519.997.2863   |   info@wetech-alliance.com   |   FRANÇAIS
Site logo
Sticky header logo
Site logo
  • Who We Are
    • Our Purpose
    • Our Team
      • WEtech Alliance Team
      • Venture Success Team
    • Our Board
    • Our Impact
    • Our Partners
  • What We Do
    • Tech Acceleration
      • Founders Night
      • i.d.e.a. Fund
      • Innovation Outposts
      • ScaleUP
      • SWO Black Entrepreneurship Network
      • Roadmap to MVP
      • Innovation Catalyst
      • Ignition Program
        • Ignition Challenges
        • Ignition Solutions
      • Digital Main Street | Future Proof
      • Women Entrepreneurship
        • Roadmap to MVP
        • Canada/US Power Panel
        • F5: Refresh and Reload
        • Women Entrepreneurs Holiday Gift Guide
        • RISE Windsor-Essex
      • MedHealth
    • Tech Talent
      • Nerd Olympics
      • FIRST Robotics
      • Hacking Health
      • Tech Connect
    • Tech Community
      • Tech Week YQG
      • Tech Awards
      • Founders Week
      • Tech Connect
      • Regional Alliance Windsor-Essex
      • Where Canada Begins
  • How We Help
    • Client Perks
    • Tech Jobs Board
    • Opportunity Alerts
    • Resources
      • Links
      • Winnovation Map
      • Entrepreneur’s Toolkit Library
      • Employer Support Programs Matrix
      • Entrepreneur Support Network
      • WEsearch
  • Get Connected
    • Tech Connect
    • Tech & Innovation News
    • Tech Events
    • Tech Blog
    • Tech Podcasts
    • TECH IT OUT! Newsletter
    • Français
    • Contact Us
  • Tech Jobs
  • Become a Client
PrevWEtech Alliance and Partners Launch Local Solutions to Local Challenges to Support Main Street Businesses07 January 2021NextAPMA launches AI-Enabled RFP for Project Arrow at CES 202111 January 2021
  • Blog
  • Client News
  • Tech News

Storytelling Goes Virtual with Digital Shift via Zoom

January 8, 2021in Blog 0 Comments

It took Cheryl Thornton and business partner Matthew Giffin three weeks to shift from entertaining children in daycare centres and schools with their unique brand of storytelling, music and art to providing the same entertainment via Zoom technology.

“We’d been offering these in-person live classes every week in five different daycare centres in the Toronto area and suddenly it all dried up when they were forced to close because of COVID-19 restrictions,” explained Thornton, whose business is now based in Ridgetown.

“Matthew and I decided to provide the same storytelling and music sessions via Zoom with children linking in from home,” added Thornton. “We also decided to leave the link open for 10-15 minutes after each session so people could talk to each other and communicate as they would have done if we were still in a daycare setting.”

When they first launched the virtual sessions in early spring, Thornton and Giffin entertained between 100 and 150 families. The sessions were free and participating children ranged in age from two to four. Occasionally, older siblings would join in as well.

Image module

Matthew Giffin (left) and Cheryl Thornton have taken their company, StoryValues, online as a result of COVID-19

In the summer, they decided to monetize their programs and offer subscriptions for a series of options including Summer Story Camp, Autumn Story Club with a third series planned for the winter months.

Once schools reopened in September, Thornton and Giffin resumed their live sessions but also maintained contact with many children and their families through Zoom.

Leading into the Christmas break, they were entertaining children in as many as 30 schools across Lambton-Kent and the Greater Toronto Area in addition to family sessions on Saturdays, all via Zoom.

Thornton, who has a master’s degree in theatre arts from New York University, has been performing and telling her unique brand of stories for over 20 years to audiences of children in Canada, China and Australia.

Giffin, meanwhile, spent 15 years as art director at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and one year as art director for Paul McCartney in New York. He’s also a visual artist and musician.

And while both have ample experience in music and storytelling, they credit programs offered by WEtech Alliance including those led by female entrepreneurs and marketing mentors with helping lift their business to another level.

“They’ve been phenomenal and incredibly helpful,” said Giffin. “We’ve had access to an hour of marketing advice which has provided us with a great deal of support and helped us get our stories and music in front of new audiences.”

Image module

Matthew Giffin sings while kids work on their paintings during a recent session on Zoom

Thornton and Giffin will also be collaborating with WEtech on January 12 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. when they’ll be providing virtual kidsitting services during WEtech’s F5: Refresh & Reload virtual meetup for women entrepreneurs.

“We’ll be entertaining children by telling stories live on Facebook,” explained Thornton. “The fact that it’s live is so much more effective than providing entertainment by video.”

