Her Courage Rises: 50 Trailblazing Women of British Columbia and Yukon

by Haley Healey, Kimiko Fraser (Illustrator)

A beautifully illustrated collection of inspiring life stories of fifty extraordinary historical women from BC and Yukon. This fascinating, informative, and charming book introduces young readers to a diverse group of women who changed the face of history in unexpected ways and defied the expectations and gender norms of their times. Through charming illustrations and concise biographies, Her Courage Rises features social activists and politicians, artists and writers, scientists and healers, pioneers and prospectors, athletes and entrepreneurs, teachers and cultural tradition keepers. These women represented all ages, walks of life, and backgrounds. Some, like Cougar Annie and shipwreck heroine Minnie Paterson, became legendary in popular culture, long after their deaths. Others, like politician Rosemary Brown, artist Emily Carr, and Olympic sprinter Barbara Howard, achieved fame during their lives. Still others, including photographer and cultural teacher Elizabeth Quocksister, artist and cultural consultant Florence Edenshaw, land claims activist and translator Jane Constance Cook (Ga'axsta'las), and language champion Barbara Touchie, made great strides in preserving and promoting Indigenous rights and cultures. And many, like environmentalist Ruth Masters, water diviner Evelyn Penrose, and Doukhobor pioneer Anna Markova, are less well-known but still made important contributions to their communities and our wider collective history. Her Courage Rises is full of inspirational female role models and insights into the trailblazing women who made history in BC and Yukon.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

128 pages, Hardcover

Published October 4, 2022

Reviews

[Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful style to honour so many local women.
I am so fortunate to have grown up playing on the grassy lawns of Craigdarroch Castle (Sara Ellen Spencer), fished off the breakwater at Ross Bay (Isabella Mainville Ross), treasure one of my most favourite books, 'The Curve of Time' (Capi Blanchet), listened to the radio shows..in Gwitch'in!!..and read the Whitehorse Star columns of Edith Josie, worked at the Caribou Hotel in Carcross YT I dream of going to Boat Basin to 'Cougar Annie's' garden, spent so much time in Dawson City..playing and working, AND...
I LIVE in Tagish YT..for over 40 years now (Angela Sidney/Ch'óonehte'Ma/Stóow--Kate Carmack/Shaaw Tlaa). Yes..I did know Angela..and many many of her Family.
I have truly had a wonderful life..so far!!
These womens lives and stories live in all of us.

I hope that Haley Healey and Kimiko Fraser write and illustrate books for each territory and province of Canada in this same style.
Thank you so very much.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short (one-page) biographies of 50 women, most of whom I'd never heard of before, although there were a few familiar ones. Their stories are interesting and inspiring. I believe it's geared towards teens, but anyone interested in the real lives of strong and smart women would enjoy this book. It would also be appealing to anyone who likes BC and Yukon (and especially gold rush) history.

I appreciate the drawings but I think it would've been nice to also have photographs.