Excerpted from CCARE Newsletter, December 2020

Blake Handley: Camosun’s Multi-

talented, Ever Jovial AV Guy
I consider myself to have been extremely
fortunate to have spent time at Camosun
College. My first interview, for a position as an
AV Tech, was with Student Services Director Al
Frasier and Librarian Phil Chiddell. Times
were different back then, the CUPE union rules
in 1979 were a little more relaxed than they are
now. And, although I didn’t get the job, it went
to Ybo (McCoy) Plante, Al suggested if I
applied for the Branch Library Clerk I would
stand a pretty good chance. He was right
because the next week, when I interviewed, it
was more of a case of them telling me that I
would be good in the position. So in August
1979 I became the Branch Library Clerk at the
Carey Road Campus.

Working at Carey Road was such a wonderful Blake

experience. In those days, Lansdowne
Campus was like Vancouver – big, formal, and
very business-like - while Interurban Campus was
like Victoria – you knew a lot of people and all were
friendly with a great sense of community. And then
there was Carey Road Campus – it was like living
in Sooke. Everyone knew everyone else, also their
family, kids, and even pets. We all contended with
things like poorly insulated buildings, under-
equipped facilities, and even contaminated
water. But we made do and were closer because of
it all.

Of course, the best memory of Carey Road was

that it was the home to the Camosun College Slo-
Pitch League. It was one of the highlights for many
of the employees and their families. Our team, the
Green Machine, had the most fun and most diverse
group of players. It was a treat to be there.
Blake in the early years
 Excerpted from CCARE Newsletter, December 2020

Images from the Camosun College Slo-Pitch League

My background is in entertainment. I have worked in the theatre since I was

thirteen years old, and worked in AudioVisual all through high school. Also,
during my high school years, I worked for the Separate
School Board’s AudioVisual/Library department where
one of my jobs was to tape and edit every Sesame
Street program to send to the different schools in
Saskatoon. I eventually became a television producer.
One day in October I returned to my office at CFRN
Television in Edmonton where a snow drift had built up
to the first-floor window ledge. Within two weeks, my
wife, Marla, and I moved to Victoria where working at
the Carey Road Campus was a delight. While I was at
Carey Road, the management and supervisors were
good enough to allow me to keep working in theatre and
on films. It was great preparation for what was to follow.

In 1986, when a job came up as an AudioVisual Clerk at

the college, I was thrilled to become part of that
department. Dan Doherty was my supervisor and
working with Kathy Evans, Anne Wheeler, Ken
Whitehead, and Darrel Parkinson was an absolute
treat.
Blake the Photographer
 Excerpted from CCARE Newsletter, December 2020

After seven years, Dan moved on and I assumed the

role of AudioVisual Supervisor. It was a brilliant time to
work in AudioVisual at the college. The digital age had
arrived and there were so many changes. Where
once we used dark rooms for photography now
everything was digital. We supported many
conferences and events. As time went by I was
honoured to participate in planning new buildings and
renovations of many classrooms. I also had the
opportunity to teach classes in display, presentations,
and powerpoint.

One of my highlights of a non-AudioVisual nature was,

Dan Doherty with the help of Dr. Peter Rehor and the new Sports,

Camosun Audio-Visual Team around 1995

Left to right: Darrel Parkinson, Kathy Evans, Ken Whitehead, Anne Wheeler, Blake Handley

Fitness, and Recreation Program, I created a fitness group dedicated to helping

out big guys. I had come to the realization that there was no place where
overweight men could get off the couch and exercise without fear of failure or
ridicule. So in 2006 I started Victoria Big Guys. There were about ten of us who
would regularly meet at the Interurban Campus for workouts while learning how
 Excerpted from CCARE Newsletter, December 2020

big guys can be fit too. Victoria Big Guys was a unique program in Canada. The
Exercise and Wellness program students led the guys, who weighed between
250 to 400 pounds, through a regime to help them get moving. The class was
held at the Interurban Campus until we had to move to the GR Pearkes gym in
Saanich. When we relocated to Pearkes we became co-ed so our family
members could join and, except for the current COVID-19 situation, we are still
going strong.

