Book Club meetings
Navan Book Club, June 8th, 2023. A very enjoyable and lively in-person meeting (see photo below). Thanks to Diane for hosting. Our wide-ranging discussion covered the writing process, what motivated me to join CUSO, favourite anecdotes in the memoir, cultural practices among the Mende people, and how Sierra Leone has changed since I worked in the country. I brought a few items for "show and tell"; a kufi cap, woven Mende cloth, dyed gara cloth, and a segburra (shake-shake). Appreciated input from several former teachers in the group regarding suitability of the memoir for young adult audiences.
Orleans Book Club, April 2nd, 2023. (See below for photo of those who joined our Zoom call). Delighted to join a book club meeting hosted by Lynda. All members of this book club have extensive public health work experience, which made for a very lively discussion about the importance of reflective practice, community resilience, ethical dilemmas, and adjusting programs and approaches to meet local needs. So interesting to hear which stories readers found most intriguing and why.
Edmonton Book Club, February 14th, 2023. (See photo of our Zoom call below). Terrific reflections, thoughtful questions, and an opportunity to reconnect with some colleagues and friends I've not seen for years. I really appreciated your queries and shared experiences. Judy, thanks for organizing.
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Kamloops Book Club, January 30th, 2023. (Photo of our Zoom call is on right). Thanks for an interesting conversation. Several members described the opening poem in my memoir and how it has stuck with them. Enjoyed meeting a fellow memoirist in the group as well as a former CUSO volunteer who was posted to Papau New Guinea early in her professional career. We had both wondered if we had the skills and experience necessary for the work we were assigned to in our CUSO postings. Thanks to Wendy for organizing and hosting. 
hybrid Meeting with Book club members in Stittsville, Ontario, October 1st, 2022.
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Nepean Book Club, October 19th, 2022 (Photo on left).
Enjoyed discussions about favourite book segments and anecdotes in the memoir. The opening poem (Not One, Not Even One), which also explains the book's title, was described as emotive and powerful. Book club members especially liked stories that were self-deprecating including the flying pigeon bicycles' tale and the alcoholic fridge story. Thanks to Barb for organizing and hosting. 
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Photo above: Book club members in montague, Prince Edward Island
September 14, 2022
what a pleasure to meet all of you. Thanks for a great discussion!
thanks To Kathleen for organizing.
Book Club Meetings:
Montague, Prince Edward Island - September, 2022
Stittsville, Ontario - October, 2022 (hybrid)
Nepean, Ontario - October, 2022
Ottawa, Ontario - November, 2022 (Nancy was unable to attend)
Kamloops, British Columbia - January, 2023 (virtual)
Edmonton, Alberta - February, 2023 (virtual)
Orleans, Ontario - April, 2023 (virtual)
Navan, Ontario - June, 2023
Podcasts, You Tube Videos, and Story-Telling:
Fringe North Podcast Series - Nancy Edwards with host Emelie Robertson. (August, 2024). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3nqPMOEI54
Maternal and child health: What I learned as a community health nurse in Sierra Leone. (July 12, 2023). Orleans Rotary Club.
Letting go of expectations on your travels: Episode 284 of the Thoughtful Travel Podcast. With host Amanda Kendle.
www.notaballerina.com/2023/02/letting-go-of-expectations-travels-episode-284-thoughtful-travel-podcast.html
Tell me a story: The power and purpose of memoirs. (January 31, 2023). With host Robert Huish. GDP - Global Development Primer.
anchor.fm/robert-huish/episodes/Tell-me-a-story-The-Power--Purpose-of-Memoirs-e1tmhsu
Reaching minds and hearts through oral story-telling and drama in rural Sierra Leone. (January 22, 2023). (Un)told Stories hosted by Ottawa Story-Tellers.
Panelist on Richard Skippers' Friday Wrap-up Show: Celebrating National Book Blitz Month (January 6, 2023)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-D3xPqCYhc&t=42s
A Conversation with Nancy Edwards: Author of Not One, Not Even One: A Memoir of Life-altering Experiences
in Sierra Leone, West Africa
CReSP presentation (www.cresp.ca, November 29, 2022)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Jvv3DDLHA
Life-altering Lessons from a Cultural Outsider
Circle of Change Podcast with Ame-Lia Tamburrini (November, 2022)
www.humconsulting.ca/podcast/2022/episode-54-life-altering-lessons-from-a-cultural-outsider
Speaking Engagements (see photos above):
October, 2024
We All Have a Story To Tell. Workshop hosted by The Council on Aging of Ottawa.
May, 2024
Reflections on nursing leadership and capacity building in global health. Registered Nurses Association of Ontario International Nurses Interest Group.
February, 2024
The power of oral story-telling for public and population health research. Public Health Agency of Canada.
November 2023
The power of oral story-telling for public and population health research. School of Public Health Research, England.
Community engagement in primary health care. Annual General Meeting, Friends of Nixon Memorial Hospital (Segbwema, Sierra Leone), England.
