Career History

Early Years

Deborah studied voice performance at university – both classical and opera, was an actor-in-residence at Red Deer College, sang both lead and chorus with the Edmonton Opera and also performed in a number of musical productions with professional companies in western Canada. She has acted in commercials and film, improvisation shows, co-written plays and even performed some Shakespeare. She played clarinet with the Nanaimo Symphony, played saxophone in a touring show with Catalyst Theatre, drummed in a pipe band and Highland Danced for 10 years, which included teaching classes and performing at both the PNE in Vancouver and for the Prime Minister in Ontario.

Marketing & Public Relations

For nearly 3 decades, Deborah worked in the areas of marketing, communications, media relations, tourism, community relations and event management within cultural departments in the non-profit sector, for corporations, a municipality and also with the provincial government. During that time, she worked for a provincial museum, for presenting and producing theatres and for an international children’s festival. She was responsible for the creation and realization of dozens, if not hundreds, of effective marketing and communications campaigns and worked with countless international artists of almost every genre.

Business, Ministry & Events

Over time, Deborah’s skills and passion expanded into business. She successfully ran Blue Sky Promotions, Inc. for a decade and a charitable trust for a number of years. She became one of only two professional promoters of Gospel Music concerts in the country.

She also managed, produced and promoted international artists and festivals, directed large-scale events like The Queen’s 2005 Centennial visit and renaming ceremony for the now Royal Alberta Museum and also for the Alberta's Lieutenant Governor Garden Party that same year.

Her passion to live out her faith provided the opportunity to produce three full seasons of professional gospel concerts in mainstream venues. She also participated in missionary work, which involved a move to Scotland in 2007-2008.

Government

Deborah returned to the Government of Alberta in 2011, to lead the Marketing, Communications and Events Team for the Royal Alberta Museum. Following that, she worked with Economic Development & Trade (EDT) as Director for the team responsible for the international and domestic missions for the Premier of Alberta and the Minister of Economic Development and Trade as well as incoming visiting dignitaries.

Author

Dreamland and her book, LET’S GO! (previously released as You Want Me to Do WHAT? ) are the result of Deborah's own personal journey of faith.

In Summary

Whether building community, a company, a team, an event or campaign, some of Deborah’s strongest attributes are found in her ability to grow relationships while providing strategic direction, vision and leadership. Proactive management is her forte. No matter the workplace or the role, she endeavours to build collaborative environments and aims to achieve healthy relationships.

She is a servant leader who listens, assimilates and acts, utilizing creative thought and inspiration to both pioneer and also to find solutions to existing challenges.

Deborah carries a BIG dream ~ to one day build a creative arts hub community.