Lesley gained her Associate, Trinity College, London Teacher’s Diploma in Speech & Drama (A.T.C.L.) in 1977 and her Licentiate (Practical) in 1983.
She started Speech & Drama lessons at age seven in New Zealand. It has proved invaluable in all areas of her life, particularly in business over a 20 year period.
Granddaughter, Sophia
In her position as General Manager, Office Automation Division of Adia, she was frequently required to make formal presentations to clients, and give seminars for various organizations and associations, and gained recognition as a skilled and accomplished Public Speaker. Her strong communication and organization skills helped her launch the Personnel Services division and Education Centres of Office Automation for the company. She designed a Certification Program for women for a 40 branch network and trained teachers and taught classes. She wrote the company’s daily commentaries broadcast on CHQM for over a year, wrote several major speeches for the President of the corporation and wrote a monthly client newsletter, which became a pillar of the marketing programme for several years.
The life-changing experience of parenting her son compelled her to pursue her life-long passion for drama and children’s literature along with her new-found interest in Developmental Psychology. She left the business world in 1995 to teach children.
Son Jason reading with Sophia
She has been teaching Speech & Drama in Vancouver for the last twenty years. Her love and knowledge of children’s literature, her enormous enjoyment working with children and teens, and her knowledge of developmental psychology create a unique and fruitful learning environment. She has developed group drama programmes for the Arbutus Club (Dressup Drama for 4 to 6 year olds, Drama Delight for 7 to 9 year olds and The Arbutus Players for 10 to 12 year olds), and devised her own curriculum for her students. She also teaches for the Trinity Guildhall syllabus for those students wanting to take examinations. She is currently in the process of writing a children’s book as well as pursuing other writing assignments.