Do you live, work, play, volunteer, or go to school in West Vancouver?
Do you have a story about what brings you joy?
Do you walk our beautiful trails? Swim, cycle, ski? Do you have a book club or group activity that lights you up?
Perhaps you play a competitive sport or volunteer in your community?
Or is coffee and pastry with friends your way to connect and de-stress?
We want to hear about the things in our community that bring you joy, keep you healthy or make you laugh!
Your story can be inspirational, funny, embarrassing, weird ... whatever floats your boat.
West Vancouver Stories: The Wellness Edition kicks off in November at West Vancouver Memorial Library.
There will be three in-person writing sessions, on Tuesday, November 12, 19 and 26 from 6-7:30pm in the Welsh Hall.
And don’t worry! You don’t need to be a published writer to participate. All are welcome!
You will be given inspiring writing tips and prompts that will develop your unique writer’s voice and bring your stories to life.
Should you wish, your story will be professionally edited and included in the anthology.
Each participant will receive a copy.
Both previous anthologies – West Vancouver Stories: The Pandemic Project and West Vancouver Stories: 2024 –became Amazon bestsellers. They are available on Amazon and at all North Shore libraries.
Funding is provided by the West Vancouver Foundation, through the Neighbourhood Small Grant program,
so there is no cost to participate. However, numbers are limited, so registration is required.
REGISTER FOR ALL THREE SESSIONS (NOVEMBER 12, 19, AND 26).
Meet the contributing writers
ANNE BAIRD is the published author of 11 illustrated children’s books (William Morrow and Simon and Schuster.) She created and published Goddess Cards, eGoddess Cards, and Little Big Books, and currently writes and illustrates Anne’s Corner, for the Beacon, a North Shore newspaper. She has been writing and illustrating since she was a tiny girl. amazon.com/stores/AnneBaird/author/B001HOWK3S
ANTONIO OCANA sits at the crossroads of nutritional sciences, family medicine, addiction medicine, psychedelic therapy, and digital mental health. He is passionate about his two daughters and is an avid cyclist. His wife, Astrid, is the love of his life. linkedin.com/in/antonio-ocana-md/
BRENDA MORRISON grew up wandering the hillside and seaside of West Vancouver. Her heart sang a deep song when her adventurous spirit brought her home, to raise her children, Hamish and Anna, close to the land and the family she holds dear. Her life’s work is centred on respectful and reciprocal relationships with the land and its rich diversity of peoples. She is honoured and grateful to serve as the director of SFU’s Research and Engagement Centre for Restorative Justice and on the board of North Shore Restorative Justice. She believes that a richly storied landscape is the foundation of healthy and just relationships in the places we call home.
ELIZABETH WOODING has lived in West Vancouver with her family since 2004. She loves the outdoors and art in every form. She’s come late to the art of writing and is discovering that it’s in tense: it can happen in the past, present and future.
ELKE BABICKI, M.Ed., R.C.C. has been a consultant to corporations and a clinical counsellor in private practice in Toronto and Vancouver for more than 30 years. She has led workshops in Europe and Canada and has helped thousands of people claim more power in their lives. She is the award-winning author of Identity: From Holocaust to Home and two other books, one of which was published in Germany. In 2011, Elke was honoured with a Leader of the Year Award by Women of Worth, founded by Christine Awram to celebrate, support, and inspire women across the globe. www.elkebabicki.com
EVELYN (STEPHENS) DAWSON grew up on a small beef farm in the Niagara Peninsula, near Lake Erie. Both her parents’ families were long-time settlers in the area. She moved to the North Shore in 1979. After 43 years of pioneering in business software development, she retired as a business analyst from the City of Richmond in 2015. She was instrumental in the creation of a web system for event approval currently marketed in North America. She loves photography, spending time in nature, and combining unique colour combinations in her knitting. linkedin.com/in/evelyn-dawson/
INGA PEDERSEN MCLAUGHLIN was raised in a small house along West Vancouver’s babbling Cypress Creek. She fell in love with stories as a teen during Mrs. Guy’s English classes at Hillside Secondary. After a successful 12-year dance career, including Ringling Bros. Circus and the Moulin Rouge, she turned to stage management, working for Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Disney. Her experiences on Broadway, in New York, Las Vegas, and with Special Events Worldwide have made her one of the most sought-after stage managers in North America. She spends her downtime traversing the calming rocky shores of West Vancouver at sunset.
