My Story

How I arrived at where I am today has been anything but linear. It’s been a journey marked by unexpected detours, unforeseen challenges, and moments of profound discovery.  It has been meticulously crafted in concert with visionary leaders across diverse fields—from social artists and educators to impactful facilitators and catalysts of change.

As a first-generation Canadian, I was raised on a diet rich in Celtic myth, music, and poetry. Storytelling was my Mother tongue. It has shaped my becoming and has informed how I navigate the mystery of my life unfolding.  Story has been an integral element of everything I’ve pursued and achieved.

Leadership, Facilitation + Community Engagement:  For over a decade, I facilitated arts- and experiential-based programs in the USA for schools, communitites, First Nations, and NGOs forging social change initiatives. It was here, that I first began using Film and Listening Circles as tools for transformation and a way to forge courageous conversations.

In 2010, I presented at the World Conference on Restorative Practices in England, sharing the impact and powerful outcomes that emerged through the myriad of Community Conversations I facilitated with youth and community leaders.  Their compelling stories demonstrated the power of possibility when diverse groups of people come together to talk about issues that matter.  And then, making a commitment to move from talk to action.

Taking my art to a whole new level, I embarked upon an intensive journey with an international cohort, to learn the Art and Science of Witnessing with filmmaker and pioneer, Nic Askew.

Volunteering:  As a Hospice volunteer, keeping vigil for those at the end of life, listening to their stories, witnessing what it means to have a good death, and feeling their essence dissolve in their final moments, was an honour and has left a mark indelible.

Exploring the World: Driven by an insatiable curiosity, I have been drawn to explore people, places, and wild spaces.  My travels have found me crisscrossing throughout Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, living in several countries.  I have been enchanted to find common ground and understanding even in the absence of a common language.

I was greatly influenced by experiencing life during the civil war in Beirut and the resilience of the people who woke each morning with the promise of hope.  I witnessed poverty in the developing world, yet found no shortage of generosity.  The greatest gift was living among people with contrasting cultures, languages, and religions.

My Camino:  In the fall of 2023, I embarked upon a solo journey on the Camino Portuguese without an agenda, reservations, or schedule. It was a symphony of solitude, a great emptying, and reawakened my creative heart and a longing for a simpler life. On this long and winding path through ancient villages, seaside towns, and deep forests, there were no thoughts of past, nor future.  A walking meditation, in tuned with each breath and footstep.  I returned home unwilling to step into busy-making and have continued my soft pace while reflecting on how to move forward with grace and purpose while honouring the wisdom I gleaned. This led me to leave my full-time role as a Program Manager with a national training company, allowing me to fully dedicate myself to Stories Told on Film and to reimagine new possibilities for my business.

When not filming or editing, you can find me loving the land beneath my feet on the beaches and mountain trails of Vancouver Island, listening to the stories of my grandchildren, and witnessing my three sons navigate the mystery of their own lives unfolding.

This film shines a light on the passion I have for the art of witnessing, a method that breathes life into each frame.

Filmed remotely by a colleague in France, John Oliver captures our conversation, inspired by the words of Ursula Le Guin: We must find a story big enough to inhabit.