Thornton said her stories are unique versions of ancient myths, fairytales and folktales all told from a different perspective with interactive opportunities for their young audiences.

“The children interact with Matthew and I through words and gestures and they really seem to enjoy becoming part of the stories we tell and the songs we play,” said Thornton. “Offering these sessions via Zoom is very effective because the feedback and interactive opportunities are instant.”

Giffin said he and Thornton use their stories as a window through which children can explore and develop communication skills. It’s also a form of play through which children are learning skills and interacting with their classmates.

“Art programs are often among the first to be dropped because of finances but as time goes by, there is nothing more practical and important than helping children develop communication skills particularly if they are learning from home,” said Giffin.

All of the sessions follow the Ontario school curriculum and focus on four pillars – character, culture, creativity and communication.

For more information on these unique storytelling programs, visit Cherylthornton.com or Storyvalues.com.

  • client
  • digital shift
  • F5
  • virtual
  • zoom
1 Likes

Related posts

Tech News Gaia Workspace Launches Calendar View, a New Feature for Easier Room & Desk Booking
November 17, 2022in Tech News 0 Comments 5 Likes

Gaia Workspace Launches Calendar View, a New Feature for Easier Room & Desk Booking

Blog Applications Now Open For Sixth Cohort Of WEtech Alliance’s Award-Winning ScaleUP Tech Accelerator
July 12, 2022in Blog 0 Comments 4 Likes

Applications Now Open For Sixth Cohort Of WEtech Alliance’s Award-Winning ScaleUP Tech Accelerator

Client News Local Audio Production Company Inks Agreement with California-Based DTS Inc., Co-founded by Steven Spielberg
May 31, 2022in Client News 0 Comments 4 Likes

Local Audio Production Company Inks Agreement with California-Based DTS Inc., Co-founded by Steven Spielberg

Client News The Family Business(es)
December 22, 2021in Client News 0 Comments 3 Likes

The Family Business(es)

Blog A Happy Accident
August 17, 2021in Blog 0 Comments 3 Likes

A Happy Accident

Client News The QR Code Comeback: DMS Lab Helps Businesses Go Contactless
June 21, 2021in Client News 0 Comments 2 Likes

The QR Code Comeback: DMS Lab Helps Businesses Go Contactless

Blog The Doctor is ON
June 8, 2021in Blog 0 Comments 1 Likes

The Doctor is ON

Blog That’s the Spirits! New Service Delivers Drinks to Your Doorstep
May 21, 2021in Blog 0 Comments 1 Likes

That’s the Spirits! New Service Delivers Drinks to Your Doorstep

Client News ICT Company Soothsayer Analytics Expands to Windsor-Essex
May 13, 2021in Client News 0 Comments 3 Likes

ICT Company Soothsayer Analytics Expands to Windsor-Essex

Blog Senior Years: (Fitness) Class is Back in Session
May 5, 2021in Blog 0 Comments 1 Likes

Senior Years: (Fitness) Class is Back in Session

Client News New Programming Perk Set to Launch for WEtech Clients
April 16, 2021in Client News 0 Comments 0 Likes

New Programming Perk Set to Launch for WEtech Clients

Client News Two WEtech Clients Selected to Participate in Ontario’s Delegation at Collision from Home
April 15, 2021in Client News 0 Comments 0 Likes

Two WEtech Clients Selected to Participate in Ontario’s Delegation at Collision from Home

Blog Local Tech Company Accepted into Canada’s Tech Network’s Soft Landing: Scale from Home program
April 6, 2021in Blog 0 Comments 0 Likes

Local Tech Company Accepted into Canada’s Tech Network’s Soft Landing: Scale from Home program

Client News New First-Of-Its-Kind Vertical Farm Store launches in the Heart of Canada’s Greenhouse Agriculture Sector
March 19, 2021in Client News 0 Comments 3 Likes

New First-Of-Its-Kind Vertical Farm Store launches in the Heart of Canada’s Greenhouse Agriculture Sector

Client News Toolkit Helps to Make Entrepreneurs’ Mental Health & Well-Being a Priority
March 18, 2021in Client News 0 Comments 3 Likes

Toolkit Helps to Make Entrepreneurs’ Mental Health & Well-Being a Priority

Client News WEtech Alliance Prepares Two Tourism Businesses for Digital Future with $20k Boost
March 11, 2021in Client News 0 Comments 3 Likes

WEtech Alliance Prepares Two Tourism Businesses for Digital Future with $20k Boost

