Our Staff
Arts Instructors
All of our instructors are professional and talented artists. They are also committed teachers who have experience with children and knowledge of their art and craft.
| Bryn Morin is ecstatic to be back for her second summer at Long Bay Camp. Bryn has been singing and acting for as long as she can remember and is a proud graduate of both Canterbury High School and the University of Windsor, where she studied vocal music and drama in education, respectively. Bryn is a passionate educator who believes strongly in the transformational power of the arts. She strives not only to teach theatrical skills, but also to build confidence, creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication skills. In addition to Long Bay Camp, Bryn has taught for the Ottawa School of Speech & Drama, is an internationally-celebrated swing dance teacher, and is currently working as an educator for children with special needs in her new home of London, England. |
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| Natalie Fraser-Purdy a graduate of Concordia University's theatre performance program, has been working as an artist in Ottawa for the past fifteen years teaching singing, dancing and acting. She has worked for Salamander Theatre as a teacher and as a touring actor and continues to be an artist for the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa School of Speech and Drama. In the past year Natalie has appeared on stage in the show Doubt and Noises Off (which she also assistant directed) at the Gladstone Theatre. Currently she is working on Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat which will be presented at Centrepointe Theatre in May to raise money for the autistic community in Ottawa. Natalie has dedicated much of her career to working with high-risk youth, socially marginalized kids and special needs individuals of all ages and challenges. She even uses her art to be a facilitator for corporate training and youth leadership programs.
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| Elizabeth Todd Doyle has been an artist and educator for over twenty years. She’s had her own newspaper comic strip, illustrated picture books, drawn editorial cartoons and managed the education departments of major art galleries. Currently, she works as an independent educational planner for museums and galleries, and runs Little Witch Press, her own micro-publishing house. She is on the board of the Canadian Art Gallery Educators Group and publishes articles about education, museums, and new technology.
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| Sharena Campo tried on her first pair of dance shoes at the age of four when she signed up for her first ballet class. Her passion for the art of dance grew quickly as she started training extensively in various dance forms: jazz, tap, ballet, Pointe, contemporary, lyrical, and hip hop. She has competed throughout North America and the United States, where she was awarded top honours. She has worked with many recognised choreographers. In addition, she performed with Ottawa’s Driven Dance Company in their annual hip hop showcase production at Centrepointe Theatre, and she has also had the opportunity to train with Les Petits Ballets Dance Company. She is a specialized dance instructor for the City of Ottawa and she also teaches at local high schools. Currently Sharena is both a choreographer and dancer for the Ottawa 67’s OHL hockey team. She is very passionate and determined as a dancer and choreographer; she always approaches every opportunity with a friendly, helpful, and positive attitude. Sharena enjoys sharing her knowledge and passion for dance with others, as it is something she finds very rewarding. She loves putting a smile on her students’ faces!
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| Peter Purdy Born in Mattawa Ontario, of Algonquin native and Irish decent. Peter moved to Ottawa in 1991 to become a student at the Ottawa School of Art, where he studied both Animation and Fine Art. Peter’s art is a combination of traditional techniques, and contemporary practices. Most known as a social and political painter, Peter is a talented sculpture as well. Works can often be seen in Commercial galleries in the west end of Ottawa. As a husband and father of three Peter has taken it upon himself to practice safe and green methods not only inspire others to create but to share and respect the environment.
