Wilma Derksen
  • Home
  • My Blog
  • Writing Course
  • Writer
  • Coach/therapist
  • Mother of a Murdered Child
  • Forgiveness Practitioner
  • Spiritual Pilgrim
  • Accidental Artist
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Turquoise
  • 2025
Official Resume & Bio​


Wilma Derksen, C.E.C., O.M.

Since the abduction and murder of daughter Candace in 1984, Wilma Derksen has influenced victims, offenders and the community by telling her story. She’s also had an impact by facilitating support group of survivors of homicide, organizing dialogues between victims and inmates in prison, conducting trainings, giving lectures, participating in panel discussions, presenting her insights to the justice system, and addressing victims’ needs at restorative justice conferences throughout Canada and the United States.

Awards & Recognition

1998     Manitoba Arts Council

2001     Ron Wiebe Restorative Justice Award

2007    Canadian Criminal Justice Association Award

2013    Creative Communications Media Award,
               (CCMA Alumni Achievement Award)


2014    Distinguished Christian Leadership Award 
                

2015    Order of Manitoba

2012 & 2015  
Ace Burpee's  list of top 100 
                      ("Fascinating Manitobans" )                                      
​
2016   Nellie Award

2017 Torchbearer  - Canadian Summer Games

2021 Nellie McClung Manitoba 150 Trailblazer Award
Training/Education
Creative Communication/Certified Journalist
Red River Community College

Certified Executive Coach, CEC
Royal Roads University
Volunteer Experience
  • Child Find Manitoba
  • Family Survivors of Homicide
  • Mennonite Brethren Communications
  • Sophia Magazine
  • Church Council of Justice and Corrections
  • Citizens Advisory Committee
  • Manitoba Organization of Victim Advocates
  • Law Commission of Canada Advisory Council
  • Ron Wiebe Selection Committee
  • Solicitor General of Canada Round Table
  • Voice of Resilience
  • Candace House

Speaking Experience  - Bio

Present Positions

Coach/Therapist
Oakville Wellness Centre
200-701 Pembina Hwy, Wpg. MB R3M 2L7

Instructor:
Responsive Life Writing
Online Course

​Pastor: 
Maplecrest Church
​Park Theatre, Wpg. MB

Publisher: 
Wordsmith Amity Publishers
200-701 Pembina Hwy, Wpg. MB R3M 2L7


Giving Back

Consulting
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, Qatar, Myanmar, Venezuela.. 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). 
Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start. - Nido Qubein

Picture
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

 Author

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. Tyndale Publishers (1991)

Confronting the Horror; the Aftermath of Violence  - a textbook outlining the 15 elements of trauma she identified. Amity Publishers  (2002)

Unsettled Weather: How do I forgive?  - exploring forgiveness after crime, co-authored with Brenda Suderman. Herald Press (2004)

Getting through the Maze - how to navigate the Canadian criminal justice system  - editor - authored by Sue Simpson. Amity Publishers  (2004) 

The Way of Letting Go: one woman's walk toward forgiveness  Zondervan/Harper Collins Christian Publishing  (2017)

Dispelling the Darkness- Amity Publishers (2020)

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.  Herald Press (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. Amity Publishers, (2012)

Writing Experience - Bio
​

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 two historical novels.  Now as a Certified Executive Coach, she is using her coaching opportunities to help others find the story within themselves.  She  has  recently developed a "Reflective Life Writing" online course and offers self-publishing support through Wordsmith Amity Publishers. 

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.