About

Making Faces is a non-profit organization that helps children with facial differences and supports anti-bullying initiatives in schools and youth organizations through innovative workshops. Building self-esteem, one smile at a time.

How To Help

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Our Story

Making Faces is a dedicated non-profit organization committed to supporting children with facial differences and advancing anti-bullying efforts through innovative improvisational workshops.

 

Founded in 1994 by Michael Williams-Stark, who himself was born with a severe cleft lip and palate, Making Faces began its mission to empower children facing similar challenges. Michael’s unique improv-based workshops provided a creative outlet for children with facial differences, helping them build self-esteem and foster inclusion.
In 2003, Making Faces expanded its reach by introducing these transformative workshops, which quickly became known for their ability to instill confidence and encourage social participation among a vulnerable group of children. Through engaging and supportive sessions, the workshops helped children overcome their fears of classroom participation and social interaction, leading to noticeable improvements in their academic and social experiences.

 

Feedback from participants and their families underscored the workshops’ impact. Children reported increased comfort in classroom settings and social activities, while teachers noted enhanced classroom engagement. Parents observed significant improvements in their children’s academic performance and social confidence. One parent even credited the workshops with giving her daughter the courage to deliver a memorable Grade 8 Valedictorian speech.

 

Since its inception, Making Faces has positively impacted thousands of children and trained a wide range of professionals, from social workers to speech pathologists, to deliver these powerful workshops.

In recognition of its contributions, Making Faces received the prestigious For Kids’ Sake Award from Today’s Parent Magazine in 2008. Founder Michael Williams-Stark was also honored with the Douglas College Distinguished Alumni Award in 2011 for the organization’s groundbreaking work.

 

In 2014, Making Faces expanded its mission to include anti-bullying workshops for schools and youth organizations, applying the same principles that have driven its success with children with facial differences.

 

Today, the organization is led by Adam Bighill, a cleft-affected individual and current linebacker for the Blue Bombers, who serves as President. The board is comprised of devoted parents of children with various facial differences, including cleft lip and palate and craniosynostosis. This dedicated team of volunteers continues to provide invaluable support and resources for families navigating the challenges associated with facial differences. To learn more about the inspiring individuals behind Making Faces, please visit our Board of Directors page.

Making Faces is a dedicated non-profit organization committed to supporting children with facial differences and advancing anti-bullying efforts through innovative improvisational workshops.

 

Founded in 1994 by Michael Williams-Stark, who himself was born with a severe cleft lip and palate, Making Faces began its mission to empower children facing similar challenges. Michael’s unique improv-based workshops provided a creative outlet for children with facial differences, helping them build self-esteem and foster inclusion.
In 2003, Making Faces expanded its reach by introducing these transformative workshops, which quickly became known for their ability to instill confidence and encourage social participation among a vulnerable group of children. Through engaging and supportive sessions, the workshops helped children overcome their fears of classroom participation and social interaction, leading to noticeable improvements in their academic and social experiences.

 

Feedback from participants and their families underscored the workshops’ impact. Children reported increased comfort in classroom settings and social activities, while teachers noted enhanced classroom engagement. Parents observed significant improvements in their children’s academic performance and social confidence. One parent even credited the workshops with giving her daughter the courage to deliver a memorable Grade 8 Valedictorian speech.

 

Since its inception, Making Faces has positively impacted thousands of children and trained a wide range of professionals, from social workers to speech pathologists, to deliver these powerful workshops.

In recognition of its contributions, Making Faces received the prestigious For Kids’ Sake Award from Today’s Parent Magazine in 2008. Founder Michael Williams-Stark was also honored with the Douglas College Distinguished Alumni Award in 2011 for the organization’s groundbreaking work.

 

In 2014, Making Faces expanded its mission to include anti-bullying workshops for schools and youth organizations, applying the same principles that have driven its success with children with facial differences.

 

Today, the organization is led by Adam Bighill, a cleft-affected individual and current linebacker for the Blue Bombers, who serves as President. The board is comprised of devoted parents of children with various facial differences, including cleft lip and palate and craniosynostosis. This dedicated team of volunteers continues to provide invaluable support and resources for families navigating the challenges associated with facial differences. To learn more about the inspiring individuals behind Making Faces, please visit our Board of Directors page.

