Volunteer Spotlight

Mike Walters keeps Pine Tree Players’ productions running smoothly, often without the audience ever realizing just how much he’s doing. As stage manager for the upcoming The Importance of Being Earnest, Mike plays a central role behind the scenes, drawing on years of experience with Pine Tree Players as a backstage crew, tech operator, actor, and stage manager.

Pine Tree Players’ renowned “lighting and sound guy” can usually be found in the shadows, never making a brash sartorial statement in his smart button-downs and classic woollen sweaters. You won’t find this highly irreverent, “original” force sporting a bunny outfit or rocker T-shirts. Instead, he remains in those liminal spaces, letting his work steal the spotlight. Literally.

Her latest creation is the portable set of Bob’s Your Elf. Since moving to Canmore a few years ago, Liv has volunteered on nine sets for Pine Tree Players and was the lighting board operator for Loose Knit. She’s also been on the play recommendation committee for two years.

Is it possible to volunteer 1,378 hours with one organization and only be 18 years old? It is if you’re Lily Burden who just won a volunteer award through the Rotary Club for the hours she clocked during her time at the Canmore Collegiate High School.