Susan PicardSusan has been teaching for more than 10 years... and singing and songwriting for most of her life. The youngest child of a northern Alberta farm family, she left home at 17 to pursue her dreams...a path that had her exploring different career possibilities: social worker, crisis counsellor, professional musician and teacher. A restless spirit, she has also traveled extensively through Canada as well as exploring parts of the US, Central America, South Pacific, Asia and Europe. In 1998 she married Mark, an amazing partner who helped her to focus her energy and see new possibilities. Shortly thereafter Susan began her graduate studies at the University of Calgary, and successfully defended her thesis in 2002. In 2001 their daughter Elena was born and their lives were transformed.As a teacher Susan has taught grades six to ten in the area of the humanities. She has been committed to developing pedagogy that addresses differentiation, curricular integration and authentic assessment. She is also passionate about understanding what is meant by sustainability, and the role that education plays in the ecology of the planet.
Through it all, Susan continued to write and perform songs with a variety of musicians in a number of contexts. She has appeared in various musical theatre production including lead roles in Bye Bye Birdie, Thin Ice and the Fantastiks. She has also performed as lead singer/songwriter in a variety of musical groups and performed at a number of music festivals including: East Coulee Spring Festival, Calgary Folk Festival, Dawson City Music Festival, Northern Music Festival, Inuvik; North Country Fair, Dawson Creek Bluegrass Festival and the Grande Prairie Bluegrass Festival. In her travels she has shared the stage with notable Canadian performers such as: Spirit of the West, Bare Naked Ladies, Colin James, Sue Medley and Bill Bourne
To find out about the other music in her life visit www.dandylionesses.com
VOLUNTEERISM/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Susan has spent a considerable amount of time involved in community development through volunteer work. Drawing on her social work and counselling background, she has been committed to raising awareness and understanding of family violence. She coordinated a series of concerts for the Kerby Centre in Calgary to raise money and awareness to senior abuse. She has also been a key figure in the coordination and artistic direction of Odyssey House's Annual Heart's Journey Concert that raises money and awareness to issues surrounding family violence. The Heart's Journey had a dual purpose in that it supports developing and professional female musicians by offering them a supportive and nurturing environment to raise their voices. The series evolved into an ongoing series of concerts: Women in the Park and Womansong to continue offering female singer/songwriters a place to share their music and support one another. Visit that website at www.gpwomansong.com
She coordinated the Power of the Land presentation to benefit the Grande Prairie Farmer's Market as well as raise awareness to the importance of supporting local food producers. The performance has been performed two additional times at the request of various agricultural groups in the Peace Country. Visit that website at www.poweroftheland.com
AWARDS/DISTINCTIONS
2008 Alberta Creative Development Initiative Grant Recipient to study at Schumacher College in Devon, England.2007 Grande Prairie Passionate Heart Award. The group received this award from FCSS for their work in support of Odyssey House and the women dealing with domestic violence.
2003 Governor General's Gold Medal Award Nomination
For work completed on masters thesis.
2000 Myron Masterson Student Recognition Award
For contribution to student activities within Queen Elizabeth Jr./Sr. High School
1998 Finalist: CBC Alberta Songwriting Competition
1996 Finalist: CBC Alberta Songwriting Competition
1995 Finalist: CBC Alberta Songwriting Competition
1995 Canada Winter Games
Performed original song "Power of the Land" as part of opening ceremonies.
1993 96FM Songwriters Award
Original song "Something Strange" included on a compilation CD.
1992 Edwin Parr Award Winner
Outstanding performance in the first year of teaching at a provincial level.
1991 Hokkaido Exchange: one of ten students from the University of Calgary selected to participate in an educational exchange between the UofC and the University of Hokkaido in an effort to create better understanding between countires of their differing education systems.