User:LITwrit

Yvonne Blackwood (born July 1950) is a Canadian author: Yvonne Blackwood was born in Manchester, Jamaica. She graduated from Manchester High School and the University of Technology in Jamaica where she majored in Banking. In 1976, and emigrated to Canada. She pursued studies at the University of Toronto and Ryerson University and obtained the Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers diploma. She subsequently attended York University and is completing an English Major degree. CAREER: Yvonne worked as a banker all her career, holding positions as Bank Manager, Community Banking Advisor, and Commercial Credit Advisor. She published her first book, Into Africa a Personal Journey, while she was still working full time. Since then Blackwood has published two other adult books and four children’s picture books in the Nosey Charlie Adventure series. She has contributed to several anthologies including Human Kindness, Canadian Voices, and In All Directions. She won a short story award in 2000. WRITING: Two of Blackwood’s books explore themes of travel to West Africa and one deals with shoplifting in the grocery industry. She is currently working on a novel set in the Caribbean. Her children’s books tell the fascinating story about a family of squirrels living in a city. Community Activity Blackwood was an active community volunteer for many years. Some of the positions she held include: •	President Tropicana Community Services Organization •	Board Director of Ontario Development Corporation •	Board Director the Trillium Foundation •	Board Director & Secretary of the Metropolitan Toronto Children's Aid Society. •	Mentor with the YMCA Black Achievers Program •	Council Member and Executive Member of the College of Nurses of Ontario. •	She is currently a Council member of The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists. AWARDS & HONOURS: Canadian Authors Association Millennium short story award A Certificate by Ontario minister of citizenship & culture for voluntarism Community Volunteer Recognition Certificate by the Heritage Skills Development Centre Community Service Award from the City of Markham. BIBLIOGRAPHY Non-fiction: Into Africa, a Personal Journey (2000) Will That Be Cash or Cuffs? (2005) Into Africa, the Return (2009) Children’s Books: Nosy Charlie Comes to Town (2017) Charlie El Curiosa Viene a la Cuidad (Spanish version 2017) Nosey Charlie Goes to Court (2017) Nosey Charlie Chokes on a Wiener (2017)