Jim Martens is a retired Drama, English and Special Education teacher, Principal and Assistant Superintendent of Schools (Richmond). He holds a B.Ed (Secondary) degree from the University of British Columbia and a M.Ed (Special Education) degree from Western Washington University.
Currently he spends his time acting, directing and writing. He is the President of Nest Egg Productions, the lead company of three subsidiaries: Red Maple Press, King’s Company and Nena’s Catering. He is also the father of three children and grandfather of seven grandkids.
Recently he has appeared as Santa in Delta Youth Theatre’s production of Elf, Jr. (Metro, 2016), Santa Claus on Grouse Mountain (Santa’s Workshop, 2017), and as Maurice in Delta Youth Theatre’s production of Beauty and the Beast, Jr. (Genesis, 2018).
Jim has directed dozens of high school productions at Palmer, Richmond High and McNair/Woodward as well as major community productions like “The Miracle Worker” and “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” for South Delta Baptist Church.
Jim has been shortlisted by The Word Guild of Canada for both his publication of John W. Martens’ “The Gospel Of Mark” and for his blog entry “Marcus Story in Haiti.”
Recently two of his short scripts have been performed in local churches, “Hope for All” (at SDBC) and “The Bridge” (at Maple Ridge Baptist for the FEBC Conference) which was commissioned for the 2017 Convention.
Jim is currently on the Board of Pacific Theatre in Vancouver (Secretary), on the Board of the BC Children’s Art and Literacy Centre (President) and a past Board member of Gateway Theatre in Richmond from 2000 – 2004. He also held the Fine Arts Portfolio for 11 years while serving as an Assistant Superintendent of Schools in the Richmond School District.
Jim has written five books (Christmas Companion: Your Holiday Helper and Memory Maker, I Was A Teenage Mennonite: And Other Stories My Family Doesn’t Want Me To Tell, Homespun: How To Save Your Family History Through Short Stories, Sweet Sound: The Teo Repel Story and The Lemonade Kid: My Adventures as an Invisible Super Spy.
He has also publish the works of other Canadian authors and is currently ghost writing with two others. He has other books in the works, two of which are April’s Odyssey and Hanna’s Hope.
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