BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:1.0
TZ:-07
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Monique Gray Smith: Tilly ~ a Story of Hope and Resilience
URL:http://www.harbourliving.ca/event/monique-gray-smith-tilly-a-story-of-hope-and-resilience/
LOCATION:Nanaimo Harbourfront (Downtown) Library :: 90 Commercial Street Nanaimo, V9R 5G4
DESCRIPTION;ENCODING=QUOTED-PRINTABLE:Monique Gray Smith has come a long way from the 11-year-old girl who began drinking with friends during school lunch breaks. Now a successful author, consultant, and motivational speaker, Smith has been sober and involved in her healing journey for over 20 years. “So many wise and wonderful people helped me during my recovery [from alcohol addiction]. What a gift to be able to give back to the community by sharing some of what I have learned.”=0D=0A=
=0D=0A=
Tilly: a Story of Hope and Resilience is finding an audience beyond those in recovery or members of First Nations communities. Gray Smith’s message is powerful and universal: when we know and honour ourselves and our communities, we are capable of deep healing and achieving what our hearts most desire. Published as a work of creative non-fiction, Tilly is loosely based on the author’s life experiences. “Like Tilly I began to drink at the age of eleven,” Smith admits. And, like Tilly, it didn’t take long before Smith’s drinking was a problem. Gray Smith, too, was blessed with encounters with people who helped her not only find a way to recovery, but also to a deeper understanding of the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada.=0D=0A=
=0D=0A=
A thoughtful, articulate communicator, Gray Smith is constantly amazed and delighted by how powerful Indigenous teachings, families, and communities can be. “It’s striking just how resilient our communities are,” Gray Smith says, describing how her life’s work as a consultant and motivational speaker now focuses on ways for communities to heal and move forward. “Nurturing, loving, and fostering the potential of each and every child is one of the most profound ways to make a positive difference in the world. Doing that in an appropriate cultural context is essential.” When she speaks at conferences, Gray Smith offers guidance and encouragement to professionals in health care and education. In her book, Tilly shares her message in a very personal way.=0D=0A=
=0D=0A=
 “Yes, there is a lot of my story in Tilly,” she says, “but as I wrote the book, the stories of many others came to me as well and I feel honoured to share them with a wider audience.” In Tilly, characters speak about the Sixties Scoop, residential schools, and TB hospitals.=0D=0A=
=0D=0A=
They also talk about the importance of traditional teachings, dreams, family, and community. Though written from an Indigenous perspective, the lessons learned apply equally to anyone interested in building stronger communities. =0D=0A=
______________________=0D=0A=
=0D=0A=
 What People Are Saying…=0D=0A=
=0D=0A=
“[Monique’s] presentation was one of the highlights of the conference as I’m sure [one] could tell from the sustained, heart-felt ovation [she] received.” Prof. Adele Diamond, PhD, FRSC=0D=0A=
=0D=0A=
 “What a gorgeous read! Wow! I’ve been waiting for a book like this for years. Mahsi cho, Monique Gray Smith, for digging so deep to create something so loving and nurturing for the world.” Richard Van Camp=0D=0A=
=0D=0A=
 “I have a completely new understanding of what it means to be Aboriginal in Canada.” Rachel Franklin
DTSTART:19691231
DTEND:19700101
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR