Hi Everyone,
I am Barbara Benwell and my pronouns are she/her. I am an educator, artist and mother from Thunder Bay which is seated on the traditional lands of Fort William First Nation, Signatory to the Robinson Superior Treaty. I am grateful to live, work and raise a family on this land. I recognize that this acknowledgement is not enough and that I need to actively work against colonialism, racism and white supremacy.
I have an Honours Bachelor of Fine Art, a Bachelor of Education and a Masters in Social Justice with a specialization in Women’s Studies from Lakehead University. Through my education I have learned that I will never stop learning. Sometimes it is a matter of unlearning and then learning a new way. If there is anything I can impart from my years in education it would be to make mistakes, ask questions and challenge yourself.
Beyond my work, I love spending time outdoors with my fam jam, filling my pockets with rocks that ‘speak’ to me, hanging out in a hammock reading, taking my puppers, ZZ, for walks and having dance offs with my kids. I love to create in many, many ways, from baking to watercolours to playing with textiles to whichever project has caught my eye this week.
I am really looking forward to working with you in Academic Upgrading.