According to Kevin Mackenzie it may all have started with the egg man.
The Regina-based storyteller, who comes to town next week, remembers when he was just four or five years old how his father and the local Scottish fellow who delivered the eggs would pass the time together talking about their war days or some of the colourful moments from their younger days. Young Mackenzie would just sit there and listen in, totally entranced by the power of a good story told well.
“I was just in awe of these amazing places. It was better than any show I could see on TV, that’s for sure!”
Long since grown up, Mackenzie spent years as an educator and storyteller in residence for the Regina Public Library and the Saskatchewan Writers Guild before taking his craft to the road through Canada and the U.S., Central and South America, and Europe.
On Monday he makes a stop in St. Albert to tell tales at the library and run a couple of pre-registered workshops to show teach some of our educators and librarians the time-honoured tradition.
According to Mackenzie, it’s an art form that relies on each new audience for suggestions or participation to enhance the story’s effect or tone. He says this is a large part of how a story can become a meaningful cultural marker.
“It’s innate in our wiring. Storytelling is a way to pass on our values, our history on a personal and family level, as well as on larger levels — community and nationally if you like — basically, it’s shorthand for the brain in communicating. [It’s] about making images in the brain.” To help with the images, he may even perform one or two of his fingerplays.
The library is the perfect venue as it regularly holds story times for children and their families.
“Story times are such an important part of the services we offer here at the library that we’re thrilled to be able to give our own staff the opportunity to learn from Kevin Mackenzie,” began Shelley Martell, the library’s communications assistant. “It’s a bonus that we’re able to offer the evening session so families can see him in action too.”
The free storytelling session is open to anyone from the public but pre-registration is encouraged. Please call the children’s reference desk at 780-459-1532 or stop by in person to sign up.
