Our Instructors

An Amber Academy alumnus, Calli Hesketh has spent her entire life on the stage as a dancer since the age of 2, and beginning a long journey of acting in 2014. She has worked with many companies across lower Vancouver Island as an actor, choreographer, director, tech, teacher and more! It's hard to find an avenue of the theatre arts she hasn't dipped her toes into.

Having worked on shows like -- but not limited to -- Annie, Frozen, Footloose, Shrek, and productions starring brand new kindergarteners to experienced veteran actors, Calli brings a lot of energy, passion and love into every project.

Deborah van Hattem-Koff is an illustrator and artist from Sooke, born in the Netherlands. She began drawing and painting from a very young age, began taking classes at the age of 12 and studied Art History for 3 years. Deborah is also a henna artist, creating temporary body art using henna leaf paste.

Deborah loves creating commissioned art pieces. She was commissioned to design 100 hand illustrated cards for the cast and film crew of the popular Hallmark Channel TV series, "When Calls the Heart" and a book cover for a yet-to-be published novel by a Vancouver Island author. One of her most recent commissioned projects was the design of a mural for the City of Langford in 2023 called “Where the Mountains Meet the Sea”. This mural can be found at the Langford Station Cultural District in Langford.

Deborah has been teaching art classes at Amber Academy since September, 2018 and truly enjoys sharing her creativity with the younger generation. She loves to inspire and enable others to have fun creating art and discovering the true artist within. “Everyone is a born artist; you just have to simply make time to draw and paint and enjoy the process of creating!”

Kaija Griffiths grew up near Missoula, Montana. After high school, she moved to Washington, where she attended the Northwest College of Art.  At the age of 19 she moved to Pender Island, where she lived for a few years before moving to Vancouver Island to attend post secondary. 

Kaija has loved art from a very young age, attending a variety of art camps and art clubs throughout her adolescent years.  In high school she raised money for local animal rescue groups in Missoula, Montana by selling her paintings.

While attending Camosun College, Kaija worked at a before and after school care program, where she planned a variety of activities for elementary school children.  She currently works in the community as a youth outreach worker, facilitating groups for local teens as well as providing one-on-one support.

Kaija began teaching with Amber Academy in 2025.  She loves introducing children to different ways of expressing their creativity. 

Keiran Shae Donaldson is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Growing up in one of Canada’s most influential live music communities, she was fortunate to learn from many local musicians. Keiran also trained at Manitoba Theatre for Young People from age 10-17 in improv and musical theatre.

Keiran’s connection to music began early in her life. Her first-grade teacher introduced her to the joy of music as a learning tool, sparking a lifelong curiosity about teaching. Later, her high school music teacher helped her succeed by embracing the way her mind worked—an experience that deeply influenced her own approach to mentorship.

With over 15 years of performance experience, Keiran has played many different venue types and has even had the privilege of performing alongside the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in both choral and concert band settings. Keiran released her debut album Discovery, in 2016, which featured eight of her original songs.  She uses her voice expressively across genres and finds joy in the moment a piece “clicks”— whether through collaborative harmony or personal breakthroughs in understanding.

Kerian has been with Amber Academy since 2024. Her teaching philosophy centers on creating the space for a child, rather than placing the child in a space---reminding them not only that their goals are within reach, but providing ways that they, themselves, believe such goals are attainable.

Megan Evans is a visual artist living in Sooke, born in Victoria BC. She has painted from a young age and has taken art courses through Camosun College, local workshops and online through Ginger Cook’s Academy of Fine Art and Acrylic Painting.

Megan has taught painting workshops at the studio of the Sooke Arts Council and seasonally participates as an artistic vendor in the Sooke Night Market at the Sooke Region Museum. Additionally, Megan creates resin art and mosaic wall art using hand cut glass tiles. Megan has also dabbled in watercolors, plaster of paris sculpture, origami, and mixed media/collage art.

Megan has participated in many local shows and regularly has paintings hanging at Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre and in various local venues through the Independent Artists' Group. She also sits on the Board of Directors for Sooke Arts Council and is Secretary on the Board of Directors for Amber Academy Youth Fine Arts Society.

Megan has been teaching at Amber Academy since September, 2023 and enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for creating art. She hopes to empower young artists on their journey to discover their own unique style and to have fun with the creative process.

Growing up in the West Kootenays, Megan developed a love for art from an early age and has carried that passion through every stage of life. After moving to Vancouver Island in 2008, the stunning scenery sparked a deeper interest in photography, which became a professional path in 2018.

Today, Megan specializes in candid, lifestyle, and corporate photography—capturing authentic moments that feel natural and timeless. With a strong background in design and marketing, gained through roles at the University of Victoria and now as manager of a creative team at Royal Roads University, she brings both artistic vision and strategic insight to every project.

Megan joined Amber Academy as an instructor in January 2025 and is excited to also serve on the Board of Directors as Director of Marketing and Communications. Inspired by nature and the beauty of everyday life, she is passionate about sharing creativity and encouraging others to see the world through a fresh lens.

Nora joined Amber Academy in September 2025. Originally from Nelson, B.C., she spent most of her childhood and adolescence on Vancouver Island. From a young age, Nora has been involved in a variety of activities, but dance has remained a constant passion—she began dancing at the age of four and has explored many different styles over the years.

As she continued in dance, Nora discovered a growing appreciation for theatre, which opened up new creative avenues for her. In recent years, she has taken on teaching and assisting roles at both her high school and local dance studio. These experiences sparked a deep interest in education, and she has become passionate about mentoring others through the arts.

Nora has worked with students ranging in age from five to twenty-five, offering support, guidance, and inspiration. Before stepping into a teaching role, she herself was mentored by a number of influential instructors—many of whom she still references in her own teaching practice. Her journey into theatre began in ninth grade, where she quickly developed a love for the art form and discovered her leadership abilities. Since then, she has choreographed and cleaned dances for her high school’s theatre program for four consecutive years.

After taking a gap year to travel and gain more experience, Nora plans to attend the University of Alberta to study Drama and Secondary Education. Through this degree, she hopes to continue sharing her passion for the arts with future students.