Ali Joy Richardson is a writer, director, and teacher in Tkaronto (Toronto), originally from Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia). Her quartet of TYA plays about mental health (One Deep Breath) has toured to 50,000+ students with Education Arts Canada. Her play A Bear Awake in Winter (about a high school band class) was recently published by Scirocco Drama and her newest play Dad (about theatre school teachers) is currently in development with Toronto's Studio 180 Theatre. Ali has completed directing residencies with the Canadian Stage Company and the Musical Stage Company. She's a past member of Nightwood Theatre's Write From the Hip playwriting unit. Besides theatre, Ali loves running, biking, spooky books, and embroidery. She lives in Toronto with her partner, Neil. More about her: www.alijoyrichardson.com