Mary Hays with Helen Lavender

Mary Hays with Helen Lavender

In Memory of Helen Lavender 1934 – 2015

Storytelling Alberta is committed to supporting the next generation of storytellers. The Helen Lavender Youth Teller Award seeks to recognize and showcase a young person’s commitment to exploring oral storytelling and oral storytelling performance.

Award Overview

In 2014, donations were collected in Helen’s memory to be used for funding the Storytelling Alberta Helen Lavender Youth Teller Award. A nominee is chosen annually by the Storytelling Alberta Provincial Executive. Award winners receive $50.00 and a one-year membership in Storytelling Alberta. They will be warmly invited to attend all online and in-person Storytelling Alberta events and to seek out informal mentoring from experienced members. The winner’s tenure runs from October 1 in the year the winner is announced to September 30th of the following year. The sponsoring Storytelling Alberta chapter will invite the award recipient to perform an oral story at a chapter event during the year of their tenure.

Eligibility

Successful candidates must:

  • Be 25 years of age or younger

  • Reside in Alberta

  • Have an interest in oral storytelling and oral storytelling performance

  • Be nominated by a member of Storytelling Alberta

Procedure

  • Nominations will be in the form of a letter of recommendation sent by the nominator with approval from the sponsoring Storytelling Alberta chapter

  • Nominations should be sent to the Storytelling Alberta Awards Coordinator listed below

  • Entries will be judged by the awards committee, which includes representatives from every chapter

  • Nominations are due by end-of-day on June 30

  • Nominations are solicited in the winter issue of The Storyteller newsletter

  • The award committee will inform all chapter sponsors no later than August 15 of the status of the nominations

  • The successful recipient will be informed by a representative of the sponsoring chapter

  • The award is presented at the annual Storytelling Alberta Retreat in September (if the recipient is unable to attend the Retreat, the Executive will make every effort to enable the winner to join the festivities via video platform)

Award Background by Mary Hays

In August 2015, it was with great sorrow that we marked the passing of Helen Lavender – our friend, mentor and fellow storyteller. She is greatly missed by all who knew her. Helen filled our lives with a love of story. She was funny and feisty. Helen amazed us with her wonderful and diverse activities. Here are just a few of Helen’s wonderful and diverse storytelling achievements:

  • She led the Storytelling Alberta group who collected the local history of the Sherwood Park area. The stories were presented in a series of concerts. One story of courage and hard work was called, “The Ditch of Dreams.”

  • Helen was a self-published author - writing two volumes about her farm adventures (“A Gift of Trouble”).

  • You can hear her tell the clever and complicated story “Master of All Masters” on the first Storytelling Alberta CD, A Collection of Storytelling Alberta.

  • Helen Lavender was honoured with a Storytelling Alberta Lifetime Membership for her dedicated contributions and years of volunteer work in Storytelling Alberta in June of 2014.  Her tireless advocacy, including starting the Strathcona Chapter, will not be forgotten.

  • To honour her lifetime contribution to storytelling in Alberta, the Helen Lavender Youth Teller Award was created in 2014. 

  • Helen’s son Ken was the Storytelling Alberta webmaster for many years. He served us with dedication to honour his mom!

  • Helen was a long-time member of Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada (SCCC) and attended their annual conference for many years. 

  • Helen attended the Storytelling Alberta Storytelling Retreat for as long as she was able, contributing her stories, hugs and wit.

Kishan Jha receives the Helen Lavender Award from Mary Hays

Recipients

2023-24 - Rachel Glessing of Edmonton

2022-23 - Kishan Jha of Calgary

2020-22 – Angie Hu of Calgary (Angie’s tenure was extended to September 30th, 2022 because of the limited opportunities for in-person performances during the pandemic)

2018-19 – Jesse Peachment of Calgary

2017-18 – Leona Sudom of Calgary

2016-17 – Colleen Lam of Edmonton

2015-16 – Nuala Kennedy of Ardrossan

Awards Coordinator: Doreen Vanderstoop dvanderstoop@storytellingalberta.com