Directory of members
Denise Markhame
The Organic Storyteller
819 – 410 – 2141/ denisemarkhame@hotmail.com
Val des Monts & La Pêche, Québec
WEB site : www.denisemarkhame.ca
Forty-seven years’ experience in the performing arts
1974 – 1993: theatre, musical comedy, and music ensembles.
Since 1993: Storyteller/Folklorist (Franco-Ontarian heritage)
Venues
Outdoor nature programs, Radio, retirement homes, schools, university classrooms, festivals, libraries, museums, daycares, women’s functions, art galleries, scout workshops, theatres, cafés, coffee-houses, church concerts, Cirque du Soleil’s “KABA” 2007, Alberta’s Northern Lights Library Tour 2006. Toured three times in Western Canada.
Resident Storyteller in the Gatineau Hills, Québec
Since 2020: Eco-tourism via Story programs: A Paradise of Frogs /Terre sacré.
2005 – 2017: Agro-tourism: Claude Laplante’s Sugarbush/100 Acre Paradise.
2008 – 2016: “Sugar Bush on Wheels” educational institutions in the Outaouais, celebrating Spring with Story & Song.
2008 à 2010 – Annual Resident-Artist tour in the retirement homes throughout the Outaouais, with monthly, seasonal performances.
Storytelling Guest-lecturer
Since 1996: McGill University’s Education Department (1996 -2001); Cegeps; Scouts, etc.
Author
Since 2016: The Lowdown to Hull and Back Newspaper: Environmental pieces.
2000 à 2006: Appleseed Quarterly: The National Storyteller’s Journal: « Cock Robin Almanac, »
articles on Mythology & Symbolism; « Recipe for Success, » success stories of Canadian and Quebecois colleagues.
2009: Album of Children’s songs « Singing thru the Year »
2001: A Solo « Barefoot » for Toronto’s 25th Storytelling Festival.
Manuscript: Folk Literature Come to Life: A Guide to Traditional Story.
Manuscript: PB « Falling into Winter »
Manuscript: PB in French « Lune des sucres »
Education
2005: Composition workshops: the Outaouais Song-writers’ Association.
Since 1992: Storytelling workshops with veteran Canadian, Quebecois and American Storytelling elders.
1990 à 2012: private music lessons of guitar and fiddle:
(McGill Conservatoire, Fiddleheads; Outaouais’ Fiddlers’ Association.)
1980 à 1984: Bachelor of Fine Arts: Music & Theatre; University of Windsor, Ontario.
(Principal instrument voice, with Canadian Bass-baritone, Steven Henrikson.)
Associations
Since 2019: Member of Canadian Children’s’ Book Centre (Storyteller).
Since 1997: Member of Storytellers of Canada (francophone rep. 2003 – 2005).
1993 – 2001: Member of Montreal’s Storytellers’ Guild.
2001 – 2005 : Member of le Regroupement du conte au Québec (Québec Storytellers).
Librarian
1991 – 1993: Branch Head and Program Animator: Montreal Children’s Library; bilingual programming in 3 branches.
1993 – 2004: Replacement in 5 branches of MCL; Special Program Animator.
Tour Guide
1989 –The Montreal Gazette: Tour Guide and Assistant to the Director of the Department of Education.