Our Instructors

Chelsey is a proud mother of three special needs children, hence why the inclusivity of Amber Academy is so important to her. As a member of the society since September, 2021, Chelsey has watched her own children blossom in their chosen passions through the program. She feels proud and honoured to be in a leadership role of something so special that supports and empowers local youth.

Chelsey grew up in a very creative and artsy family. This gave her lots of opportunities to get crafty and learn from her talented loved ones. Chelsey's very first job was working in her grandmother’s miniature shop where she’d help make and sell miniatures. Chelsey loves being able to be creative whether it's arts & crafts, painting, make up, or photography. She enjoys getting hands on and learning new skills.

In 2005 Chelsey pursued her certification in esthetics and spa therapies and has become an integral part of Amber Academy’s makeup team for their musical theatre productions.

Chelsey also has a passion for singing and all things musical and has sung in various choirs over the years. Her musical theatre background includes both performing on stage and working behind the scenes as part of the crew.

Deborah van Hattem-Koff is an illustrator and artist from Sooke, born in the Netherlands. She is also a member of the Sooke Arts Council and ECAH.

Deborah began drawing and painting from a very young age and studied Art History for 3 years in the Netherlands. She has been taking drawing and painting classes since the age of 12, and she has also taken several courses in illustration, painting, and drawing.

Deborah is a workshop teacher herself. She organizes "Sip and Paint” nights on location as well as private parties, and offers painting classes for young children too. Additionally, Deborah is a henna artist, creating temporary body art using henna leaf paste. She can be found at several arts and crafts markets throughout the summer and winter all over Vancouver Island. Deborah’s art is sold in Sooke, Sidney, Langford, and in the Netherlands.

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!”

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.

With an education background in both orchestral and soloistic music, Eli is new to directing a choir. He spent most of his years in school studying cello and a few other instruments. During the summers, Eli enjoys joining the T’Sou-ke Nation canoe family on Tribal Journeys, which connects him to his indigenous heritage and has taught him how to sing traditionally. Eli is excited to make his time with Amber Academy fun and looks forward to creating an enjoyable experience-building exercise for everyone.

Originally from the Canadian prairies, Michele discovered a love for art, sewing and creating costumes from a young age. After working in a local bridal store doing repairs and alterations, she moved to Montreal in 2012 to study Fashion Design at Collège LaSalle and expand her skills. She focused on a specialization in Costumes for Film and Television and worked on costumes for a number of local designers while studying including a theatrical production of Amadeus.

In Montreal, Michele worked for a fashion company creating accessories and handbags and was fortunate enough to travel to China to learn more about fashion industry manufacturing. After college, she worked in the fit department at a local fashion company and gained valuable experience alongside several skilled patternmakers.

Her love of film also drew her to North America's largest genre festival in Montreal, Fantasia International Film Festival where she worked for five summers and met a number of incredible film professionals. This eventually led to an opportunity to work and travel as an International Sales Agent for an indie Film company after moving to Vancouver in 2018. She is also a member of The Costume Society and has worked on television productions with local IATSE 891.

After making Victoria her home in 2022, she has continued to pursue sewing, design and creative work in the film industry. Michele is eager to teach this year at Amber Academy to help inspire creativity and instill confidence in the students and their own creative work.

Georgie Wilson, originally from the picturesque island of Tasmania, Australia, discovered her passion for photography at the tender age of 14. It was during a work experience stint at  her local newspaper that she first fell in love with the art of capturing moments through a lens. This early experience ignited a lifelong passion, leading her to establish a successful  photography business that has thrived for 14 years.

Georgie’s photography career spans across two continents, with her expertise in weddings, family portraits, fashion, and fine art photography leaving a lasting impact in both  Australia and Canada. Her keen eye for detail and her ability to capture the essence of her subjects have earned her a reputation as a sought-after photographer. Her fine art and  landscape photography have been exhibited in galleries across both countries, showcasing her ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

In addition to her photography career, Georgie has a diverse background in film and television. She spent three years working in the Vancouver film and television industry, where her skills behind the camera further developed, contributing to her multifaceted understanding of visual storytelling.

Currently, Georgie is channeling her passion for creativity into her role as an Education Assistant with the Sooke School District. Here, she works with children of all ages, using her strong background in working with youth to foster an inclusive and supportive learning environment. Georgie is dedicated to helping every student feel valued and capable of achieving their goals.

Georgie believes that photography is a powerful medium for self-expression and creativity. She is excited to bring her love of photography into the classroom, encouraging students to explore different perspectives and tell their own unique stories. Georgie is thrilled to work within her local community, where she can create meaningful connections and inspire the next generation of photographers and creatives.

Jill Sweetin developed a love for theatre early in life. Her dedication to the performing arts has taken her from a rickety, makeshift stage in her parents' backyard to performing, directing and designing roles in alternative theatre, and eventually to working with international entertainment companies in circus, comedy, and stage productions.

In 2011, Jill moved to Sooke. Locally, se has enjoyed exploring and creating community theatre, cabaret and events.

After directing last year's production of Alice in Wonderland, Paul is returning to Amber Academy for another year with plans to direct Frozen Jr. in Spring 2025.

Paul brings to his role over 30 years of experience in the dramatic arts, both on-stage and behind the scenes.

Since his move to Sooke in 2011, Paul has taken on various scripted roles as well as several production team roles in a variety of local plays and musicals, including in Godspell, Afterlife The Musical, Annie, Fawlty Towers, Tommy, Snow White, Cinderella, Treasure Island, and Camelot. He has also been an active participant in improvisational theater over the years, including most recently forming a local performing group.

Paul enjoys working with kids (and people of all ages) as they use imagination, creativity and stagecraft to bring characters and stories to life.

Simon Paterson graduated at the Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol, England in 2012 and went on to post secondary studies at the Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria BC. He then spent 7 years performing across Canada - from theatre to jazz - with his band Mahogany Hall Swing Band.

Since stepping back from that lifestyle, Simon has moved to Sooke and is now getting back into music, but not as a performer, but for the first time as a teacher! While a bit shy taking on the new role, Simon is excited and honored to work for the community of Sooke and the young talent that comes from it.

Matt originates and spent his childhood in the south-east of England, but left to study in Edinburgh where he completed a BA in Stage Management & Theatre Production at Queen Margaret University College, graduating in 1999.

After graduating, Matt spent the following years working for various technical companies in and around Edinburgh, participating in the yearly Edinburgh Fringe, numerous events and installations including going so far as northern France where he participated in the installation of new attractions during the expansion of Disneyland Paris in the early 2000s.

Since coming to Canada, Matt has participated in various events, including the Victoria Fringe, before changing careers and starting his own electrical contracting business.

Matt is pleased and excited to be the Technical Instructor for Amber Academy's program.