May 17 - Distinguished Alumnus turns bane into blessing

Michael Williams-Stark vividly remembers what it was like growing up with a facial disfigurement. Now the founder of an organization that helps kids with the same issue, the Douglas College Distinguished Alumni Award recipient for 2011 says his facial difference was the best thing that ever happened to him.

At the time of his birth, in 1955, doctors said Williams-Stark, born and raised in New Westminster, was one of the worst cleft lip and palate cases they had seen in BC. 

"When I was three or four, I remember thinking I was popular, because all these people were yelling things at me, staring at me from their cars," Williams-Stark says. "I thought I should run for mayor or something. But as I got a bit older I realized they weren't saying nice things about me. I even had an art teacher who made fun of my voice."

Williams-Stark underwent years of surgery, which extended into adulthood, to help correct the defects.

A love of film and music inspired him to pursue the arts. He entered the Theatre program at Douglas College and studied there from 1978-1981. He says the program gave him courage and bolstered his confidence.

"Gwyneth Harvey, my speech and theatre history teacher, was a godsend. She said I had the best voice to do Shakespeare."

He moved to Toronto in 1984 and went onto successful careers as a musician, an award-winning improvisational comedian and voice-over professional.

After watching a TV program on facial disfigurement with a friend in 1993, the friend told him he should consider doing something to help kids going through the same things as he had.

"It was a touchy subject for me. I was very private about it and did not want to talk about it. I just clammed up."

Nevertheless, Williams-Stark began playing with the idea of improv, which would impel kids with facial differences to speak and make eye contact - things that most of us take for granted - as a means to boost their confidence.

"Making eye contact, using your voice - without these things you can't do improv. And they're important life skills."

After running successful improv workshops at AboutFace International, Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children and the Bloorview MacMillan Foundation, in 2002 Williams-Stark created Making Faces, a children's charity that helps kids with facial differences. The program teaches acting skills and improvisational games that help build confidence and let kids practise life skills in a fun, creative and safe environment.

He's never looked back. 

"What was once the bane of my existence ended up being the best thing that ever happened to me. If it weren't for my facial difference, I would never have found out what I wanted to be in my life."

The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes the quality of Douglas College graduates and their contributions to the community. Williams-Stark will be presented with the award June 2.