Donald B. Ferguson

Instructor

Don Ferguson has 36 years of experience in the broadcast industry, spanning from the end of the film days to the digital age of today. Don has had the privilege of working as a Studio Cameraman for the Evening Newscast, worked in Master Control on commercials and TV shows, and from there progressed to producing for ENG (Electronic News Gathering). There he worked in the field with reporters and anchors, producing the news. Don also has experience as a Production Switcher for live broadcasts of the news and has worked as a News Director, responsible for the audio and video for live newscasts. Don is versed in all the software used for live productions and non-linear editing techniques.  Don is a partner in the film production company Techyoumedia and has produced several documentaries and TV pilots through this partnership, including “The Force” hosted by Leslie Nielsen and The KVR Diaries with TV host Mike Roberts. A full-length sci-fi motion picture from Techyoumedia is in the final stages of effects and sound design.

Don brings his diverse experience with him to the Centre for Arts and Technology as an instructor in the Digital Video Fusion Production Program and the Digital Filmmaking Program.

Henrietta Poirier

Instructor

Growing up between Glasgow’s inner-city grit and the rugged isolation of the Isle of Skye on Scotland’s west coast, Henrietta’s world view has been shaped by local folklore and fairytales of travel and adventure. She traveled extensively on her own with little more than a backpack and a pair of sandals, volunteering in India’s southern regions, smoking with sadhus in the Himalayas, traveling by camel through the Gobi Desert, and teaching English in Cairo; wherever she went, Henrietta immersed herself in the culture, stories, and language of the region. From studying Hebrew in Israel, working in France, Greece, and Turkey to living out of a VW van in Mexico and the US, Henrietta’s love for the story has been inspired by many cultures.

Educated in both the broadcast and media arts and cultural studies across two continents, she now makes her home in Kelowna BC, where she lives with her husband of 28 years.

Henrietta has worked at the Centre as a part-time contract instructor for ten years, bringing lively and informed instruction across a number of programs, including Photography, Film, and Events and Planning Management. Her love for the written word, warm presence, and dedication to her craft have been both a valuable asset and well-loved addition to our student’s education here at the college.

She is passionate about giving her students informed and insightful feedback and working with them to explore stories and improve their writing skills.

With 20+ years of writing for film, television, and commercial productions, her writing career has crossed platforms from business to entertainment. She has had short films shortlisted, sold a feature on the Hutus and Tutsis to World Changer Productions; she was the creator/writer of a television series optioned by TVO and wrote the script for an award-winning documentary aired on OLN.

Additionally, her treatments and proposals have secured development funding from CTV, TVO, and Bell Media.

Henrietta works as a freelance writer both locally and internationally with ongoing contracts in the marketing and media production industries. She has had poetry published in three anthologies, and four books published as a ghostwriter. Henrietta is currently working on the adaptation of a novel into a television series set in Neolithic Scotland.

Tamie Williams

Instructor

Tamie Williams began her career as a broadcaster in 1999. During her time as a television producer, she hosted a variety of programming – including live broadcasts as well as long and short form recorded segments. Her technical skills include videography (for live and recorded programs), non-linear editing, Master Control (scheduling programs), and operating NewTek 3 play unit (for live replays during sporting events). As a producer, she worked with crews for live and recorded programming (including talent and crew coaching and scheduling). She’s also produced commercial video content. Tamie has written and produced news, community, and commercial content for online media sources. As an anchor/host for radio, Tamie writes and edits news and community-based stories, does live story hits, and is a fill-in host for a 3-hour live talk show.

Tamie has been very active in local theatre for more than 15 years, as an actor, stage manager, producer, and most recently, a director. She has also been involved in locally produced short movies.

Tamie has lived in Kelowna for 20+ years and has been a part-time instructor at the Centre for Arts and Technology for three years. For Tamie, student success is paramount, and providing support, purpose-driven feedback, and an opportunity to explore creativity is part of that journey.