Directory of members
Dinny Biggs
My early career as a classroom teacher and program coordinator in downtown Toronto, built my experience with storytelling to better connect with listeners of all ages, identities and backgrounds. My next career was in volunteer management working directly with storytelling in different capacities. A few are highlighted below.
I believe in storytelling not only as a best practice in pedagogy, but also for building family and community engagement. I continue to encourage oral traditions by strengthening my skill as a story listener and in particular, to appreciate and value stories told that have been previously dismissed, unheard or hidden.
I am myself, an emerging storyteller and keen arts supporter.
dinnybiggs@gmail.com
Volunteer Festival Co-Director:
2024 Toronto International Storytelling Festival 'Many Voices Tell a Story'
I worked on the team of 4 directors with staff and volunteers to produce the 45th annual festival for Storytelling Toronto, June 11 to 17 2024.
Volunteer Board Director:
Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada
2015 to 2017 vice-president 2017 to 2019 president Co-host of SC-CC's annual National Conference, in 2018, held in Peterborough ON
Workshop Coordinator:
'Storytelling with Seniors' Storytelling Toronto 2016 – 2017
I was part of a project team to organize two workshops, a full day symposium and public online resource. We presented speakers on health- related research and storytelling activity examples indicating the positive impact of storytelling and story listening involving older adults.
A video about this project is on the Storytelling Toronto website as 'Memories into Stories'
http://storytellingtoronto.org/memoriesintostories/
Project Coordinator:
'Village of Storytellers' Storytelling Toronto 2012 – 2015
I invited Regent Park residents and community partners and interpreters to help shape projects over 4 years involving storytelling circles in school and community settings with groups of children, youth, adults and seniors. Each group met with professional storytellers once a week over 6 to 8 weeks. Participants shared personal and traditional stories with each other, at local community events and some, invited on stage at the annual Toronto Storytelling Festival.
The project demonstrated the depth of oral traditions around the world and how oral stories 'travel'. Collected testimonials from project participants and audiences reinforced the positive impact of oral storytelling to support social inclusion, cultural competency and community engagement.
A video about this project is in the archives of Storytelling Toronto as ‘Village of Storytellers’
Coordinator of Festival Volunteers
Toronto International Storytelling Festival Storytelling Toronto 2010 - 2015 and in 2024
This was exciting work each year with keen volunteers recruited to support and assist artists and audiences at a series of different storytelling events and in multiple venues for the annual Toronto International Storytelling Festival.
My experience included volunteer management and building accessibility support for both artists and audience members.