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Wilma L. Derksen - Resume & Bio
Official Bio
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Giving BackConsulting/Coach
Consultant for the Canadian Government, Correction Services Canada, the RCMP, the Law Commission of Canada, and the Solicitor General. Lecturing She has lectured in numerous universities, some of which include the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, the University of Ottawa, the University of Manitoba, and McMaster Divinity College. Programs Founded She has help found numerous programs, including Child Find Manitoba, Family Survivors of Homicide, Safe Justice Encounters, Voice of Resilience, Victim Companions, Candace House and the Paying Forward Project. Speaking Wilma’s expertise is sought after by numerous groups in various countries. Some of the countries she has been invited to are the U.S.A., Egypt, Britain, and Qatar. She has won numerous awards, two examples being the Canadian Criminal Justice Association Restorative Justice Award and the Ron Wiebe Restorative Justice award. Her words are often used by numerous media channels, some of which include the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Chatelaine, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Speaking Topics
“If we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can't survive.”
― Brené Brown |
Wilma is an international speaker and consultant on victimization and criminal justice. She has presented to hundreds of audiences who describe her as inspiring, insightful, vulnerable, integral, comforting, warm, and as an insightful storyteller. She has a wonderful ability to put groups at ease, create a warm atmosphere, and move people emotionally. Her expertise and speaking ability has been effective in many roles and settings. She is often sought out to be a plenary speaker in conferences, she has led numerous trainings and workshops for non-profit organizations as well as the business sector, she has provided inspirational talks for fundraisers and other events, and she is an experienced group facilitator.
Books
She has written a number of books on criminal victimization, trauma, and the criminal justice system.
Have you seen Candace? - a gripping first-hand account of her journey through the aftermath of the murder of her daughter. (1991)
Confronting the Horror; the Aftermath of Violence - a textbook outlining the 15 elements of trauma she identified. (2002)
Unsettled Weather: How do I forgive? - exploring forgiveness after crime, co-authored with Brenda Suderman. (2004)
Getting through the Maze - how to navigate the Canadian criminal justice system - editor - authored by Sue Simpson. (2004)
The Way of Letting Go: one woman's walk toward forgiveness Zondervan/Harper Collins Christian Publishing (2017)
Project Angel - the tangle of two trials, Amity Publishers, 2018.
She has also written two books in the AVA series, two novels. The series is inspired by her grandmother.
Path of the Heart - released as The Emerald Angel was revised and reissued as the first book in the AVA series. (2012)
Echo of the Soul - this book touches on the problem of evil moving into a small community. As in the first, this book is inspired by her grandmother but also influenced by the trauma of evil. (2012)
Wilma Derksen is best known for her work in victimization due to the murder of her daughter, but her real passion has always been to be known as an author. Ever since she penned her first sentence in public school she has been a closet writer with a novel in her bottom drawer. It was this writing passion that helped her find expression for her grief. She is a graduate of Creative Communication from Red River Community College, worked as a Western Regional Editor for ten years, authored six books regarding trauma and murder, and published three historical novels. Now as a Certified Executive Coach, she is using her coaching opportunities to help others find the story within themselves.
Have you seen Candace? - a gripping first-hand account of her journey through the aftermath of the murder of her daughter. (1991)
Confronting the Horror; the Aftermath of Violence - a textbook outlining the 15 elements of trauma she identified. (2002)
Unsettled Weather: How do I forgive? - exploring forgiveness after crime, co-authored with Brenda Suderman. (2004)
Getting through the Maze - how to navigate the Canadian criminal justice system - editor - authored by Sue Simpson. (2004)
The Way of Letting Go: one woman's walk toward forgiveness Zondervan/Harper Collins Christian Publishing (2017)
Project Angel - the tangle of two trials, Amity Publishers, 2018.
She has also written two books in the AVA series, two novels. The series is inspired by her grandmother.
Path of the Heart - released as The Emerald Angel was revised and reissued as the first book in the AVA series. (2012)
Echo of the Soul - this book touches on the problem of evil moving into a small community. As in the first, this book is inspired by her grandmother but also influenced by the trauma of evil. (2012)
Wilma Derksen is best known for her work in victimization due to the murder of her daughter, but her real passion has always been to be known as an author. Ever since she penned her first sentence in public school she has been a closet writer with a novel in her bottom drawer. It was this writing passion that helped her find expression for her grief. She is a graduate of Creative Communication from Red River Community College, worked as a Western Regional Editor for ten years, authored six books regarding trauma and murder, and published three historical novels. Now as a Certified Executive Coach, she is using her coaching opportunities to help others find the story within themselves.
