In honour of Mary Ellen Burgess and Ian C. Nelson, the Saskatchewan Drama Association has built and dedicated scripts and resource libraries. We hope that all of our members will use and enjoy these libraries.
Note: You must be an adult member of SDA to borrow scripts or resources from the libraries.
Born on January 4, 1895, in Chatham, Ontario, the daughter of a Presbyterian missionary, Mary Ellen Morrison spent her formative years in rural areas and graduated from Regina Normal School in 1912. While her rural teaching career inspired a lifelong interest in young people, she also became involved in community theatre with Jack Thomson, her first husband. Widowed in 1923 with two sons, Allan and Harry, her return to teaching ended with her marriage to George Burgess in 1928 and the birth of a third son, Orrison. Between 1928 and 1944, she became increasingly active in community theatre as an adjudicator, director and executive member of the Regina Little Theatre and Saskatchewan Drama League.
Widowed again in 1944, Burgess became the drama consultant for the Division of Fitness and Recreation, Department of Education. Between 1944 and 1961 she travelled extensively across Saskatchewan advising teachers, assisting on school productions, and adjudicating festivals. Her work focused mainly on school theatre, especially with drama becoming a curricular subject in 1946. However, acting on her belief that educational theatre and community theatre were closely linked, she also reached a wider audience through lectures, broadcasts, articles, workshops, and summer schools. In 1977 she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus, for her outstanding pioneering work in Canadian drama. Mary Ellen Burgess died on December 12, 1984.
Source: esask.uregina.ca
Ian was born in London, England, the only child of Thomas and Christine Nelson. He had many talents: an academic librarian, actor, writer, playwright, dramaturge, singer, artist, linguist, and teacher. He was proficient in many languages, English, French, Spanish, Russian, and American sign language.
After receiving his Master’s degree from McGill University in 1969, he began his academic career at the University of Saskatchewan, where he was involved in developing, creating, and managing the University’s library resources. In 1971, he was appointed the head of the Collection Development Department. In 1985, he was named the University library’s first assistant dean for collections and budget. His accomplishments included revising collection curation practices and advancing the institution to its current level as a research library. The Canada Cultural Property Export Review Board credentialed him as an expert book examiner. Ian had numerous professional and literary works to his credit, including award-winning titles. He was awarded the University of Saskatchewan Librarian Emeritus title upon retirement in 1998.
Ian was influential in developing Saskatoon theatre, in English and French, within the community and professional theatre spheres. Ian was influential in launching the only professional French theatre company in Saskatchewan, La Troupe du Jour. Ian also acted and directed extensively in Saskatoon Summer Players, Saskatoon Gateway Players, Regina Summer Stage, and the Saskatoon Opera Association, which totaled more than 115 productions throughout Saskatchewan.
Ian’s unwavering commitment to the Saskatchewan Drama Association is genuinely inspiring. His journey with SDA began at the very inception of our association. He adjudicated one of SDA’s first Regional Festivals, Region 5, held in 1983 at Carlton Comprehensive Public High School in Prince Albert. His dedication led him to adjudicate in several regions across the province and at the Provincial Drama Festival numerous times over the years.
Ian’s mentorship has been invaluable to the SDA. He not only adjudicated but also guided other SDA front-of-house adjudicators. SDA still uses Ian’s template for front-of-house adjudication, a testament to the lasting impact of his mentorship.
Over the years, Ian generously shared his knowledge and expertise with students, directors, and teachers, enriching our community with his contributions.
