When Erik was 15, his parents signed him up for a theatre camp at All Nations Theatre, one of Antyx’s founding organizations. He was shy and not ready to put himself out there. In fact, he still remembers it as one of the most uncomfortable things he had ever done.
Yet, he gave it a chance.
After that summer, Erik started Grade 10 as a different person. Nothing physically changed, yet his mindset and confidence soared, and he began to believe he could do anything he set his mind to.
Once a person who barely spoke in class, he began taking on leadership roles, like student council, speaking out more often, and forming social connections that once felt unreachable.
Fast forward 25 years, and Erik still credits that experience as the one that launched his life and career. His degree in drama led him to work at a university, then a public relations agency in Los Angeles, and even in the gaming industry, before he established a career in strategic communications at the University of Alberta.
“That two-week program changed my life because what happened in that program essentially unlocked a certain level of confidence and self-assuredness that I had never really exhibited before. By the time I finished camp, I was a completely different person.”
That first experience, and those that followed with the organization, not only gave Erik transferable skills he would use in any work environment, but also the confidence to believe in himself and pursue his passion.
“These are skills you can apply to any discipline across many industries. There is relevance to the performing arts, because they make kids believe in themselves.”
Art is an opportunity for a child to share a piece of their identity with the world. It is a deeply personal pursuit, and when a child shares that piece of themself, they are vulnerable. But when they feel accepted and celebrated, it gives them the tools and confidence to do the same in their lives.
“It makes them feel seen and believe in themselves,” Erik says. “In their mind, they wonder what else they can do to share with the world.”
With years of experience speaking to parents of children enrolled in arts programs, Erik shares one powerful personal memory: at his final showcase, he saw his dad standing across the room with a program director, writing a cheque.
“I realized how huge it was for my dad when he opened up his chequebook and donated just because he saw something in his son that night. Something that changed.”
Erik encourages people to support the arts this season, and Antyx in particular.
“When you invest in the arts, you are investing in kids who are trying to understand who they are in this world. They’re not just going to learn how to perform. They’re going to develop skills and confidence in communication and interpersonal relationships. They’re going to learn how to work collaboratively with other people. They’re going to learn how to be with people from different cultures and backgrounds. They are going to learn to be great human beings.”
Please give generously this season to Antyx. Antyx is a small charity that relies on donor support and provides all of its programs for free.
Help someone like Erik have a life-changing experience.