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| Lesley Buxton has taught theatre and creative writing for over twelve years, working with students of all ages in Ottawa institutes such as: The Ottawa Little Theatre, Arts Under One Roof, Tournesol Camp, Glebe Montessori, Youth Infringement, and Algonquin College. A graduate of Mountview Theatre School in London, England, she is renowned for her child-centred teaching and enthusiasm for experimenting. In 1998, Lesley was a member of The Great Canadian Theatre Company's Playwright's Unit. The following year, her first play Of Grace was produced by Year 1, an independent company. Her poem India, My daughter was part of Transpoetry, a series of poems on Ottawa buses. Her work has been published in: Broken Pencil, Echolocation and The New Quarterly. In 2004, she attended the Wired Writing program at The Banff Centre For The Arts where she worked with David Bergen. She is a columnist with The Kichissippi Times. |
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| Lenny Graf grew up in a family of professional musicians, and has studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Eastman School of Music in Rochester N.Y., and York University, where he holds a degree in Fine Arts. He also attended the Creighton Academy of Dramatic Art, and Actor's Equity Showcase, and is the recipient of the Grenick Award for outstanding potential in the arts. His diverse career as a musical entertainer/actor, musician, composer and bandleader has taken him across North America and beyond, and his award winning recordings have played on the Top 10 list on U.S. radio, including 4 of his songs which were featured on the Top-10 list on U.S. Radio. He has worked with such personalities as Petula Clark, Dinah Christie, Gordie Tapp, Sharon, Lois & Bram and Peter Appleyard among others. He currently makes regular appearances in concert, in festivals and on Canadian television, and his videos can be seen on YTV's Tree-House channel. As Lenny Graf is conversational with many of the languages in Toronto's multi-cultural mosaic, always with a greeting or more, for those who come from far away places. |
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| Ben Holland has been drumming ever since he could hold a wooden spoon, and wail away on the furniture. He was a member of the Baobab Youth Performers for eight years, under the instruction of Kathy Armstrong and Kwasi Dunyo. In 2006 he traveled to Dagbamete, Ghana with Baobab Youth for intensive daily drumming instruction. During his years as a member of the Baobab group he participated in several workshops with Prosper Adjetey and Dominic Donkor; members of the Montreal-based Ghana National Dance Ensemble. Ben has traveled and performed at several festivals throughout eastern Ontario, Alberta and Washington. Ben has led and assisted workshops with the Ottawa Boys and Girls club, Baobab Youth Performers and Churchill Alternative School in Ottawa. Having spent time working at camps, Ben loves to share his enjoyment of percussion with youth, and teach them to find their own rhythms. Ben is a versatile and creative percussionist, who can be found busking on the streets of Ottawa. He and his partner form the two-man group called Toob-Enz and can be seen playing a homemade junk percussion kit created from pans, cans and tubes strapped to an old bicycle trailer. They create their own musical numbers, combining eclectic rhythms with a variety of joyful sounds that captivate their audiences. |
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| Todd Snelgrove has been teaching for over ten years and holds both a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Carleton University. Todd's teaching method is tailored to the student's needs. He determines each student's current level, discusses their musical goals with them, and uses their personal interests to help them get to their desired playing level. Todd teaches pop, jazz, rock, blues, folk, grunge and country. His own specialty is improvisation and composition. |
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| Lisa Thomas has been a multi-media artist in the Ottawa area for 25 years. She has exhibited her work in group and solo shows locally and abroad. Schooled in Fine Arts at the University of Ottawa, she has gone on to pursue numerous artistic directions. She has been active as an installation and performance artist, muralist, sculptor, illustrator and painter. Fifteen years ago, she began teaching studio art to children, teens and adults and is now the head instructor at Arts Under One Roof, a visual and performing arts school in the Glebe in Ottawa. She has become known for her open and explorational style of teaching, committed to the ideal of working with small groups of students. She believes that while it is important to teach children technique and formal procedure, it is more essential to be certain that they stay in touch with their creative spirits and their unique visions. |
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| Jordan Samonas has been dancing competitively for over 15 years in many styles of dance including hip hop, jazz, ballet, pointe, modern, contemporary, tap and musical theatre. She has taught dance for a number of camps and currently teaches and choreographs at the University of Guelph, Somerville Dance Academy and the Guelph Athletic Centre. She has represented her hometown studio in Oak Ridges Ontario at provincial competitions, and has represented Canada for world competitions on both the National Jazz and Tap teams in the US and Germany. Jordan is both excited and honoured to be nominated as captain for her dance team in 2010/2011. Whether you're an experienced dancer, or dipping your toes in the proverbial dance pool, Jordan can offer a fun, creative and memorable dance experience! |
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| Rob Hughes saw the magic of photography with his first trip to the darkroom when he was seven years old and has never lost the wonder. He has trained in school, but for the most part he learned by doing. He has traveled the world taking pictures and is always enthusiastic about sharing his passion and knowledge with others. As an instructor, he educates youth on the power of the camera as a tool for positive social change. He is one of the founders of the School of Photographic Arts: Ottawa and is currently the Coordinator of Part Time Studies at the school. |
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| Jane Renyk has recently come from Alberta where she completed a fine arts degree in New Media and participated in solo and group exhibitions. She has also had the opportunity to show her work in La Petit Mort Gallery in the Byward Market in Ottawa and is currently attending the University of Ottawa in the Education program. Over the past ten years Jane has combined her passion for travel with a keen interest in the workings of human interactions - themes that are apparent in her works of mixed media, including graphite and charcoal, painting, airbrushing, and photography. She specializes in realistic portraiture and has taken her fascination with the human face into the urban art world, using skate decks and "previously loved" materials as her canvasses. Inspired by such artists as Pablo Picasso, Faith 47, and Banksy, her works are eclectic in subject and medium, and always inspired by the captivating human spirit. She also created the world's largest wagon wheel. Ask her about it when you get here! |
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Onsite Nurse
An important member of our team is our camp nurse. A registered nurse that comes with the skills to assist in the safety and well-being of our campers and staff. She is always available when our campers are not feeling their best. She is caring, nurturing and a good listener when they just need someone to talk to.
