Ann E Hale 1942-2021

  Posted by: Kim on 6th March 2022 16:26:29.

Ann E. Hale was the guiding force and creative catalyst bringing people together at the beginning of the Toronto Centre for Psychodrama and Sociometry.

A group of Torontonians including Liz White and Madeleine Byrnes went to a Sociometry weeklong training at Beacon, New York in the fall of 1975. The training was led by Joe Hart and Ann Hale. Excited by the experience they invited Ann to offer training in Toronto. In December 1975, Ann directed the first Psychodrama weekend. In January 1976, she led the first sociometry weekend, and with excitement the co-creation of the Toronto Centre for Psychodrama and Sociometry began. She created the original curriculum, and was the main trainer with Earl Winestock as her assistant, producing trainers of note. It took several years to establish a working board and a manual, which would serve as a beginning guide. Ann brought Mary Northway onto the TCPS board as an advisor. Mary was a colleague of Moreno’s who taught sociometry at the University of Toronto, and shared her library of research introducing sociometry into systems.

Ann was a trainer with the TCPS until 1980, and an artist who brought her artistry into everything she did. We used the sociometric process in building the structure of the Centre, and co-creating a collective way of working. Because of Ann’s love and expertise with sociometry, the TCPS has always had a strong emphasis on sociometric explorations and processing. Thus Ann, directly and indirectly, continues to shape the field of Psychodrama and Sociometry in Canada to this day.

She was courageous in pushing the boundaries and challenging others to think beyond the norms. She could explain clearly Moreno’s basic concepts and beliefs that the world could be changed through sociometry.

Ann was a wizard in her understanding and exploration of Sociometric connections. She was well known for her direct and deep work, which at times intimidated students. However, once a student learned sociometry from Ann, they were forever impacted by her presence and knowledge.

She will be missed by the TCPS community.   Written by the TCPSO Team with help from Donna Little and Madeleine Byrnes

Please add your stories and memories of Ann so that we can feel the sociometry of this beloved connection