Work Always Moves Me
Very soon I will be leaving Vancouver after living here for 9+ years. Im moving to Virginia to run a Theatre and Arts Centre there…My Daughter Madeleine was born here that first year we arrived in town from Fort McMurray by way of Pennsylvania. Ive moved around most of my life and been a hobo for the work I have chosen to do. I would not have been in Vancouver as long as I have been except for two life changing reasons. The first is I got sick, really sick and it has taken me all this time to find wellness again, albeit an older creakier kind of wellness:) The sickness weakened me but it also strengthened me and allowed me to finally discover what was important.
The second less pleasant and life shaking reason is that after a short stint in a theatre in Alberta I was accused of something I still to this day don’t think I did BUT it did completely damage my confidence and made me think long and hard about what I was really doing with my life. For years now I have laid low, took stock, enjoyed fatherhood and struggled hard with who I am and who I want to be and the perceptions I seem to throw off by simply being my imperfect self. This is not an excuse, I made mistakes, I stepped beyond boundaries I should have had more sensitivity to and I was cocky. Thankfully I was loved (deeply) and cared for through all of this and that love and care has engaged me mightily to be better and to do better. Through this entire time I have been lucky to have an artistic and creative home in Deep Cove with FIRST IMPRESSIONS THEATRE. Michael and Eileen Smith and many others have been there for me and I hope I have made an impact and been there for them with the work we have done in this little theatre that sparkles with Magic… When all the pieces come together it truly is a remarkable place with energy you can feel in your soul!
So Claude…Why would you leave such a place? Why displace yourself, disrupt your family life and the gifts the west coast has given you? This is a question I have had to answer many times along the way to this decision and certainly a couple of weekends ago when I was in Virginia it was the first question anyone and everyone asked me…
HERE IT IS…
Because I can and because its in my DNA…We as a species are adventurers, discoverers, explorers…I have been this way all my life moving from places I have worked hard to improve and stabilize only to go find some other place that needs my particular brand of leadership and attention. I love to be of use and to purge myself and the life I have chosen by making places I go better. The Prizery Theatre in South Boston Virginia can use my leadership and I am honoured to go be of use to them and that lovely community. For now and until the time comes they will have my full attention.
Come visit if you can, I think its a pretty special place!
