Elinor Benjamin, Storyteller

Bio

• interest in story telling began over 30 years ago, as the result of friendship with Newfoundland fiddler and storyteller, Emile Benoit, and hearing Rita Cox, Bob Barton and Laura Simms at library conferences.

• performed at
  The March Hare, Corner Brook (over 20 years)
  Ottawa Storytelling Festival,
  Toronto International Storytelling Festival - 2022 and 2023
  Featured Teller at the Boston Story Space - 2022 and 2023
  Trails, Tales and Tunes (Norris Point, NL),
  St. John's Folk Festival,
  St. John's Storytelling Festival,
  Festival of Storytelling (Brockville, ON)
  Word on the Street, (Halifax),
  Sean Dunne Festival (Waterford, Ireland),
  T.A.L.E.S. Retreat, Markerville, Alberta, with 12 tellers to present the Icelandic saga of Grettir the Strong (2012)
  The Dublin Yarnspinners, (Dublin, Ireland),
  Rotary Art Centre, Corner Brook
  The Storytellers Circle of Halifax
  TD Canadian Children's Book Week Tour 2003

Upcoming and past presentations.
 

• received the Storytellers of Canada/Conteurs du CanadaStorykeeper Award in 2015


• served in various positions on the board Storytellers of Canada - Conteurs du Canada, now working on our archives.


• member of Storytelling Toronto, The Canadian Children's Book Centre and Halifax Storytellers Circle (Currently President), National Storytelling Network


• worked with elementary classes in Learning through the Arts (LTTA), Western School District, Corner Brook a project of the Royal Conservatory Music (2001 - 2008)


• told stories at libraries, schools and concerts to audiences of all ages for 15 years while working as a public library administrator (until 2001). Currently involved in organizing events for Storytellers Circle of Halifax, telling stories at a Seniors Centre, and other community events.


• host and storyteller for 20 years at The Mad Hatter's Tea Party, at Corner Brook's March Hare Poetry Weekend; selected as the Annual Honoree at the 2008 March Hare
   
• conducted workshops at Vinland Music Camp (2010), The ArtsWork Conference in St. John's, Books for Babies, Early Literacy Networking Conference etc
   
• served on national and provincial arts juries
   
• lived and travelled in many places in the US, Europe, UK and Canada before returning to Nova Scotia in 2011