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Objectives

Commitment

Commitment

Building confidence and self-esteem encourages participants to pursue their hopes and dreams.
Communication and Self Expression

Communication and Self Expression

Improving the skills central to self-expression is key to promoting communication and participation in day-to-day activities.
Life Skills Through Improv

Life Skills Through Improv

Teaching basic “acting skills” that are also “life skills”, such as: eye contact, voice projection, public speaking, and creative storytelling.
An Accepting and Caring Environment.

An Accepting and Caring Environment.

We believe that providing a safe environment of trust encourages acceptance of others and of yourself.
Shared Experience

Shared Experience

Through discussion and sharing personal experience, we develop skills that lead to confidence and self-expression, which help participants learn to discuss their differences and overcome teasing, bullying and related life obstacles.
Fun and Creativity

Fun and Creativity

Through improv, having fun, being silly and creative, we enable participants to build life skills like eye contact, body language, voice, and communication.
Finding Strength

Finding Strength

Helping kids discover their own inner strength to be the hero in their own story, they will have the tools to participate on a day-to-day basis, with the knowledge that they have the right to love and be loved.
Follow Your Dreams

Follow Your Dreams

With all these tools, participants will have the knowledge and skills to pursue their dreams, whether that be voicing animation, playing in a band, being an actor or even a politician.
Commitment

Commitment

Building confidence and self-esteem encourages participants to pursue their hopes and dreams.
Communication and Self Expression

Communication and Self Expression

Improving the skills central to self-expression is key to promoting communication and participation in day-to-day activities.
Life Skills Through Improv

Life Skills Through Improv

Teaching basic “acting skills” that are also “life skills”, such as: eye contact, voice projection, public speaking, and creative storytelling.
Read More
An Accepting and Caring Environment.

An Accepting and Caring Environment.

We believe that providing a safe environment of trust encourages acceptance of others and of yourself.
Shared Experience

Shared Experience

Through discussion and sharing personal experience, we develop skills that lead to confidence and self-expression, which help participants learn to discuss their differences and overcome teasing, bullying and related life obstacles.
Fun and Creativity

Fun and Creativity

Through improv, having fun, being silly and creative, we enable participants to build life skills like eye contact, body language, voice, and communication.
Finding Strength

Finding Strength

Helping kids discover their own inner strength to be the hero in their own story, they will have the tools to participate on a day-to-day basis, with the knowledge that they have the right to love and be loved.
Follow Your Dreams

Follow Your Dreams

With all these tools, participants will have the knowledge and skills to pursue their dreams, whether that be voicing animation, playing in a band, being an actor or even a politician.

Board of Directors

Adam Bighill

Adam Bighill

President

adam.bighill@makingfaces.ca

Adam was born with a bi-lateral cleft lip and palate. He is married to Kristina Bighill and they have 3 children, Adam Jr, Leah, and Beau who was also born with a bi-lateral cleft lip and palate. Adam is a current member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and is entering his 13th year of professional football. His career started in 2011 with the BC Lions, he was with the New Orleans Saints in the NFL in 2017 and has been in Winnipeg since 2018.

Adam has made a priority to be involved in the community and helping kids with facial differences has been his biggest passion. He is an avid supporter of Operation Smile. Adam continues to do speaking events for corporations, schools, charity functions, and sports teams to deliver a simple message “Anything is Possible”. His message inspires individuals to bring their best and achieve their fullest potential.

Fun facts about Adam are he can play guitar, enjoys snowboarding, and can almost beat his wife Kristina in golf.

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Roxanne Scarth

Roxanne Scarth

Vice President / Fundraising Chair 

roxanne.scarth@makingface.ca

Roxanne – Born and raised in Penticton, BC moved to Winnipeg, MB in 2010. Roxanne is a mother to three (Adera, Berkley & Cece) and married to her husband Ian. Her youngest daughter Cece was born during the pandemic with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. Cece has currently undergone two surgeries (lip repair at 7 months old and palate repair at 14 months old).

Receiving the diagnosis mid-pandemic came with its challenges and Roxanne knew she had to build community support around her. Being a natural collaborator, Roxanne reached out to Kristina and Adam who mitigated her fears and provided support since first connecting. Later meeting Jessica through the Manitoba Centre for Craniofacial Differences (MCCD), the group started a Parent and Tot Drop in to support newly diagnosed families here in Manitoba.

