Ian Forsyth:
CLASS OF 1973
Steveston High SchoolClass of 1973
Richmond, BC
University of British Columbia - Theatre & FilmClass of 1981
Vancouver, BC
University of British Columbia - Arts OneClass of 1976
Vancouver, BC
Hugh McRoberts Junior High SchoolClass of 1971
Richmond, BC
Ian's Story
Life
After I finished UBC, I looked for work as an actor and had some success doing theatre, commercials, TV and films. I got quite involved with Improvisation and ran the Vancouver TheatreSports League for five years. In 1992 I saw an ad to run a new cultural centre in Fort St. John. Wasn't quite sure where that was, but got the job and moved everyone up north. Wife Teddy, kids Zoe (now 24) Ava (now 23) and Max(now 20). Had a blast for just over six years. We did all the things we couldn't do in Vancouver, bought a restored heritage house on 5 acres in the country, (our address was General Delivery-Charlie Lake) and got really involved with the community. Chamber of Commerce President, City Councillor, even -gasp- a Rotarian! We moved to Kelowna in 1998, but were really mixed about the move for about 2 years. I know, Kelowna is supposed to be the promised land after Fort St. John, but home is about the people and the things you do, and we had a better life up north than we let ourselves admit to.
I worked for the City of Kelowna as the Cultural Services Manager and ran the community theatre. All my kids are in theatre, Zoe sings, acts and did Irish Dance, Ava dances and sings and works backstage, Max is simply all ham, where does he get that from?
I left the job in 2001 and got a lot of work done around the house! Unfortunately, it was a bad time to be trying to find yourself, and a great time to be looking for work in theatre, five jobs came up (that NEVER happens) I accepted a position running the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts in Burnaby. I commuted back to Kelowna on weekends.(that gets old fast) It's a really bad time to move, Zoe and Ava going into grade 12, Teddy loves her job at Sunshine Theatre, we have a great house across the street from the lake.....so...I drive. I did that for about 1.5 years, killing my little car. Teddy got a job ...Expand for more
at the Vancouver Playhouse in 2003, and started commuting too. Had a terrible early morning accident on the Coquihalla, did two donuts and rolled the van into the ditch, totally it, but hardly a scratch on her. We realized that we really had to move back to Vancouver!
We managed to squeak into the Vancouver housing market buying a townhouse in Fairview just above False Creek.
Zoe had graduated, but Ava, after one game term at Kitsilano High, went back to Kelowna to finish school. Teddy now works at the Arts Club, Zoe at the Cultch and Ava at Bard on the Beach after finishing a degree at UBC. Max is in 2nd year at UVic. I left the Shadbolt in 2007 to become director of Cultural Affairs for North Vancouver. Empty nesters now...(that went fast!)and looking forward to the next phase.
UPDATE
Who would look forward to THIS phase??
Starting in February 2008 I developed a crippling back injury with a bone fragment lodged against my spine...had the surgery end of May....at my 8 week follow up......my brother dies talking to our mom on phone....then father in law dies on Chistmas day. Fell shoveling snow, on April 1, I should have died with MPE's, lots of them, on both lungs. Hospital for 5 Days ....... Then 2.5 months later, we've just flown to Ottawa, phone is full of VM's, dad is dying come home. The next day we flew back. He lasted a week.
Them the following summer I almost lost my left leg to an internal bleed. Within an hour the blood would have torn through the muscle and ripped out all the nerve ending.... And it can't be fixed. So decided to go off blood thinners against so many advice. 4 years later so far so good.
Recently got bery burnt out at work. doing 3 jobs instead of one. Took done medical leave and was terminated without cause during my gradual return to work. Suing them. So I'm a bit adrift. Semi retired looking at options.
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