Cheryl Foggo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cheryl Foggo
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| Born | 1956 (age 68–69) Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
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| Language | English |
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Cheryl Dawn Foggo AOE is a talented Canadian author, filmmaker, and playwright. She writes stories, directs movies, and creates plays. She is known for sharing important stories about Black history and culture in Western Canada.
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About Cheryl Foggo
Cheryl Foggo was born in Calgary, Alberta in 1956. Her family has a rich history in Western Canada. Her ancestors were Black Oklahomans who moved to Maidstone, Saskatchewan in 1910. Some of her family also lived in Amber Valley and Campsie, Alberta.
When she was young, Cheryl knew Oliver Bowen, who helped design Calgary's CTrain. Her mother's close friend was Violet King Henry, the first Black woman lawyer in Canada. These connections show her family's deep roots in Canadian history.
Sharing Black History
Cheryl Foggo is a strong supporter of Black pioneers in Western Canada. She does a lot of research to bring their stories to life. She was part of an important project called Black on the Prairies. This project collects stories and information about Black history on the Canadian prairies.
She has also created many multimedia shows. These include Ranchers, Rebels and the Righteous and Travelling On. One of her big goals was to highlight the story of John Ware. He was a famous Black Albertan cowboy and rancher.
Cheryl volunteers on many boards. She helps writers and Black artists. She also mentors young people and gives lectures.
Her Writing Work
Cheryl Foggo has written for many magazines and newspapers. These include Reader's Digest.ca, Avenue, and The Globe and Mail. Her articles often share unique perspectives on Canadian life and history.
Her work has also been included in several book collections. One important collection is The Black Prairie Archives: An Anthology. This shows how her writing helps preserve Black voices and experiences.
Plays She Has Written
Cheryl Foggo has written many plays for the stage.
- Her short play The Sender was part of a special project called 21 Black Futures. You can watch it on CBC Television Gem.
- Her play Heaven was first performed in 2001. It was also aired on CBC Radio.
- In 2014, her play John Ware Reimagined premiered in Calgary. This play tells the story of the Black cowboy John Ware. It won an award called the Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award for Drama in 2015.
- She also co-wrote a play called The Devil We Know in 2012.
- In 2010, she adapted the famous book Things Fall Apart for the stage.
Books for Young Readers
Cheryl Foggo has written several books.
- Her first book, Pourin’ Down Rain, is a memoir. It tells the story of five generations of her family. It also talks about growing up Black on the Canadian prairies. A new edition was released in 2020.
- She has written three books especially for children and young adults. These books show positive stories about Black and mixed-race kids. They are:
- One Thing That's True (1998)
- I Have Been in Danger (2001)
- Dear Baobab (2011)
Her Films
Cheryl Foggo is also a talented filmmaker. She writes and directs documentary films.
- She made John Ware Reclaimed, a documentary about the legendary Black cowboy John Ware. This film premiered in 2020 and won an award.
- In 2019, she wrote and directed a short film called Kicking Up A Fuss: The Charles Daniels Story.
- In 2002, she wrote and directed The Journey of Lesra Martin. This film was made with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB).
Film Projects
Here are some of the films and TV shows Cheryl Foggo has worked on:
- 1992: Carol's Mirror (Screenwriter)
- 1997-1998: North of Sixty TV series (Screenwriter)
- 2002: The Journey of Lesra Martin (Screenwriter, Director)
- 2019: Kicking Up A Fuss: The Charles Daniels Story (Screenwriter, Director)
- 2020: John Ware Reclaimed (Screenwriter, Director)
She also worked on the story team for the CBC drama North of 60 for two and a half seasons.
Awards and Recognition
Cheryl Foggo has received many awards for her work.
- 2021: Grand Prize Regards d'ici category Vues d'Afrique Festival Internationale for John Ware Reclaimed.
- 2021: Calgary Black Chambers Arts, Entertainment and Media Award.
- 2020: Calgary International Film Festival CTV Alberta Feature Audience Choice Award for John Ware Reclaimed.
- 2015: Writers Guild of Alberta Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award for Drama for John Ware Reimagined.
- 2015: Obsidian Black Achievement Award for Professional Excellence.
- 2014: Writers Guild of Canada Sondra Kelly Screenplay Award.
- 2008: National Harry Jerome Award For The Arts.
- 2003: Chris Award for Journey of Lesra Martin at the Columbus International Film Festival.
- 1992: Best Education Program, Gold Apple Award & Short Drama Award for Carol's Mirror.
