In June 2026, the jurors for the Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) Richard Allen Chase Award invited me to Lethbridge, Alberta to visit them and meet Richard’s wife, Alice. I met jury members Michelle Dimnik, retired teacher, literacy consultant and founding member, Rocky Mountain Book Award: An Alberta Children's Choice Book Award; Aaron Fitchett, Principal, Lethbridge School Division; and Ruth McMahon, Professional Librarian, Lethbridge School Division. They told me why they chose Hummingbird / Aamo-binashee for the award, which moved me to tears.
I spoke to nearly 100 grade 5 students and their teachers, reading from my book and telling them about the honour of receiving the award, which is given to a Canadian children’s title exemplifying Richard’s guiding principles of compassion, kindness, humanity, environmentalism, inclusivity, and connection to the land. Local journalist Dave Lueneberg came to the school, interviewed me and took my photo for the Lethbridge News Now. The next day, I was on the front page of the Lethbridge Herald with an article written by Alexandra Noad.
At the end of this magical day, independent bookstore Analog Books hosted a reading and book signing. For the first time since publishing the book, I heard back from readers about what the words and images meant to them. It was there that the honour of receiving the award truly began to sink in. Richard had left a legacy with his peers, students and the community where he had dedicated his life to bringing Canadian literature to young people. It reminded me to take time to do beautiful things, to connect with people, and how the book can do that, even in our darkest moments.
I want to give a special thank you to Michelle Dimnik. From the moment I arrived in Lethbridge, Michelle welcomed me with such warmth, kindness, and generosity. She took the time to show me the city, share stories about Richard, and help me understand the award’s history and spirit. Through her stories, I came to appreciate not only the significance of the recognition but also the people and relationships that have carried it forward.
What made this experience so special was not simply the event itself. It was the care that surrounded it.
This was the first time I had truly put myself and my book out into the world. Writing it was one thing. Sharing it was another, and Michelle created a space that felt safe, kind, and deeply human. She made room for conversation, laughter, stories, and connection. She reminded me what it feels like to be welcomed without expectation, supported without agenda, and valued simply for being myself.
In many ways, she gave me more than an opportunity to speak about a book. She gave me an experience that reminded me why we tell stories in the first place: to connect, to heal, and to find one another.
Michelle, thank you for your generosity, your friendship, your care, and your belief in this work. Thank you for creating a space where I felt at home. Thank you for helping me trust a little more, open a little wider, and remember that there is still so much kindness in the world. I am forever grateful.
Picture Gallery
A Poem for Richard
You walked this earth with gentle grace,
A steady heart, a warm embrace.
Your kindness, like a guiding flame,
Lifts every life that speaks your name.
Compassion grew where you would go;
A seed of love you’d always sow.
You taught us how humanity
Lives in our shared responsibility.
You honoured earth with tender care–
The land, the water, sky, and air.
You showed that nature’s sacred call
Belongs to each–and binds us all.
Inclusivity lit your way,
A circle widened day by day.
Where someone felt outside, alone,
You offered them a place, a home.
And through it all, your spirit knew
That connection makes us strong and true.
Your footsteps, rooted in this land,
Still whisper wisdom where we stand.
Then Hummingbird, with wings so bright,
Reminds us to seek joy and light–
To fly through sorrow, loss, and fear,
And trust the teachings we hold dear.
She visits when our hearts feel torn,
A messenger at break of morn.
She came to me when grief was near,
When my own mother left this sphere.
Her tiny wings–soft prayers she brings–
A memory wrapped in healing things.
She carries love from those above,
A gentle echo: You are love.
So Richard, may your spirit soar
Like Hummingbird forevermore.
Your legacy–both kind and strong–
Lives on in hearts where you belong.
With gratitude our voices blend–
Miigwetch, dear teacher, guide, and friend.
Your life, your light, your memory stay
To walk beside us, day by day.
