This is the place to discover people, places and things I like.  

• Artists

  • Karen Patkau That lovely scene on the cover of my Simply Beautiful CD, with the hills and sheep and flowers and butterflies, is taken from a large collage piece Karen created called Flowerscape.
  • Marilyn Koop Marilyn did the illustration for my Up and Over the Moon! CD. I love the shadow of the bunny as it jumps over the moon.

• Children's music

  • Carol Ashton Carol is a founding member of the Canadian Association of Storytellers for Children. She is also a musician who sings and plays concertina. Carol runs the Pillows & PJ’s Series of music and storytelling for young children in Toronto.
  • Early Childhood Music Association The Early Childhood Music Association of Ontario is an organization that was formed in 1990 in order to enable communication among those who value the importance of developmentally appropriate, high quality musical experiences in the lives of all children
  • Kathy Reid-Naiman Kathy Reid-Naiman is a great teacher and a strong supporter of live music and dance in the traditional folk community. She is the president of Merriweather Records.
  • Ken Whiteley Ken Whiteley really knows how to encourage children to sing, listen, dance and play. He has produced recordings for himself and lots of other children’s musicians including Fred Penner, Raffi, Kathy Reid-Naiman, Al Simmons… and Debbie!
  • Rick Scott RICK SCOTT: Rick’s CD Snooze Music is guaranteed to do what it says, for listeners of any age. He’s just as good at waking people up when he wants to. Rick calls his fretted dulcimer his electric snowshoe.
  • Sally Jaeger & Erika Webster Sally taught Debbie’s own children music and stories at the Young Farmer’s Club, Riverdale Farm, Toronto. Sally and her daughter Erika now teach early childhood music in Mr. Bear Says Hello groups throughout the city.
  • Sharon, Lois & Bram Debbie first heard Sharon, Lois & Bram play together while she was a student at Althouse Teachers College, London. They’ve shared folk music with Canadian families (and beyond) in a way that makes us proud.
  • The Kingsway Conservatory of Music Debbie used to teach “Music for You and Your Baby” classes at the Kingsway Conservatory of Music, Etobicoke. Sharon Burlacoff is the director, and a very good friend.

• Friends and heroes

  • Bucky Berger Bucky Berger drums on Simply Beautiful. Always with a smile. Never skips a beat.
  • David Francey David Francey sings harmony with Debbie on a song he wrote called Red-Winged Blackbird (on Simply Beautiful). He paints well, too! David and Debbie first met at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival during a gorgeous sunset after days of solid rain.

• Good ideas

  • ArtsCan Circle ArtsCan Circle / This independent, volunteer-run group links creative artists with Canadian Native youth at risk. They aim to encourage self-esteem among Native youth in isolated communities through a cooperative exploration of the arts.

• Great Places

  • Celtic Roots College & Festival Celtic Roots College & Festival / Celtic music, dance and crafts in beautiful Goderich, Ontario.
  • Chequegnat Festival Chequegnat Festival / A friendly neighbourhood street festival, except that it is held in four backyards! It’s all volunteer, from the food, to the musicians, to the set-up and take-down, and all of it is quite fabulous.
  • Home County Folk Festival Home County Folk Festival / A free festival in a downtown park that remembers its roots. London, Ontario.
  • Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival / Come sun, rain or fog, you’re part of an incredibly enthusiastic, musical and well-behaved crowd. Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.
  • Mill Race Festival Mill Race Festival / A great little traditional music festival in a lovely location.
  • Shelter Valley Festival Shelter Valley Festival / Held in the natural amphitheatre of a farmer’s field, this festival is one of the best, friendliest, most down to earth and intimate.
  • SummerFolk SummerFolk / The variety of music-making at this folk festival is astounding. Owen Sound, Ontario.
  • The Woods Music & Dance Camp The Woods Music & Dance Camp / Fun summer camp for folk music-obsessed grownups. Rosseau, Ontario.
  • Vancouver Folk Music Festival Vancouver Folk Music Festival / Large, well-run and perfectly wonderful, even in the pouring rain. Vancouver, British Columbia.