Who
We Are
School of Whales Society, a not-for-profit organisation where we use art as a healing tool in and around Calgary.
You are part of this beautiful plan to help our indigenous community heal and help stop generational trauma in the future.
Making art is a very therapeutic activity. The Blue Whale Bus will provide a healing space to do art of the highest quality anywhere in and around Calgary. Students and clients will be taught in the medium of acrylic painting, inks, sculpting, and other media such as woodwork, sewing, papermaking, and printing.
Mission & Vision
In the year of 2020 I had a crazy idea; bought a school bus and with the help of my 4 children converted it into a beautiful art studio so classes can happen anywhere. It has been an amazing blessing so far to do this kind of work in the bus.
I started this little not-for-profit as an artist who found out firsthand how powerful art is as a tool to facilitate healing in people. I developed art journaling courses and art programs that focuses on mental health and healing of the heart. Doors have opened to go teach the journal classes and art programs to schools on reserves surrounding Calgary. We also do summer camps in Southern Alberta where we collaborate with Camp Nookoowai to teach teach art, crafts, woodwork, sewing and other skills to our indigenous communities.
These programs also run in Calgary and Airdrie throughout the year. By booking a class, program or party, your payment gets directly incorporated to make classes on the reserves possible for kids that need the time for rest, restoration and healing through art and good conversation.
Renee De Waal
Founder and active teacher at School of Whales Art Society; she is a mother to four lively children living in Calgary Alberta. As a seasoned homschooler, former elementary teacher, and artist, Renee De Waal is passionate about teaching critical skills though art.
A Brief History
“I always knew I was made to teach and train people of all ages in art and skills, and I trained in teaching art and woodwork in South Africa. I had the opportunity to do just that with my four kids while homeschooling them. We painted and made a lot of art in those years…”
After the my child from homeschooling to public school, I knew in my heart it was time to start an official business. I began to teach classes in my own house as well the home of my friend who lives in Airdrie.
In time, word spread and I got a job as a guest artist at the school my kids go to now. There I taught high school art for a year. I started to get requests for paint nights and workshops, that is how business began bloom.
Gallery
We use art as a tool to help people of all ages learn, grow, and heal.
Creativity is the fundamental core of humanity. School of Wales is here to bring hope back into people’s lives; to connect, create and to live freely again, just the way we were created to be. We will be using art as a tool to relearn what we knew as children and to teach children problem solving skills and inventing. We intend to use art as a therapy tool to the broken hearted, survivors of abuse, and bring hope to the sick and the healthy alike.