DesCan Vancouver and Hemlock Printers are pleased to celebrate the 2026 Jim Rimmer Scholarship Award recipients with calligrapher and hand lettering artist Renée Alexander who’s talk is entitled Calligraphy – An Ancient Technology in a Modern Context..
Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026 6:30pm – 9:00pm PST
Location: LaSalle College Vancouver, 2808 Bradfield Court, Vancouver, BC V5M 0E3
Sushi and refreshments will be served!
Guest Speaker: Renée Alexander
Renée Alexander brings decades of calligraphy expertise to her North Vancouver handlettering studio. She has worked for Government Institutes, Professional Associations, Graphic Designers, Universities as well as private commissions.
After receiving her art diploma in Vancouver, she spent a summer studying at Imperial College in London under Ann Hechle and later studied for two consecutive summers under Sheila Waters in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Renée has also studied at Cheerio’s Calligraphy Centre under master lettering artist, John Stevens and has taken workshops from other top lettering artists including Denis Brown, Julian Waters and Yves Leterme.
Renée is a former faculty member in the Continuing Studies Department at Emily Carr University of Art & Design. She has also taught at Capilano University, the WOOL Conference sponsored by Westcoast Calligraphy Society and local Guilds. Renée was thrilled to be part of the faculty for Rendez-Vous 2019 International Lettering Conference held at Bishop’s University in Québec where she taught ‘Leaf and Letters.’ In October of 2026 she was part of the Faculty at Flourish Festival of Letters and Art in Calgary, Alberta.
Renée has been published in books and magazines worldwide and has exhibited her work both in Canada and the United States. In addition, her work is held in private collections in both countries. Renée’s unique expertise has been called upon for many feature films including tutoring Wynona Ryder in the art of period penmanship for “Little Women,” lettering for the movies “Cousins,” “The Watchmen,” the TV series “Agent X,” as well as lettering and illustrations for Seasons 1 and 3 of the Netflix production of Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events.”
In 2005, Renée won a contest co-sponsored by CBC Radio 1 and The Georgia Straight to come up with a précis for the 15th Vancouver story. It was in response to the publication of a collected works of fourteen Vancouver short stories, each written by a different local author. Bill Richardson, famed Canadian media personality, then developed the précis into his very own short story leading Renée and Bill to present, together, a reading from the story at Vancouver’s ‘Word on the Street’ event to a packed audience… naturally, hand lettering was a central feature of the story
Renée was honoured to have her short story, ‘Scottish Shortbread,’ included in the 2017 Anthology “Sustenance,” edited by Rachel Rose. Profits from this book help low-income families put fresh produce on the table
Admission:
Students: FREE
DesCan Member: $10
Non Member: $35
The Jim Rimmer Scholarships have been awarded since 2009 to student projects (or one currently in progress) for a community program, a non-profit organization, or an environmental or social cause. Students who are currently enrolled, or have graduated within the last year from a design program in BC are eligible. Scholarships are awarded on the strength of the solution, how effectively it communicates a message, benefits a community, affects action and promotes change.
Jim Rimmer, F.DesCan was a pivotal influence in Canadian letterpress and private press. Many of his typefaces, such as Albertan are ubiquitous in print and digital graphic design worldwide (and used in all the scholarship promotional materials!). His stature as an icon was recognized in 2007 when he was awarded Fellowship by DesCan.