Mary Hays, from Olds, Alberta learned the art of storytelling as a child at the kitchen table. Steaming coffee added fuel to her family’s imagination as they told stories of growing up on the prairies in the 1930's.

She has put her interest in stories to use as a teacher of storytelling and a performer. Her storytelling adventures have taken her across Canada, to Brazil and to London, England.  Mary enjoys sharing folktales with audiences of all ages.

She also has a keen interest in historical stories and in the family stories of her parent’s overseas service in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corp from 1941 to 1945.  Her family stories are supported with extensive research and oral history interviews.  The story of her mother’s World War II nursing experience was published by Red Deer Press in the TALES book, Under The Wide Blue Sky – Alberta Stories to Read and Tell (2005).

As an Alberta centennial project, Mary spent two years of volunteer time collecting the stories of eighteen members of the Nursing Sisters’ Association – Calgary Unit.  This was a race against time to preserve the stories of the decorated war veterans between the ages of 80 years and 98 years.

She is the Past-President of TALES –The Alberta League Encouraging Storytelling and recently directed and performed on a 2 disc CD for Alberta storytellers, TALES on the Wind.

Mary’s storytelling delights audiences of all ages.  Her storytelling programs combine the use of traditional storytelling, readers theatre, puppetry, flannel figures, historical artifacts and rhymes.  She conducts workshops for all ages on a variety of topics including: traditional storytelling, family stories, storytelling with props and puppets, readers theatre and vocal care.  She works in schools, museums, churches, libraries, theatres, cafes . . . where ever stories are told!