Each year on March 20th, World Theatre Day for Young Audiences is celebrated around the world. Five associations representing theatre for young audience creators, producers and presenters in Canada, ASSITEJ Canada, l’Association des théâtres francophones du Canada (ATFC), Théâtres Unis Enfance Jeunesse (TUEJ), The Professional Association of Canadian Theaters (PACT) and the Canadian Children’s Festivals Association joined forces to present the Canadian message of World Theatre Day for Young Audiences.
World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People is an ASSITEJ campaign. For 2021 Assitej has asked young theatre-makes or theatre-goers why theatre is important. Their messages can be read here.
This year, Roy Fernandes was asked to write the 2021 Canadian message for World Theatre Day for Young Audiences. In this complicated period for the practice of our art, it seemed important to us to give a voice to a teacher who shares his passion for theater to his students.
Roy is a K-8 teacher with the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Some say he’s the principal, but he prefers to think of himself as the lead teacher. His day includes literacy instruction, eco initiatives, writing and directing student plays, running a school choir and running in a school running club. He believes that holistic education is the most valuable thing we can provide for our students and that includes exposure to all curriculum subjects, extra curriculars and the development of the entire student.
Roy Fernandes est enseignant au niveau primaire, lié au Conseil scolaire du district catholique de Toronto. Certains diraient qu’il est directeur, mais il se considère plutôt comme l’enseignant-guide. C’est dans la salle de classe que ça se passe ! Ses journées comprennent des cours d’alphabétisation, des initiatives écologiques, l’écriture et la mise en scène de pièces de théâtre avec les élèves, la direction d’une chorale scolaire et même la participation active au club de course à pied de l’école. Il est convaincu que l’éducation holistique est la chose la plus bénéfique que nous puissions offrir à nos élèves, ce qui inclut l’accès à toutes les matières du curriculum, les activités parascolaires et le développement complet de l’élève.
