BAC Faculty
Who are we?
Our core faculty is comprised of six teachers. Additionally, many guest teachers are involved, including other teachers on campus and experts in the performing and visual arts community.
Catrina Hunter
Ms. Hunter is a Fine Arts educator at Balfour Collegiate. She has trained in multiple dance areas including ballet, modern, character, pas de deux, repertoire, jazz, and contemporary, and has brought her specialized experience into the classroom. Her ballet training includes two years at the Vienna State Opera Ballet School in Austria, and the completion of her Royal Academy of Dance Advanced 2 examination with Distinction, as well as her RAD Solo Seal Awards Performance. As a dancer, she competed and performed nationally and internationally in Brazil, Austria, Germany, England, and the U.S. She has taught dance within the community for over 10 years, preparing students of all ages for exams and competitions. She has also coached the Balfour Pom, Jazz, and Hip Hop teams for several years. In 2019, she was one of the choreographers for the Regina Summer Stage production of Hairspray. She currently teaches French, Dance, and Musical Theatre at Balfour. Ms. Hunter believes all artists should have the opportunity to flourish and create in a supportive environment.
B.Ed (Arts Education); catrina.hunter@rbe.sk.ca
Janeen Clark
Ms. Clark is the English Language Arts Core Leader at Balfour Collegiate. She has taught Drama and Performing Arts for the past six years at Balfour, and the previous 12 years at Winston Knoll Collegiate. She has directed many musicals, including Wizard of Oz, Annie, Fiddler on the Roof, Urinetown, Footloose, Honk, and Once Upon a Mattress. She has also been involved in several community theatre productions and dance events including directing the 2019 Regina Summer Stage production of Hairspray. She currently teaches Advanced Placement English, Musical Theatre, and Fine Arts. Ms. Clark believes that rigour and excellence can be maintained in a creative learning environment.
B. Ed (English); B. Arts (English); M. Ed (Curriculum & Instruction); janeen.clark@rbe.sk.ca
Laura Kuz
Ms. Kuz is the Fine Arts Core Leader at Balfour Collegiate. She has taught Visual Art, Advanced Placement Art, Drama, Dance, and Performing Arts in Regina Public Schools throughout her career. She has also taught arts within the community. Ms. Kuz has coached dance and cheer teams at the CFL level and cheer, pom, jazz and hip hop teams at the high school level. She is a founding member of the Saskatchewan Cheerleading Association, recipient of the SCA coach of the year award. In 2019, she was one of the choreographers for the Regina Summer Stage production of Hairspray. Ms. Kuz believes that arts-based learning fosters opportunities for students to freely create with courage as they pursue their passions.
B. Ed (Arts Education); laura.kuz@rbe.sk.ca
Will Whitten
Mr. Whitten joined the BAC team in February 2019! He recently completed his degree in Arts Education at the University of Regina. Mr. Whitten has worked as a visual art instructor with Paper Crane Community Art Centre, a teacher at the Globe Theatre School, a freelance photographer, an improviser, and founding member of Regina’s first live sketch comedy group. As a teacher and an artist, he believes in the importance of creativity, expression, and creation as a way for people to find their voice, explore and understand their world.
B. Ed (Arts Education); will.whitten@rbe.sk.ca
Garrett Yee
Mr. Yee joined the BAC teaching staff in 2020. He is a graduate of the Arts Education program at the University of Regina, where he studied Dance and Visual Art. Nine years ago, he moved to Tisdale, SK to pursue his teaching career. He is excited to be back home in Regina joining the Balfour community, and he feels privileged to work with all the talented students and staff at Balfour Collegiate. In his day-to-day life, he loves to dance, sing, draw, and paint; he also enjoys fitness and yoga.
B. Ed (Arts Education); B. Arts (Dance); garrett.yee@rbe.sk.ca
Julia Opdahl
Ms. Opdahl is the newest addition to the BAC team. She completed her degree in Arts Education from the University of Regina in 2021, double majoring in Drama and Literature. Prior to moving to Regina, Ms. Opdahl received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours degree in Acting from the University of Saskatchewan, where she acted, directed, stage managed, and designed for over a dozen productions, including Arcadia, Macbeth, Girl in the Goldfish Bowl, Henry V and The Illusion. In addition to theatre, Ms. Opdahl has also trained in a variety of dance styles and has taught jazz, ballet, musical theatre, hip hop, and pom within the Saskatchewan community. Ms. Opdahl believes that through art and creation, we can create safe spaces for people to express themselves, explore their passions, and become empathetic, responsive individuals.
B.F.A Honours (Drama); B. Ed (Arts Education); julia.opdahl@rbe.sk.ca