Roxanne graduated with a bachelor’s in Recreation Management from the University of Alberta on Academic scholarship while playing varsity field hockey. She has a strong program administrator background and extensive experience in fundraising through her years of work with government and non-profit organizations.

Roxanne is passionate about volunteering, building community and providing opportunities for other craniofacial families across Canada.

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Kristina Bighill

Kristina Bighill

Secretary

kristina.bighill@makingfaces.ca

Originally from Vancouver, BC, Kristina is a stay-at-home mother to three (AJ, Leah & Beau), wife to Adam and an advocate for bringing awareness to those affected by a cleft lip and palate diagnosis. Her youngest son Beau was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. He has currently undergone two surgeries (lip repair at 3 months old and palate repair at 9 months old).

Kristina is an avid golfer and graduated with a bachelor’s in communications at Oregon State University while on scholarship with their women’s golf team program.

Kristina and her husband Adam work closely with various organizations and charities including Making Faces, Operation Smile Canada, their local Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. Her goal is to be able to utilize her voice and speak for those who may not have the opportunity and to teach others what it truly means to live with a cleft.

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Tebogo Johnston

Tebogo Johnston

Programming Chair

tebogo.johnston@makingfaces.ca

Originally from Ottawa ON, Tebogo moved to Winnipeg with her now husband Tristan, in 2008. She has over 15 years experience as an Early Childhood II working with infants through school age children. Tebogo has four children- Locklan, Lindiwe, Jesso and Jeris. Her youngest, who was 6 weeks premature, was diagnosed with Sagittal Craniosynostosis. Jeris underwent surgery when he was 4 months old followed by 9 months of helmet therapy. With the diagnosis and surgery came many feelings of fear and uncertainty. Her goal is to help families in similar circumstances by providing insight and sharing her experience.

Tebogo enjoys being outside with her kids as much as possible, reading, buying too many plants and scrolling through pictures/videos of her kids when they’re sleeping.

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Jessica Stamm

Jessica Stamm

Marketing Chair

jessica.stamm@makingfaces.ca

Born in England and moved to Manitoba in her teen years, Jessica is a mom to two cleft affected boys (Kaiver and Kolsen.) Her oldest son Kaiver has currently had 6 surgeries and younger son Kolsen has had 3. Jessica knew that when she was blessed with two special boys that she was meant to use her experiences and lessons she has learned to help others.

Jessica has collaborated with other families around the world to promote cleft and craniofacial awareness and uses her social media outlets to educate others and help advocate for the cleft and craniofacial community. Jessica enjoys working with her fellow board members and staff at the MCCD to help support local families here in Manitoba.

Jessica has a 12+ year background in Early years and enjoys doing crafts and making lots of fun messes with her boys. Jessica also enjoys watching sports, reading, shopping and being outside whether it be camping, beach trips or walks with an iced coffee in her hand.

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Michael Williams-Stark

Michael Williams-Stark

michealwilliamsstark@makingfaces.ca

As a child Michael Williams-Stark thought to himself, “Let’s see, I’m facially different and vocally distorted. How can I make life more miserable for myself? I know! I’ll become an actor and specialize in voice characterizations!” And so…he did.

Despite being at the time of his birth, the most severe cleft lip and palate case in his home province of British Columbia, Michael has gone on to be an award winning musician and improvisational comedian. He is an ACTRA member and has provided voices for a number of animated series including The Super Mario Bros; Beetlejuice, Rupert Bear, six of the characters on the hit kid’s show Noddy and many others. Michael combined his experiences as a child of facial difference and as an actor/musician to create the Making Faces charitable organization . He is proof positive that if you dare to follow your dreams they can be realized.

Michael Meissner has been involved with Making Faces since 2005. He holds degrees in Mathematics & Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto, and an M.B.A. from the Schulich School of Business at York University. His background in consulting and marketing research with leading global brands has taken him across Canada, Europe and the US, based in Toronto, Brussels and New York. He’s back in Toronto now, teaching marketing at George Brown and Lambton Colleges, and excited to be part of Making Faces’ exciting future.

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