October, 2023
Strengthening Community Health Systems for Low-income Countries: Lessons learned from Sierra Leone. A presentation organized by One-World Link, Royal Leamington Spa, England.
Sister Hilary Lyons: Mentor, Champion and Innovator for Primary Health Care in Sierra Leone. A presentation organized by Killeen Community Centre, County Mayo, Republic of Ireland.
April, 2023
Is it time to rethink careers and opportunities in global public Health? A webinar organized by l'axe Santé mondiale et l'axe Politiques publiques et santé des populations du Réseau de recherche en santé des populations du Québec. (Webinar is available here: https://www.santepop.qc.ca/fr/choosing-career-global-health-Edwards).
March, 2023
Lessons learned about leadership and capacity building: A 45-year nursing career in public health and global health. University of Windsor. Invited presentation for Intentional Conversation Lecture Series.
March, 2023
Developing a program of research with a global health component or orientation. University of Windsor. Meeting with nursing faculty and graduate students.
February, 2023
Developing a marketing strategy for a self-published memoir: Lessons learned.
Ottawa Public Library, Orleans Branch.
January, 2023
Capacity-building for Global Health Improvements: Reflections of a Memoirist.
ProBus Ottawa Alta Vista.
October, 2022
How Schools of Nursing in Canada Can Contribute to Achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (virtual). Webinar available: https://www.casn.ca/2022/08/how-schools-of-nursing-in-canada-can-contribute-to-achieving-the-united-nations-sustainable-development-goals/.
September, 2022
Reflections on a Research Journey Across Four Continents
University of Ottawa, School of Nursing Research Rounds.
September, 2022
Opportunities and Careers in Global Health and Global Health Research: Bridging Experiences from Canada and Abroad
School of Nursing, Dalhousie University,
Halifax, Nova Scotia.
September, 2022
Opportunities and Careers in Global Health and Global Health Research: Bridging Experiences from Canada and Abroad
Elizabeth and Thomas Rankin School of Nursing and Coady Institute
St. Francis Xavier University,
Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
September, 2022
Opportunities and Careers in Global Health and Global Health Research: Bridging Experiences from Canada and Abroad
Faculty of Nursing, University of Prince Edward Island,
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Community Events and Other Meetings:
Meeting with CODE, Ottawa, July 2023
Excellent meeting with colleagues from CODE in Ottawa on July 19th, 2023 to discuss their development through education program initiatives in Sierra Leone and Sub-Saharan Africa. Thrilled to learn about the children's books published and distributed collaboratively by PEN Sierra Leone (https://pensierraleone.org/) and CODE (https://code.ngo).
Meeting with Andrea Davis, Executive Director, Black Loyalist Heritage Centre, Birchtown, Nova Scotia (September, 2022)
This museum is a Canadian treasure. It pulses with the voices and stories of the 3,000 freed slaves who made their way to Birchtown between 1783 and 1785. Their names were recorded in the Book of Negroes. They were promised land but conditions were exceptionally harsh. Over a third (1,200) of these settlers boarded 15 vessels and travelled to Sierra Leone seeking a better life in 1792. https://novascotia.ca/museum/blackloyalists/who.htm#:~:text=Who%20were%20the%20Black%20Loyalists,Scotia%20at%20any%20one%20time.
Stories in the Garden
Bouncing Back: Resilience in Stories and Song
June 21, 2022
Memoir was available for sale by One World Grannies. (Ottawa)
Libraries and Guest Houses (see photos below):
September, 2022
Donated copies of the memoir to Africville Museum (Halifax, Nova Scotia) and Black Cultural Heritage Centre library (Birchtown, Nova Scotia) (photo, top row).
June, 2022
Donated copies of the memoir to several public libraries during travel in British Columbia: Whistler, Prince George (left, 2nd row), Smithers (right, 2nd row), and Powell River (bottom row).
Donated a copy of the memoir to Copper Beech Guest House in Masset, Haida Gwaii (middle, 2nd row).
February 28, 2022
Building Programs of Research Book Club.
School of Nursing, University of Ottawa.
Readings about neonatal tetanus in Sierra Leone from my memoir.
March 24, 2022
Book signing by author for those attending Ottawa's Home and Garden Show (in conjunction with C.A.R.P.'s Ottawa Chapter).
EY Centre, Ottawa (see photo below).
April 12, 2022
Book launch, presentation, and signing (invitational)
Nanaimo Seniors Village (Assisted Living),
Nanaimo, B.C. (see photo below).
May 3, 2022
Discussing Community-led Healthcare for Pregnancy & Birth in Africa: A live discussion about the importance of community-led solutions for female reproductive health, birthing and HIV on the African continent. Hosted by Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF). Here is the link to the panel discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y8J5pu8i8g.
This hour-long discussion was moderated by a SLF board member, educator, and registered nurse Josephine Etowa, and featured Canadian nurse and epidemiologist Nancy Edwards, as well as midwife and community healthcare worker Khetsiwe Dlahmini from Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). The discussion focused on the importance of local advocates for female health, traditional birth attendants, and community-led health solutions for women and their communities across Africa.
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