Welcome
to the personal website
of
Wilma Derksen
….. a writer, mother of a murdered child, coach/therapist, accidental artist, forgiveness practitioner, responsive life writing teacher, and spiritual pilgrim.
If any of these interest you, feel free to stay for a visit.
If any of these interest you, feel free to stay for a visit.
This is how it all came to be.
* Even as a young child, I've always wanted to me known as a writer and pursued journalism as my career choice. It was my greatest thrill to become an author.
* I'm probably best known as a mother of a murdered child when in 1984 our 13-year-old daughter, Candace, was murdered here in Winnipeg, an event that changed the direction of my life completely together with my identity.
* This new identity brought a new awareness of the suffering of others. To prepare for this and manage it professionally, I went back to university to study. I now work at Oakville Wellness Center, as a coach/therapist.
* Along the way, I became an accidental artist painting "White on White," and am presently a member of the Theotrinsic Art Group. This has been for my own personal therapy.
* I'm also considered an expert on forgiveness having given presentations on this subject since the murder of our daughter.
I admit I love to talk about forgiveness. I believe in it - but I am not an expert. I am still a novice and always will be. However I am a devoted forgiveness practitioner which means I am engaged in the art of forgiveness, the discipline required in forgiveness and identification with forgiveness. Since forgiveness always bumps up against justice issues, I continue to remain interested in creating a more satisfying justice for all. This has become my secondary cause in my pursuit of forgiveness. I was founding member of the board of the Victim Assistance Community Grants, Inc.
* Five years ago, I became a proponent/instructor of "Responsive Life Writing" (RLW) Course a new passion of mine, hoping to help others to release their personal stories through responsive writing exercises.
* Lastly, I see myself as a spiritual pilgrim a traveler, who is on a journey to a holy place. I have joined other pilgrims at the Maplecrest Church. It has been a lifelong pursuit of mine to know and experience God fully.