JENNIFER LUTES is a mother to three grown daughters and a rescue dog named Frankie. Professionally she administers other people's businesses while dreaming of having more time to write all the stories she still hasn't told. She's an avid swimmer and a beginner pickleball player. Jennifer is happiest in nature, her favourite place is the beach, and she can be found swimming in various outdoor locales around the lower mainland all summer (and winter). Her writing has been published in West Vancouver Stories and The Globe and Mail.
JOHN WESTON, West Vancouver's former Member of Parliament, lives with wife Donna, a personal trainer, who considers John a needy but inconsistent client. They receive happy, intermittent visits from peripatetic, 20+ children: Shane (now in Pennsylvania), Jake (in Taiwan), and Meimei (in Norway). He loves working with the amazing cast of other volunteer directors and advisors who comprise the Canadian Health and Fitness Institute, who are together working on their #LetsMoveCanada Campaign to “Make Canada the Fittest Nation on Earth by 2030.” In professional life, he provides strategic, government relations, and communications advice through his firm, Pan Pacific Solutions Ltd. Chfi.fit
JULIE FLYNN was born and raised in Newcastle, England. After a brief visit to Canada, she immigrated and made North Vancouver her home in 2001. She soon developed a love for the great outdoors, especially trail running in the mountains. Julie’s writing is inspired by her frequent adventures in the North Shore mountains and beyond. Her debut children’s book, Finn and the Magic Backpack was a #1 Amazon bestseller and a finalist in the 2018 Canadian Book Club Awards. instagram.com/julieflynnwrites
KAREN HOFFMAN, a West Van resident of 33 years, is on her third lifetime reinvention: from financial analyst to parent educator and now in retirement, wannabe writer. She writes personal essays and has been published in West Vancouver Stories, and local community newspapers. Karen finds the art of storytelling a gift. She and her writing group performed at the Fringe Festival in 2022. Karen produces memory books for those who want to preserve their legacy. When she isn’t pretending to write, Karen involves herself in her children’s lives. They really love that! moondancestories.com
KIM CLARKE is a teacher, and according to her daughter, a collector of bad wigs. Kim has written since she was ten. She can't seem to stop. Whether it is poetry, plays, young adult novels, or emails, words are important to her and sometimes actually mean something. Kim has had many excellent writing teachers that she would like to thank and hold accountable.
L.NOËL spends her time flitting around what some call Vancouver in her tiny car. She loves time spent by the sea, is dreadful at small talk and tries to slurp up as many books as she can each year. Her mind is not very good at slowing down, but she’s working on it.
LINDY HUGHES PFEIL collects rocks, loves the moon and walks barefoot whenever she can, even though it embarrasses her family. She believes world peace is entirely possible, if everyone would just write a book. So that’s what she does – helps people write books. Like this one. And her greatest thrill is uncovering the magic in their stories. You can find her overfeeding the squirrels and jays on her deck, traipsing along Marine Drive, or on Instagram.
MELISSA BAKER was born in North Vancouver, presently resides in East Vancouver and works in West Vancouver. She is a graphic designer of over 23 years, also works in childcare and has a passion for cake decorating and photography. Her most fulfilling role, by far, is being mum to her wonderful children. She is eternally grateful for her family (near and far) and to be ‘writing her life story’ on this picturesque West Coast. You can check out her icing art at instagram.com/centrepiecesweets.
NANCY HENDERSON was born and raised in Vancouver. The view of the ocean and the mountains still takes her breath away every single day. While positivity is the motto by which she lives, post pandemic she is also striving to learn and understand more, and live life more mindfully and with meaningful purpose.
TRISH LESLIE and her family grew up in West Vancouver, close to the mountains for hiking and skiing and the ocean for sailing. Her passion for flying led to her career with the airlines travelling the world in her favourite aircraft, the Boeing 747 Jumbo jet. Now retired, Trish continues to explore the world from her home base in West Vancouver.
WENDY WILKINS WINSLOW was a registered nurse for 50 years. As a Canadian with a Master of Science in Nursing, she was able to work anywhere in the world in a wide variety of roles. Serendipity took her to Saudi Arabia for three years in the seventies and then curiosity led her to the United Arab Emirates in 1995, but an internal homing device always brings her back to West Vancouver where she grew up. Her children and grandchildren live on opposite coasts of the USA, so she is often in the air, but otherwise she tries to keep her carbon footprint small.
Some of the authors at the book launch at West Vancouver Memorial Library on April 3.
Here is a link to the event on YouTube - the sound is not great, but it includes all the "backstories" as well as a few words from Julie Backer of the West Vancouver Memorial Library, and Denise Howell of the West Vancouver Foundation.
WEST VANCOUVER STORIES
THE PANDEMIC PROJECT
Thank you to all who attended the book launch!
Please scroll down for the Zoom recording. Thank you Mayor Booth for joining us and for your kind words. My apologies for starting the recording late.
Twenty-three ‘ordinary’ West Vancouver citizens, between the ages of 16 and 86, gathered online to share their experiences of being alive during this astounding time in history. As they wrote, listened and learned about each other, friendships were forged. This book is proof that everyone is a storyteller, and that it is our stories that unite us. I am grateful to everyone who generously – and courageously – participated in this process. Huge thanks to the West Vancouver Foundation for funding this initiative. West Vancouver Stories: The Pandemic Project is a celebration of hope and resilience. It ensures that our stories will never be lost. ~ Lindy
"The pandemic of 20/21 has impacted us all in ways none of us could have imagined. While we are united in fighting this common enemy, how each of us experiences it is unique. And I believe that to develop empathy as a society, we need to hear the stories of others. That’s why the West Vancouver Stories initiative is so important. It’s an opportunity for a diverse and courageous cross-section of our community to share compelling and intimate reflections on life during this extraordinary time; and for the rest of us to understand and appreciate those insights." ~ Mary-Ann Booth, Mayor of West Vancouver
Thank you for making West Vancouver Stories: The Pandemic Project a #1 Bestseller on Amazon!
All proceeds from book sales are used to provide copies of the book to community organisations.
Elke Babicki, M.Ed., R.C.C. has been a consultant and clinical counsellor in Toronto and Vancouver for over thirty years. Her workshops and sessions in Europe and Canada have helped thousands of people claim more power in their lives. In 2011, Elke received the Women of Worth Leader of the Year Award for her work in supporting and inspiring women across the globe. She lives by the ocean in West Vancouver with her husband, Matt, an engineer and inventor. Her book, Identity: From Holocaust to Hope, was published in Germany as Uebern Ozean in 2017 with great success. www.elkebabicki.com.
Sharon Thompson's 35 years in West Vancouver has been filled with family and friends; volunteering with colleagues and acquaintances; caring about neighbours and community. Many years of participating in school and neighborhood initiatives exposed her to countless volunteers and grew her sense of community. Stepping into provincial and municipal governance has unveiled a deep understanding and appreciation for the unparalleled breadth of local brain trust, talent and resourcefulness. She is ever inspired, grateful and proud to be a part of West Vancouver, where she serves as a district councillor.
Brenda Morrison grew up wandering the hillside and seaside of West Vancouver. Her heart sang a deep song when her adventurous spirit brought her home, to raise her children close to the land and the family she holds dear. Her life’s work is centred on respectful relationships with the land and its people, upholding the spirit of diversity and inclusion. She is honoured and grateful to be the Director of SFU's Centre for Restorative Justice and serve on the board of North Shore Restorative Justice. She believes walking the talk in your own backyard brings justice home.
Julie Flynn was born and raised in Newcastle, England. After a brief visit to Canada, she immigrated and made North Vancouver her home in 2001. She soon developed a love for the great outdoors, especially trail running in the mountains. Julie’s writing is inspired by her frequent adventures in the North Shore mountains and beyond. Her debut children’s book, Finn and the Magic Backpack, was a #1 Amazon bestseller and a finalist in the 2018 Canadian Book Club Awards. instagram.com/julieflynnwrites
Meet the contributing writers
Kimberley Clarke is a secondary school teacher of writing and literature as well as a poet, playwright and performer. She has been an educator forever and loves to learn and teach. She is the author of four and a half YA novels in The Addie Sinclair Series. The webpage for the series can be found under “The Addie Sinclair Series” and the books in the series can be found on Amazon or ordered wherever fine books can be ordered.
Sharon Selby is a long-time resident of West Vancouver, where she lives with her husband, daughter and son. A Registered Clinical Counsellor, she has been supporting children, teens and families for the past 23 years, particularly in the area of anxiety. She is the author of a children’s book on anxiety, Surfing the Worry Imp’s Wave, and the recipient of the 2020 YWCA Metro Vancouver Woman of Distinction Award for the category of Connecting the Community. www.sharonselby.com.
Chris Stringer has a passion for creativity. He considers himself the original fool rushing in where angels fear to tread – his explanation for launching the Beacon newspaper, with no experience in publishing or writing. His entrepreneurial business life has taken him across Canada and the US. Since retiring in West Vancouver, he has been a committed community volunteer, convinced that if he makes it to heaven it will be as a volunteer. He derives his strength and inspiration from his family who share him begrudgingly with his community hobbies.
Sixteen-year-old Rose Lepin has been a resident of West Vancouver since she was two years old. Currently a grade 11 student, she is adjusting to the dynamic approach to schooling brought on by the pandemic. Rose is the current reigning Miss Teen Greater Vancouver (2019-2021) and a top 6 national finalist for Miss Teen Canada 2020. A Beacon contributor since grade 8, Rose hopes to use her voice to help others feel less alone. mapofmadness.home.blog or @roseofvancouver on Instagram
Deanna Regan lives in Ambleside with her family and super dog, despite declaring loudly she would never be a dog owner. Preferring trail over asphalt, two wheels over four, wine over water, and wrinkles over Botox, she embraces life, change and writing in equal measure, cooking with waning enthusiasm, and has learned to never say never.
Joanne Singleton has been a part of West Vancouver for over half a century, visiting her grandparents as a young girl and returning in her early 20s and again in 2006 with her family. She is an international Amazon bestselling author, and has had long-standing careers in both the legal and real estate professions. Joanne has treasured memories of West Vancouver and cherishes her walks with family through Memorial Park, Lighthouse Park, Ambleside and the spectacular seawall. She loves to travel and share a fine meal with those close to her heart. joannesingleton.com
Karen Hoffman has lived in a creaky wood home in West Vancouver since 1990. When not staring at the stunning view, she holds company with friends or her two loving adult children. Her career began in finance and moved to social work where she facilitated circles of support for parents and kindergartners and taught SEL with North Shore Family Services. In retirement, Karen produces memory books for those who wish to preserve their legacy. She compiles stories and photos to create unique storybooks for family and friends to enjoy. www.moondancestories.com.
Domenica Mastromatteo lives in West Vancouver with her three children, two cats and her dog, Bonnie. She is currently completing a diploma from the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute. Domenica has worked with a wide range of clients (children, adolescents and adults) with a range of issues: PTSD, trauma, bereavement, ADHD, depression, anxiety and addictions. Her work with sensationalchildren.ca has assisted many families. She brings an understanding of the therapeutic process, fine arts, education and advocacy to her career as art therapist. domenicamastromatteo.com.
Melody lives on the West Coast with her devoted husband and rowdy children. She grew up in rural Alaska with her identical twin sister, Harmony. Before becoming a writer, she was a nurse, owned and operated two coffee shops, and earned three science degrees. When not writing or trying to conceive, she can be found in nature, hunting, hiking, skiing, sailing or berry picking. She is socially aggressive and will befriend you while pumping gas then steal your name for her story's protagonist. melodynoble.com
Wendy Winslow has lived in West Van for 50 of her 74 years. She has lived and worked internationally but is inevitably lured back to beautiful BC. Her husband, children and grandchildren have given her the love and strength to get through the year of COVID-19, her annus horribilis. Friends, Zoom yoga and chocolate have also helped.
The youngest of seven children, Karen Tidball is a migrant from a small farm in rural Saskatchewan. She has lived in West Vancouver since 2003. Mother to two daughters and a son, they, along with her husband, are the loves of her life. Karen enjoys swimming, hiking and exploring the world. She credits surviving non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in her twenties for helping to re-shape her life. Dedicated to discovery, lifelong learning and a career of service to others, Karen is a Certified Professional Coach, committed to helping people lead careers and lives that satisfy them. linkedin.com/in/karen-tidball
Born in Borneo, Anne Baird is a West Vancouver artist and writer. She is a freelance journalist, has published 16 children's books, and writes and illustrates a small column, Anne's Corner, for The Beacon, about life in the slow lane. She is inspired by her three children, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Also, by her mother, Ruth, and her seagull family, Busby, Mrs. Busby, and Busby Junior and the hummingbirds. www.littlebigbooks.net.
D. Higgins is an Eagle Harbour citizen, swimmer and paddle-boarder. When she is not teaching, she observes the Parthenon eagles from land or water. Favourite times are spent in the company of her family, gardening or eating.
Jennifer (Lutes) Hill is a bred, if not born, Vancouverite. In 1999 she crossed Lions Gate Bridge to start her family in West Vancouver. She is a mother to three daughters and an old dog. She lives in a little cottage by the sea and swims almost every day from June to October. Jennifer is passionate about health and wellness, writing and her daughters. Instagram: jenhill1228
Annie Hill was born and raised in West Vancouver, where she continues to live with her husband, three teenaged children and two entertaining cats. After studying exercise physiology and healthy aging at UBC, she went on to work and teach at the University of Texas. Annie currently works as a health and fitness trainer for seniors. In her spare time, when she’s not driving kids to and from activities, or cheering from the soccer sidelines, she can be found on the trails, up the mountains, at the beach or on the water.
Elizabeth Wooding has been living in West Vancouver with her family since 2004. She loves the outdoors and art in every form. She’s come late to the art of writing and is discovering that it’s in tense: it can happen in the past, present and future.
Fay Mehr has been living in Canada since 1995. After settling in Vancouver, she started a career in sales and pursued a diploma in public relations. She currently works in the movie industry. Fay is passionate about psychology. She has taken many self-development classes over the years and hopes to pursue her psychology aspirations in the future. Fay enjoys a vibrant life in Vancouver with her friends and family and takes pleasure in reading, writing, traveling and recently, painting.
Laurisse spends her time flitting around what some call Vancouver in her tiny car. She is happiest with sand between her toes, salt water in her hair and a sour beer in hand. She is grateful to exist on the unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.
For the past 20 years, Lindy has lived in a little blue cottage in Eagle Harbour, where she overfeeds the squirrels and jays on her deck. She believes world peace is entirely possible, if everyone would just write a book. So that’s what she does – helps people write books. Like this one. And her greatest thrill is uncovering the magic in their stories. Visit her on Instagram.
Book launch March 2021 Speaker View
Book launch Gallery View