Victoria Big Guys group in 2010

I was videotaping a retirement seminar for the Human Resources department

one day and as usual talking with the presenter before the session began. I was
telling him that I had been with the College for over thirty years and he asked the
pertinent question “What are you still here?” He showed me that financially it
wasn’t an advantage for me to continue working. So in 2011, I took the leap into
retirement.

One of the great blessings of working at the College is having education covered
by our professional development. Early on, I started taking advantage of this by
getting a diploma in History through the college. I was so lucky to have
instructors like Susan Johnson, Paula Young, and many, many, more. After I
 Excerpted from CCARE Newsletter, December 2020

graduated from Camosun, I moved over to UVic to study American History and I
received my BA in History in 2015. All thanks to working at Camosun.

When I was much younger I wanted to be a performer. I had acted and

performed since I was thirteen years old. When I was eighteen, I received a
scholarship to sing and dance with the Calgary Stampede on the Grandstand
Show as well as tour with the Stampede on promotional visits. Problem was, I
wasn’t really good enough to make a living through performing. But I was a very
good technician and stage hand. I had worked with companies like Citadel
Theatre, Theatre Calgary, Bastion Theatre, and at the McPherson and Royal
Theatre. I had worked on over twenty-five feature films and television shows as
a crew member. But now that retirement
provided me with the time, I returned to being
on-stage or in front of the camera.

I have since performed with the Victoria

Shakespeare Festival and Langham Court
Theatre as well as acted in three Hallmark
Films (You have to look really fast since I am
only on screen for a few seconds - but work
is work). I still work backstage in the theatre.
I am one of the senior members of IATSE
(International Alliance of Stage and Theatrical
Employees) in Victoria, so I have the
opportunity to work on many productions.
Most often you will find me in the dark behind
the scenes of the Victoria Symphony’s
performances at the Royal Theatre. Or I will
be up in the rafters running follow spot for the
Victoria Royal’s Hockey team. When
someone scores and they are suddenly lit up
by a bright light, well that is usually me.
Blake the Thespian
We have a wonderful theatre community in
Victoria and many of the arts in the city are
populated by former Camosun Faculty and Staff. It was nice to take Acting in
Shakespeare classes with Wendy Magahay. I have also quite enjoyed taking tap
dance classes for the past year. Not an easy task with two left feet, but I quite
enjoy it and it is a wonderful exercise workout twice a week.

I met my wife, Marla, the second week of college at Mount Royal in Calgary
where we were both taking a Theatre class. I had to do some serious talking to
get her to go out with me. It must have worked because we have been together
 Excerpted from CCARE Newsletter, December 2020

for 46 years. We are bonded companions and seldom are apart from each
other. You can always tell it is us because our car's plate is MARBLA and the
truck's plate is BLAMAR. She and I travel whenever we can. We try to make it
back to Saskatchewan once a year for a Roughrider’s game and a road trip
through the prairies. We also try to go to Hawaii each winter. It is really to go for
my health because, if we don't get the warm breezes and sunshine, Marla will kill
me. On our last big trip, we visited Japan and then cruised home across the
Northern Pacific to Victoria.

Blake and Maria leaving the ship following a cruise across the Northern Pacific

I was able to return to Camosun in 2017 to teach a semester of stage craft and
lighting for the Communications Program. It was a wonderful experience that was
very reminiscent of my beginnings at Carey Road. There was a lot of make-do
with what you have and a lot of personal learning. I discovered that, although I
had taught hundreds of sessions and workshops, it is far different than the
amazing amount of work that instructors have to do in preparing a new class. As
much as I enjoyed it, I decided that I enjoy retirement more. Still my experiences
with Andy Bryce and Lois Fernyhough were great learning opportunities.

Marla made a terrible mistake this summer because we are staying at home so
 Excerpted from CCARE Newsletter, December 2020

much. She bought me some new and better carpentry equipment. Normally I
am a “stage” carpenter which means what I make looks good on two sides and
lasts for three weeks. But now that I have some time and better tools, I am
building lots of practical things for the house and yard that will stand for much
longer. And quite enjoying it all. I am so fortunate

Finally, If I see you out and about and give you a smile but don't say "hello" it is
likely because I am a bonehead for remembering names. But I do keep many
wonderful memories of all the people I worked with and our wonderful times at
Camosun College. Have a wonderful holiday season.