyond excited to be back! Mohamed has also written Mohamed a lot for this bio but you can call him Moe. And is he ever pumped to be Gail's favourite Super. |
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Anna Cooley (Lead Super)
This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the first time Anna went to YouthWrite! First she was a camper and then went on the become a Supervisor. Anna is a filmmaker. Anna’s cinematography can be seen in the upcoming documentary Pinky and the Kids, and Clebs, a short film that won two awards at the Berlin International Film Festival. Her multi-award winning film A Sauropod Abroad premiered in 2016. Her short film Sleepwalker was released in 2017. Anna is currently directing the short documentary Garden Shark and the pilot episode for the queer sketch comedy series Gender? I Hardly Know Them. Anna is also a writer. She is writing for the web series Sophie and the Exorcist, and writing her first feature film, an adaptation of the book I am Herod. Anna teaches and mentors filmmakers and is vice-president and Chair of Programming on the board of the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers. |
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Becky CollinsBecky has been a Super with YouthWrite since the summer of 2014. This year marks her seventh glorious summer basking in the light of YouthWrite. Her love of YouthWrite transcends space, time, and Wifi connections. She understands the importance of connection and the beautiful magic of the written word. Becky is a singer, actor, and arts educator with Edmonton Public Schools. Having taught drama to students from kindergarten to grade 12, she is extremely skilled at guessing the ages of young folks. Becky has worn many hats as an educator, such as library keeper, GSA sponsor, improv coach, and soccer coach. She certainly loves a good costume change! Becky is best known as the Super that loves Gail the most. |
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Dylan Thomas EvansDylan is a physical theatre artist and graduate of MacEwan University's Theatre Arts Program. He holds his Advanced Performer’s Certificate from Trinity Guildhall London, and recently participated in Vancouver’s Polar Bear Swim! You may have seen him in The Canadian Badlands Passion Play, or performing as member of and beatboxer with the Spoken Word Choir or coordinating the Spoken Word Youth Choir as mentor. It’s Super Dylan’s second year of YouthWrite River Valley Experience, and he couldn’t be more excited to work alongside the wonderful Marla. |
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Étienne Fillion-SauvéÉtienne has recently graduated from the University of Alberta with a bachelor's degree in Film Studies and Anthropology. He intends to pursue an after-degree in education in order to become a high school teacher. When he's not watching a movie or writing a review about one, Étienne can be found biking, baking, painting, or writing creative non-fiction and poetry. He is very excited to be working alongside his favourite coordinator, Gail. |
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Joey Lucius
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Phil Mozejko
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Julianne MurphyJulie Murphy (she/her) is an Edmonton-based theatre practitioner, movement artist, and educator. She directs and choreographs dramatic action and movement for performers in schools, studios, and universities, specializing in dance, physical theatre, and stage combat/violence/intimacy. Julie performs as an actor, dancer, sketch comedian, mascot performer, simulation actor (for medical sciences), and actor-combatant. Julie enjoys anything from the Edwardian era and is thrilled to be making her debut with YouthWrite this year, eager to usurp Moe as Gail's favourite! |
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Mason Repka (Starship Master)
Mason (he/him) is passionate about writing, especially alongside music and interactive theatre arts. He attended MacEwan University and University of Victoria English and Writing programs, and was a co-founder the student publication The Bolo Tie Collective in his final year at MacEwan University. He currently co-owns Dark Ascension LARP, and is in his happy place when writing stories and creating worlds. He is overjoyed to be a YouthWrite 2020 super and, of course, to work with Gail, already beloved to him. |
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Mackenzie TrofimukMackenzie has been involved with YouthWrite her whole life. First a camper, then a River Valley Experience Super, this year, she is working with YouthWrite as a communications manager. She just can’t get enough of YouthWrite and Gail, and Mackenzie is thrilled to be joining the YouthWrite ZOOMS OnLine Super team! She graduated from Victoria School of the Arts in June of 2018 where she embraced her passion for dance and theatre, as well as completed a full International Baccalaureate diploma. She was with Shelley’s Dance Company for five years where she pursued intensive dance training in many styles. This year, she attended MacEwan University as a part-time student and as soon as the world’s circumstances permit, she plans to move to Toronto to pursue a degree in fashion and design. She loves all things creative and is so excited to virtually hang with you this summer! |
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YouthWrite CoordinatorGail Sidonie Sobatis a multi-award-winning teacher and author, with eleven books for children, teens and adults, and a number of educational and academic articles. A Global News Woman of Vision and an Arts and Culture Citation Award recipient, she is the YouthWrite creator/ coordinator, an international presenter, an instructor in the professional writing program at MacEwan University and in the Faculty of Education at U of A. Gail is also The Writers’ Union of Canada Regional Representative for Alberta, NWT and Nunavut, and was writer in residence with the Metro Edmonton Federation of Libraries. She has moved thirty-two times in her life from Badlands to Siksika Nation Reserve to hideous suburbs to Istanbul to the Sunshine Coast to her writer’s garret in a century-old temperamental house. She adores all of her Supers equally, and loves YouthWrite madly! |
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YouthWrite CoordinatorMarla Albiston
has been involved with the YouthWrite organization for approximately 14 years…she can’t remember the exact number, because she’s been having so much fun! She began as a supervisor, and then transitioned into being the coordinator of JustWrite (a weekend writing workshop for adults) for 3 years, and then transitioned once again into being the coordinator of the 8-11 year old camp for the past 2 years. Marla completed her Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Alberta (where she was first introduced to the lovely, Gail Sobat), and since then she has had the wonderful opportunity to apply her love of education with her passion for movement, teaching Dance at various schools with the Edmonton Public School Board. She also works as a freelance dance teacher and choreographer, dances with the Contemporary company, ViVA, and trains and performs in aerial circus with Firefly Theatre and Circus. Marla is beyond excited for all of the writing, learning, creating, sharing, and playing that will be taking place at YouthWrite ZOOMS OnLine this summer! |
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YouthWrite Designer
Meghan Desjardins
is elated to join the YouthWrite Team as Office Assistant and wear as many hats as Gail will allow! She’s best known for her knack for graphic design and is the designated designer for this year’s YouthWrite® the Magazine! Meg is currently in her final year of the Arts and Cultural Management Program at MacEwan University. Recently, she’s taken a deeper dive into the digital arts, exploring graphic design, photography, and videography. Despite this newfound digital focus, she’s an analog artist at heart, indulging in sketching, painting, and pastels in her free time. She’s very excited to add her artistic touch to YouthWrite and develop her improv skills during the BEEG Show! |
Join the FunCome one, come all YouthWriters! Have fun, make new friends, and create great experiences. |
Use your passion for writing and apply for a scholarship from our list of available scholarships & grants.