Client News New Food Delivery Platform Funds More Than 1,500 Free Meals In First Month
February 9, 2021in Client News 0 Comments 3 Likes

New Food Delivery Platform Funds More Than 1,500 Free Meals In First Month

Blog Butchers on Your Block
February 2, 2021in Blog 0 Comments 1 Likes

Butchers on Your Block

Client News Digital Main Street Lab partners with Red Piston Inc. to build consumer-friendly contact tracing app
January 13, 2021in Client News 0 Comments 3 Likes

Digital Main Street Lab partners with Red Piston Inc. to build consumer-friendly contact tracing app

Client News Leading the Automobility Charge: Optimotive Technologies Launches New Autonomous Testbed
October 1, 2020in Client News 0 Comments 0 Likes

Leading the Automobility Charge: Optimotive Technologies Launches New Autonomous Testbed

Blog Chatham Entrepreneur Says Yes to the Dress
September 22, 2020in Blog 0 Comments 1 Likes

Chatham Entrepreneur Says Yes to the Dress

Blog Building Capacity – An Ontario Startup’s Pivot into PPE
September 15, 2020in Blog 0 Comments 1 Likes

Building Capacity – An Ontario Startup’s Pivot into PPE

Blog Game On: Local Developer Prepares for Release of Second Title
September 10, 2020in Blog 0 Comments 1 Likes

Game On: Local Developer Prepares for Release of Second Title

Blog Closing the Digital Divide: WaveDirect and the Mindset of Partnership
August 18, 2020in Blog 0 Comments 1 Likes

Closing the Digital Divide: WaveDirect and the Mindset of Partnership

Blog Rise & Grind: Local Startups Enter Growing Cannabis Tech Industry
August 14, 2020in Blog 0 Comments 1 Likes

Rise & Grind: Local Startups Enter Growing Cannabis Tech Industry

Blog A Dahlia By Any Other Name: Local Flower Farmer Embraces Digital Shift
August 5, 2020in Blog 0 Comments 0 Likes

A Dahlia By Any Other Name: Local Flower Farmer Embraces Digital Shift

Our Impact Business-As-Virtual: Weekly Snapshots
May 7, 2020in Our Impact 0 Comments 0 Likes

Business-As-Virtual: Weekly Snapshots

Blog Staying Connected While Staying Home
April 3, 2020in Blog 0 Comments 0 Likes

Staying Connected While Staying Home

Client News Local MedTech Company Launches Tool to Help Individuals Monitor Risks and Symptoms of COVID-19
March 30, 2020in Client News 0 Comments 0 Likes

Local MedTech Company Launches Tool to Help Individuals Monitor Risks and Symptoms of COVID-19

Blog Going the (Social) Distance: The Making of a Historic Virtual Hackathon
March 30, 2020in Blog 0 Comments 0 Likes

Going the (Social) Distance: The Making of a Historic Virtual Hackathon

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Categories

  • Blog
  • CleanTech Blog
  • Client News
  • Ivy's League Blog
  • Opportunity Alerts
  • Our Impact
  • Siri Blog
  • StartUP Blog
  • Tech News

Recent Posts

Recent WECAN Event Showcases Angel Investing and Networking to Local Investors
Recent WECAN Event Showcases Angel Investing and Networking to Local Investors
When Innovation and Sustainability Collide
When Innovation and Sustainability Collide
Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce Announce Business Excellence Awards Finalists
Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce Announce Business Excellence Awards Finalists
UWindsor secures $5M partnership with TELUS to propel 5G research and innovation in agriculture, advanced manufacturing and connected and autonomous vehicles
UWindsor secures $5M partnership with TELUS to propel 5G research and innovation in agriculture, advanced manufacturing and connected and autonomous vehicles
Workforce WindsorEssex Launches Report Identifying the Benefits of Remote Work in Our Community
Workforce WindsorEssex Launches Report Identifying the Benefits of Remote Work in Our Community

Connect with Us

TECH IT OUT! Monthly Newsletter

Get the latest Tech News, Events, Talent & Tech Jobs in Windsor-Essex & Chatham-Kent delivered directly to your inbox each month.

SIGN UP

Wetech Alliance Logo

Navigation

  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • Tech & Innovation News
  • Events
  • Contact

Location

Footer Map
Click here for a detailed map.

Contact

Joyce Entrepreneurship Centre
2455 Wyandotte Street West
Located inside EPICentre, 2nd Floor
Windsor, ON N9B 0C1

Office: 519.997.2863

Connect with us:

ALL IMAGES, DESIGNS AND CONTENT COPYRIGHT © 2023, WETECH ALLIANCE.