Tag: Kelowna

More Kelowna school visits

Three days were spent presenting in the Sanctuary of the Mission Creek Alliance Church, but I also visited three high schools over the week. I love speaking to high school students and it was also really neat to meet with students from a variety of classes, including Genocide Studies and Creative Writing.

I got to spend an entire morning with a select group of students from two different high schools. We had an intense writing workshop and all participants were given the opportunity to write a scene. I was blown away by their talent.
  • Mount Boucherie Secondary School
  • Kelowna Secondary School

Once Upon a Bookstore

After finishing Monday’s presentations, Pat dropped me off at Once Upon a Bookstore, a wonderful children’s bookstore owned and operated by Melissa Bourdon-King.

Here’s a pic of Melissa and her mother at Once Upon a Bookstore in Kelowna.

I loved browsing this beautiful store and it was interesting to chat with Melissa and her mother about the research and planning that goes in to their selections. Children’s authors are fortunate to have advocates like Melissa and Once Upon a Bookstore.

  • Melissa’s mom led me over to their authors’ signing wall and handed me a pen!
  • But how can one compete with this!!?? It’s Kevin Sylvester’s dragon! Speak about over-achieving!
  • Richard Scrimger drew an elbow. Not quite so intimidating. I drew a pysanka (what else is new?!)

Kelowna visit: thank you COTLA!

I’m thankful to have squeezed in this long-planned visit to Kelowna before the world was locked down with COVID-19. The week was planned to a T by the Central Okanagan Teacher-Librarian Association and oh my, what a wonderful week it was. My volunteer driver and problem-solver was retired teacher-librarian Pat Kirkey. What a mensch! We had a wonderful time together. Here are some pics from the week.

  • It was a busy week and not much time for sight-seeing but Pat drove me around on one of the sunny days so I could take some pics of the mountains.
  • The view from my hotel balcony.

On most of the days I spoke to elementary and middle grade students in the Sanctuary of the Mission Alliance Church. The acoustics were spectacular and the surroundings lent an aura of calm and respect. Even though there were 400 or more students in each session, the Sanctuary made it feel like an intimate group. After I finished speaking, I’d invite 15 or so students to the stage to ask questions face to face. Those questions were always interesting and insightful. They were often poignant and heartfelt.

  • Such an intimate and peaceful place to present.
  • Students leaving after a session in the Sanctuary.