writing is another of my passions.  it allows me to take what I've learned on this journey and share it,  in hopes that it will help another in some small way.

Tyson's New Orange Shirt   The last day of September, Tyson got ready for school, only to find that his Mom wanted him to wear a different shirt. An orange shirt! Tyson wasn’t very happy about it, so his Mom had to explain just why it was important that on September 30th he wore orange.
In Canada, for over 150 years, Indigenous children were sent away to be educated in what is now known as the Indian Residential School System. Devised by the government, to ‘kill the Indian in the child’, these schools were often miles, and miles from where they child’s family resided. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has uncovered and documented many of the atrocities that took place in those institutions. It has exposed the intergenerational trauma that is the system’s legacy.
Tyson’s New Orange Shirt tells the story of how his Mom explained to him the importance of recognizing the impact on children and how in a different time, Tyson might have been one of those kids!

Shane's Big Adventure stories tell of the adventures Shane enjoyed. Although he lives with Cerebral Palsy, he is able to fulfill his dreams with the help of those that love and understand him best. Shane uses a wheelchair to get around and communicates using eye-gaze and facial expressions. He teaches us the importance of inclusion, diversity, community, and relationships. 
Shane's Big Adventure 1 is the first of those stories.

Shane's Big Adventure 2​ tells the story of Shane, who lives his life with Cerebral Palsy, as he heads out to British Columbia for his second big adventure. The only thing on his list of things to do this trip is to actually ride a horse! Shane uses a wheelchair to get around. He communicates through eye-gaze and facial expressions and counts on the people in his life to help him to achieve his dreams and goals. He teaches us that all things are possible when we set our mind to it and enroll the right people. Inclusion is a way of being, not something we do, and Shane teaches us that inclusion and diversity bring out the best in everyone!

Family Matters explores the spirit of the un-celebrated heroes who are forging new pathways so that their son or daughter may live a full life in the community, included and embraced by those around them, regardless of the diagnosis and challenges. The book is an exploration of 'family matters' such as inclusion, education, transition and support networks, but more importantly, it is a declaration that indeed ‘family matters’ in moving our world forward. Although the experiences shared here are for families who live in Manitoba, the topics explored are universal. What worked in Manitoba may not work elsewhere, but then again, maybe it might if it is something not previously tried. Most advances in the world of disabilities have come from families who have been willing to push further and ask for more for their children, and that remains true today. Maybe within the covers of this book, you will find one new idea that will help your child to thrive!

You Could Be The One   It was a hard day for Lynden at school, because he’d witnessed a bullying incident and just didn’t know what to do about it! When he got home from school, Lynden’s Granny and Grandpa were there for a visit. They helped him to understand that bullying is nothing new, but it is a big problem in the world! We all need to find ways to combat it when we have the chance, but it’s not always easy to know what to do! Lynden had been bullied at school but learned that if he didn’t react the bully left him alone. Sometimes that works. Sometimes it requires someone to stand up to the bullies and become a champion for the child that is being picked on. How will you combat bullying when you see it happening?

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Shane and Trem: Just My Friend  tells the story of the beginning of the lifelong friendship that developed between the two boys.  Trem and I long talked about writing their story, but as we've continued to advocate and do our 'Just my Friend' presentations, we've decided that the best place to start is with children.  
Our hope is that kids will see others with differences to me more similar than different, when it comes down to the heart of the matter.  This is the first of a few books we hope to write together, as we both continue to share our passion for inclusion, diversity and acceptance. 

Mark McGregor and Lynda Dobbin-Turner have worked together for over a decade, blending their experiences from two very different worlds to create a unique combination. Three decades after they completed high school together, they reconnected in support of Mark's Leadership business where they began to combine Mark's years of experience from the arena of athletics and sports, most notably hockey, with Lynda's years as a businesswoman, entertainer, and disability advocate. "True North'' is the culmination of five years of effort to combine the lessons and wisdom from both worlds in the story of Michael Webber and his wife Petra. Join Michael as he and Petra make a new life for themselves in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, bringing with them the lessons of the past and the excitement for the future! Through his new role, Michael meets Sue Henshaw, a scientist who has stepped into the role of CEO of Future Tech who finds herself struggling to move her dysfunctional team forward. This book is a collage of real stories that clients, leadership, and coaching partners have shared over the past two-plus decades, including key moments and turning points in our own journeys. The result is an authentic picture of the main character, Michael Weber’s current life, as a leadership trainer, a husband and a father of three amazing children, one who lives his life with Cerebral Palsy, a diagnosis that challenges Michael and his wife Petra to push the limits of the how they once defined a ‘good life’.