Christina J. Holgate brings a variety of experiences and great passion to all that she does in life. Having been raised in a household with immigrant parents from Europe and Asia, she chose to become an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher specialist. After completing teaching contracts in Japan, she returned to her home in Calgary, Alberta and specialized in Adult Education. Christina has worked in that field since 1989. She has taught English to thousands of international students and new immigrants to Canada from over 30 countries as well as coaching them on the requirements of assimilating into the culture by assisting them with interviewing skills and workplace training.
Since childhood, Christina has been involved in music, starting with piano and flute lessons and, more recently, cello. She has
been with Westwinds Music Society since 1994, not only as a musician but also as Group Manager and member of the Executive Board for several years. Since November 2016, Christina has been employed with Westwinds as the Executive Assistant, "taking care of business." She has experienced firsthand the camaraderie and joy of making music in a community band.
Christina's greatest passion outside of her work is photography, specializing in images of vocal artists and musicians on stages across North America. She was on hand to capture the excitement and enthusiasm of Westwinds Music Society when they celebrated their 20th, 25th and 30th Anniversaries. A dedicated fan of Elvis Presley, Christina regularly attends events featuring Elvis Tribute Artists, specifically the tribute to Elvis in Memphis, Tennessee every August. Having now taken and shared thousands of photos with Elvis fans on-line worldwide over the past decade, she has gained international attention for her work. Her artistry in this field is known for its flare for capturing the personalities and individual moments when the performers come closest to emulating The King of Rock 'n' Roll.
Christina also loves travel photography. Her photos find beauty and charm not just in grand vistas and landmarks, but also in even the simplest subjects. In addition, Christina is a fervent supporter of the Calgary Humane Society (SPCA) and volunteers several hours each week taking photos and writing descriptive bios of adoptable cats for their website.
Christina is always looking forward to capturing her next favorite photo.