Living Library

Rising in Grace

Genderqueer witch deep dives into psychosis, bipolar disorder, ADHD and the debate over medication and spirituality. Follow a journey of self-discovery and self-invention & be inspired to live as your most authentic self.

Conversation's with a Medium

I am a spiritualist medium. A medium communicates with people who have passed away. A medium is able to bring insights, messages,wisdom and clarity from the loved one on the other side to her Clients. Mediums Identify with 3 forms of mental Medium ship. The medium mentally "hears" (clairaudience), "sees" (clairvoyance), and/or feels (clairsentience) messages from spirits. The medium passes the information on to the clients. I'm real. I exist, these are my experiences. I want to share with you not to convince you. Only to show you it's possible. If you walk away and have learned one thing, and listened. I am grateful.

Quakers - it's a religion, not an oatmeal.

I was raised in "The Religious Society of Friends," better known as Quakers. When I was little, I whenever I shared this fact, I usually had to explain how it was different from the oatmeal. Our religious meetings appear strange to those unfamiliar with them. We worship together in silence, without a specified pastor, and each person speaks out of the silence when they feel moved to do so. This informs our process of making decisions. There is no voting in a Quaker Business Meeting. Instead, we worship in silence as we reflect on the issue, and trust that eventually it will become clearer to us what the Spirit/God is asking us to do. As I grew older, I developed a deep and lasting respect for the values this faith upbringing have instilled in me. I am proud of the stand Quakers have historically taken on social justice issues; as examples Quakers were very active in the Underground Railroad, and have a long history of promoting peace and equal rights. Some famous Quakers include: William Penn, Elizabeth Fry, and Bonnie Raitt.

A Life On The Move Packing Boxes With a Head Full of Dreams

Never give up no matter what happens to you in your life. Keep going and knowing that challenges are there in your life so you can grow and they make you stronger. Showing people how to spend their time wisely. How to set goals and achieve them one at a time. Circumstances are done for you not to you. Be flexible and be change willing throughout your life. I’ve done that and I’ve now moved 56 times in my life. I’m still setting goals and achieving them. Never give up on your dreams no matter what happens along the way. You can do anything you set your mind to. Think about the words that you say to yourself. Stay positive and let the negativity slide off of your body. The time is now and to find the right road to travel. Truth is, in life anything is possible. If I can do it you can too!

Metis in the City

A story around who I am as a Metis person from the Edmonton area and how, since I don't look like your traditional Indigenous person I often face a different form of discrimination.

No excuses, no limitations

My life has been both challenging and fulfilling. Unfortunately it did not start out that way. I was raised in a home where I was both physically and emotionally abused. I left at 18, as soon as I could. As well, I live with a progressive neuromuscular disease called spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Over the years I have weakened to the point that I am now a quadriplegic. This has not stopped me from living. I have a wonderful husband, I work as a mental health educator and I have wonderful friends. I am now facing the battle of my life. A year ago a treatment for SMA was approved by Health Canada. It should be wonderful news but it is devastating to me. Due to my age treatment will not be given to me. The cost of the first 4 treatments is 3/4 of $1 million. According to health Canada my life is not worth it. I refuse to accept this and I will not give up fighting.

TransTrilogy

"Join in a vibrant conversation of social transitions, bathroom battles, sexuality, hormones, pronouns and surgeries. Dig into the impacts that ASKING, AFFIRMING, and RESPECTING can have on the lives of the gender diverse population and their families. Open your minds and hearts as you engage in stories that are beyond pink and blue.

Dawn: Curriculum Development Manager, singer extraordinaire, and mother of 2 including 1 flamboyant female-to-male (he/him/his) son speaks of her misconceptions, the struggle to look in the mirror and the joy that comes with an open heart.

Debbie: Manager of College Learning, Teaching and Development, world traveler, and mother of 1 non-binary young adult (they/them/theirs) speaks of her journey with her child as they collectively navigate self-identity and extreme pride

Carla: Pharmacist turned instructor, author, photographer, and mother of 3 including 1 eccentric male-to-female daughter (she/her/hers) speaks of her experience fighting the education and healthcare systems in an effort to ensure privacy and appropriate care for the transgender population. "

Surviving Mental Illness

Mental illness can feel like a life sentence. It follows you every day like a shadow, and can make it feel impossible to go on. But there is value in every experience. Like many diseases, it requires management, and there can be relapses. There can be shame in letting the world see what you suffer. But there is hope for everyone, especially with understanding and patience when they reach out. It doesn't prevent a meaningful life, but it may mean managed expectations. Everyone should have a place in their heart for people with mental illness.

Betwixt & Between: Nonbinary, Queer & Borderline

Trans lives matter. Sex is not dichotomous and neither is gender but our society thinks it is. All my life I've never quite fit into any of the predefined boxes; I didn't form an identity or sense of self until I was in my late 20s. I was always too preoccupied with my distress and hiding evidence of my mental illness to explore my sense of self. My Borderline Personality Disorder diagnosis and subsequent treatment finally made me comfortable enough with my mind to find out who I really am. I'm still figuring it out but I've made some discoveries to date.

Tatawow - All Are Welcome

Come have a conversation with a Nehiyaw that has been able to walk in two worlds. I will talk about my challenges, successes, and optimism about working with Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. The reader will hear about my story, how it has influenced by education and career, and how it will shape how I move forward with work, family, and reconciliation.