Nanaimo author Haley Healey of On Their Own Terms: True Stories of Trailblazing Women of Vancouver Island and Flourishing and Free: More Stories of Trailblazing Women of Vancouver Island has released her latest book of stories detailing the life and achievements of historical women across the province and beyond.
Her Courage Rises: 50 Trailblazing Women of British Columbia and Yukon, published Oct. 25, is a collection of illustrated stories of noteworthy, but often unknown, women from across B.C. and Yukon. The profiles depict women throughout the late 1800s to contemporary times.
Since they cover a grander scope of women throughout several professions, Healey said the individual stories are shorter than in her previous works.
“The other difference is that it’s illustrated instead of using black and white photos,” she said. “[It’s] meant to make this so much approachable for a younger audience, or maybe for people who aren’t as interested in history and may be turned off by black and white photos.”
According to Healey, the illustrator, Kimiko Fraser, did her own research after the book was written and was able to justly depict each historical figure from photos, giving the book “more life.”
The author’s choice to expand beyond Vancouver Island stemmed from her own personal desire to explore “the diverse and amazing” women that helped to shape our everyday, and expanding to the Yukon since she developed a special connection to the area while living there for a short period.
The 50 stories, however, are divided by ‘areas of expertise’ and profession rather than geographical location.
“If someone is an artist, they may want to start in that section. Or, if they’re really into politics, they might want to start with the two politicians … It gives it a different way to be read instead of just from front to back,” Healey said.
In her research, the author said she specifically sought out women doing amazing things for their time period, who were pushing the boundaries of their career, or living life in their own way and leaving a legacy.
“Edith Berkeley would be interesting for Nanaimo people because she actually was a marine biologist at the Pacific Biological Station in Departure Bay … She wasn’t employed there, but she did a lot of research and fieldwork through there … Not many women were publishing scientific papers and doing research at that time, but she was,” said Healey, adding that Berkeley Place off Hammond Bay Road was named after her.
Each figure profile was written based on information gathered from the B.C. Archives, newspaper articles, and interviews with family members when possible. Healey noted there was some difficulty in filtering each women’s story into, on average, a page-and-a-half profile for the book.
“It was hard to know what to include. This is somebody’s life, and I wanted to do them well [but I had] to take out some interesting parts … I think the shortness of [the profiles] is actually a strength because people can read it as just ‘one off’ if they don’t have a lot of time,” said Healey, adding that she encourages readers to learn more about the women if her book sparked their interest.
Healey’s other books, including fiction and non-fiction works, can be found online at www.haleyhealey.com.
Her Courage Rises: 50 Trailblazing Women of British Columbia and Yukon can be purchased locally at retailers such as WindowSeat Books, as well as online. A book launch for Healey’s latest work is planned for the Black Bear Pub, 6201 Doumount Rd., on Nov. 17 between 6-8 p.m.
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mandy.moraes@nanaimobulletin.com
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