Dr. Christianne Hayward founded the Lyceum of Literature and Art as part of her dream to contribute to the rich literary and arts community in Vancouver. She has been educating children and adults for over thirty years. Christianne established her unique parent and youth bookclubs in 1996, and now facilitates 17 bookclubs, 4 writers' workshops and literature and art classes for young children at the Lyceum. She also teaches at post-secondary institutions, works as a teacher consultant, facilitates parent groups in the ANCHOR Program at the Vancouver Child Study Centre, works at Vancouver Kidsbooks, and is mother of two sons.

Christianne is a local storyteller and popular reviewer of children’s literature. Her Ph.D studies in education (UBC, 2000) focused on using select children’s literature to develop socially relevant curriculum in early childhood settings through to high school. Christianne’s M.Ed studies (Bristol, 1982) centered around the use of literary theming in nursery schools and its effect on children’s attitudes toward reading. Christianne completed her B.Ed (U of A, 1978) in Special Education and received her Diploma in Early Childhood Education in the same year. Her first year of study at the U of A was dedicated to Fine Arts which fuelled a life-long love of the arts.

Christianne interviewed in Shared Vision Magazine.

 

Susan Ma helped Christianne make the founding of the Lyceum a reality. Working with Christianne’s bookclubs since 2005, she has been able to further her innate love of helping others connect with literature and find their learning paths. She manages the challenging administrative tasks at the Lyceum with competence and a friendly smile. In addition to working fulltime, she is completing a bachelor’s degree at UBC with concentrations in Asian studies and languages.

She has worked at Vancouver Kidsbooks since 2002; as the resident expert on graphic novels and manga she has given lectures to educators, library students and youth on the import of this medium in today’s literary community. She reviews books for the Canadian Children’s Book News and the B.C. Teachers of English Language Arts (BCTELA) English Practice.

Irene Zafiris is a freelance communications and marketing consultant with a background in film, radio and print media.  She holds a BFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia and a Diploma of Journalism from Langara College. She is passionate about literature, education and the development of healthy, sustainable communities.

Irene is also a children’s yoga instructor with over ten years experience practicing yoga.  She brings a reflective and mindful approach to the learning process, and finds joy and inspiration sharing her love of literature with children.  In her spare time Irene writes fiction, poetry, and screenplays for children and adults.  Irene is delighted to bring her writing background to the wide range of programs at the Lyceum.

May Chou first met Christianne twelve years ago, when her son Christopher was in preschool.  It was at this time that May’s love of children’s literature was born, and she has nurtured an appreciation of story with her children ever since.  May reconnected with Christianne when her daughter Emily began volunteering at the Lyceum and participating in writers’ workshops.  Always one to keep busy, May volunteered to bring her accounting background to the Lyceum.  We are happy to welcome May Chou as our new bookkeeper.

Laura Farina is a poet and arts administrator, who is passionate about bringing literature and creative writing opportunities to people of all ages.  Before beginning her job as the administrative assistant at the Lyceum, Laura worked as a program coordinator at The Banff Centre, where she handled the day to day workings of the Centre's literary arts programs.

 

Laura's first book of poetry, This Woman Alphabetical, was nominated for the ReLit Award and won the Archibald Lampman Prize. She has been published in numerous journals and magazines, most recently This Magazine. Laura has also taught creative writing in schools and communities across Canada, and was the editor of Under the Poet Tree, an anthology of writing by young people.  She is thrilled to be joining the Lyceum community and looks forward to the discussions and discoveries that this upcoming year will bring.