Who are you?
I’m a reader, a writer, a Vancouver lifer, a pretty good veggie cook, a yogi, and depending on the day and season, a whole lot of other things.
By day, I work as a high school English teacher. This year, I have grade tens and elevens. We’re using literature and writing to explore crisis and resilience, and prejudice and stereotype.
What do you do for fun?
I have amazing friends, so I spend a lot of time with them. I do a lot of yoga. I read a lot of books. And I try to make the regular stuff, the day to day stuff, fun too.
What is your favorite community? Why?
My favorite community is Camp Fircom, which is a magical place on Gambier Island. I’ve been involved with camp since I was 16 and I’ve seen countless people get to play, make friends, connect to the earth, and fully be themselves. It’s a community that fully embraces imagination, enviromental awareness, and connection – everyone should check it out!
I should also mention my community of best friends here in Vancouver. They are spectacular human beings who have just heaved love on me over the years.
What is your superpower?
My superpower is creating and holding spaces for people to express themselves – be it in the classroom, the yoga studio, or just around the kitchen table.
How do I use it to build community?
When people can feel comfortable and confident on who they are, it’s easier to connect and form community. My dream is to help people be real, take themselves less seriously, and find ways to be creative. From there, community follows.
My Three Favourite Things About Alison Are…
1. Her Smile. It’s very reflective of her superpower. When Alison smiles she reveals her compassion, inclusiveness, sense of humour, and also that she kinda already knows what’s going to happen and/or what you’re going to say next. People who are very comfortable in their own skin have such a wonderful way of making those around them feel the same way.
2. She’s Candidly Direct. The world needs more straight-shooters. As the newest member of the Circle of Literary Judgement, it would be easy for Alison to agree with the collective opinion of what is a pretty outspoken and opinionated group of judgers – but that’s not how she rolls and it’s just lovely. Being a good teacher means being able to criticise without offending and Alison has this powerful skills in spades.
3. Sense of Adventurous Community. Her work with Camp Fircom – and how she collaborates with friends and fellow volunteers to creatively connect people to the natural environment is the best kind of stuff. The eloquence and passion with which Alison speaks of this experience is reflective of someone with difference-making abilities and I’m lucky to call her a friend.
– As told by John Horn
Header photo courtesy of m.prinke