StettlerLocal.com April 5 , 2022 @ 4:15pm
Where are you from? Where did you grow up?
I was born in Lamont, Ab, on my maternal family’s farm just North of Elk Island Park. My early years were spent on the farm learning about the land, playing with my siblings and cousins and “helping out” with chores and the animals. My immediate family then relocated to Wynyard, SK, for a few years, where my father taught band for many rural communities, and my mother taught at the local school. Finally, we moved back to Alberta and stayed a year in Olds before settling down in Stettler in 1990/91.
Why do you (did you) choose Stettler as home?
I attended SES, SMS and Wm. E. Hay, in my youth, then moved to Red Deer to attend Cosmetology School at MC College. I did my apprenticeship at First Impressions Hair Studio in Innisfail and purchased that business in 2001. After selling the business and feeling a need to be closer to home base, I moved to Red Deer full time in 2005 and worked at Classicuts Oasis, The WORX, and the Royal Canadian Legion until I started my Education Degree at RDC.
I completed my B.Ed at the U of A and worked summers at The Academy of Professional Hair Design as their nail technology instructor and floor hair instructor. This is where I taught the then cosmetology teacher in Stettler at the time. She told me of the position coming available and suggested I apply. So, of course, I jumped at the chance to move home! Stettler is such a wonderful small community that I feel a deep connection to. The people are supportive, kind and helpful. The town boasts all of the amenities needed while providing that rural country feel!
What do you do? What is your full title?
I have taught cosmetology at Wm E. Hay Stettler Secondary Campus for 13 years and recently opened Stettler Medi-Aesthetics downtown. I am a Red Seal Journeyman Hairstylist and a certified Medical Aesthetician.
Education?
I hold my Bachelor’s Degree in Education, a Red Seal Journeyman’s Certificate in Hairstyling, and my Medical Aesthetician Certification. In addition, various industry-specific certificates including artificial nails, pedicures, facials, permanent makeup, fine line and tiny tattoo, sun-safe tanning, bacteriology and safety and sanitation in the workplace, to name a few. I also participate in Professional Development as often as possible to keep my skills up to date.
Family?
I am married to David Teasdale and have an incredible ten-year-old son, Zachary, an amazing human being who brings light and joy into my life daily! In addition, I am a proud stepmother to Stephen Teasdale (Amanda Glover) and am now a stepgrandmother to Oliver Teasdale, who is now four months old!
Who inspired you in your youth? The strong women in my family have always been an inspiration in my life! My maternal Grandmother was an RN and taught me about caring and love. She always put on lipstick to go to town but could be found up to her elbows in flour or gardening dirt on any given day. My mother role-modelled parenting and teaching for me, which led to my career in education. I have many Aunts that showed me a woman’s strength and worth. I credit these women with helping me develop into the person I am today.
Who inspires you now?
I am inspired by strong businesswomen, often in the beauty or self-care industry. Jodi Carrington, Tabitha Coffee, and Jodi Stotski are three women that come to mind.
Do you have any hobbies?
I love to golf and go camping with my family and friends. I enjoy singing at the top of my lungs in the car- I used to sing at karaoke nights but find that I don’t often get out past 9 pm as of late. I enjoy a glass or two of red wine on weekends, preferably on a sun-soaked deck beside a BBQ.
What are your plans for the future?
I intend to continue teaching full-time at the school and running the business for as long as possible. Both roles fulfill me differently, and I feel a wholeness by educating the youth and making people feel better about themselves through aesthetic treatments. I want to expand the business in the years to come to offer more comprehensive services to the residents of Stettler.
Anything else you would like to add about being a resident of Stettler County?
It’s great to be a part of this community! If you need a cup of sugar or the empty bed of a truck to move, people here have your back! I can think of many instances where people have said, “ya, I know a guy (person) who can help with that,” and the small-town network gets it done! I’m proud to call Stettler my home!
Thank you to Alicia Kneeland-Teasdale for participating in our Local Spotlights.