Kathleen is the
recipient of the Queens Jubilee Medal for her work in arts and
culture. She was recently honoured by the City of Victoria with
the Victoria Hospitality Award honouring service excellence.
Kathleen is a Canadian best selling author of five children’s
books and a book of poetry. She started writing in 1981 when
her eSldest son Joseph was born and continues writing to this
day. Kathleen has written two children’s songs in collaboration
with composers Len Udow of Manitoba and Patrick Godfrey of Victoria
BC. She grew up in Gimli, Manitoba on the shores of Lake Winnipeg
and is the daughter of the late Mayor Ted Arnason and Marjorie
Arnason. Kathleen was a competitive and professional figure
skater for many years before she became a nurse in 1975. Kathleen
practiced nursing at the Misericordia Hospital and St. Boniface
Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba before starting her family. When
asked about her nursing career Kathleen will tell you being a
nurse taught her about life and death. Later she joined her family
in their tourism charter company known as Viking Travel where
she worked and traveled until 1995.
In 1996 Kathleen
went to work for a Canadian Senator to prepare herself to be
a candidate in the Canadian 2000 election. Kathleen ran for a
seat in Selkirk Interlake because she believes women should stand
beside men and work together in the governance of Canada. Though
she was not successful in obtaining a seat as a Member of Parliament
her experience changed her life. When she lost the election in
2000 the first call she received was from her sons. Joseph asked
how she was and told her that they were both proud of her. Tomas,
then 15 years old, told her that tomorrow would be another day
and asked if she was all right. These are two conversations she
will hold close to her heart forever. Kathleen’s son’s
Joseph and Tomas have always been her inspiration.
The year 2000 was
a strong year of multiple accomplishments for Kathleen: In the
spring, she headed a Millennium Project in Ottawa that brought
over 500 Ottawa school children and the Prime Minister of Iceland
and Canada together for a celebration at the Museum of Civilization
in honour of the first European child born in Canada. That summer,
Kathleen headed a team of community volunteers to bring The Winnipeg
Symphony Orchestra to play a free concert on the shores of Lake
Winnipeg. It was the first time the Winnipeg Symphony as
a whole had performed outside of Winnipeg in rural Manitoba. Also
that year Kathleen became the Executive Director of the United
Icelandic Appeal, heading their fundraising and helping to coordinate
the project known as “Falcon’s Gold”.
In 2001 Kathleen
was the visionary and co-founding director of Prairie Ocean Centre
of the Arts. Prairie Ocean is based on a creative economy utilizing
the strengths of the artistic community while supporting the general
public by offering the opportunity to experience creative culture
at free community events. During her time at Prairie Ocean
she created and produced “The Voice of the Lake”. The
Voice of the Lake was commissioned and created by Andrew Balfour,
an Aboriginal composer. Mr. Balfour created a forty-five
minute symphony of music interpreting Lake Winnipeg and its people.
Kathleen developed a one year plan of experiences of Andrew’s
cultural background as he had been adopted as an infant and was
now exploring his rich ancestry. She also created opportunities
for Andrew to experience Lake Winnipeg and come to know the people
who lived off and on the Lake. ‘A’ Channel recorded
his journey of inspiration and discovery to create “The
Voice of the Lake”, a one hour documentary which was aired
in early May 2006. “The Voice of the Lake” was
performed in June 14, 2006 by The Winnipeg Chamber Orchestra and
was the opening concert for the Agassiz Music Festival. It was
also performed again at the Icelandic Festival in Gimli Manitoba
on the shores of Lake Winnipeg in August 2006.
During her time
at Prairie Ocean Kathleen initiated a project to teach children
to paint with dots. She brought in a First Nations Elder
who gave the teachings of the circle and a unique artist/teacher
from Calgary, Jim Pescott, who inspired the children to experiment
and stretch their imagination through the simplicity of many dots
put together. This was the beginning of her introduction to the
world of painting. It is with this technique Kathleen illustrated
her most recent book. As a sculptor Kathleen has created
two hand built chess sets and the characters of her children’s
animated series called The Rainbows. When time permits Kathleen
works on a series of mural paintings, which will be donated to
a children’s hospital on their completion and has started
writing her first novel.
In 2006 Kathleen
moved from Manitoba to Victoria, British Columbia where she now
resides. A loss, grief and growth group in Toronto inspired
her latest book “Remember Me”. Their request
for a tool that would help children find their voice during grief
became her inspiration and her hope that it would help persons
of all ages work through this trying time of loss. Since the publication
of “Remember Me” Kathleen has donated over 1000 books
to families of Canadian and American fallen soldiers and children’s
grief camps. Psychologists, family counsellors, doctors and parents
in Canada and the United States are using her book. Also in 2006
Kathleen started work at a downtown art gallery in Victoria known
as Full Circle Studio Arts, which allowed her the opportunity to
become part of the Victoria community. Working at the gallery
offered her an experience to do business in a heart-centered way
as her friend and owner of the gallery is also a peace advocate.
Their shared interest in personal peace supported their visions.
Now in 2011 Kathleen
ventures forward to help raise peace consciousness and honour Canadian
children through the Fountain of Peace Project. Her dream has become
her reality.
Kathleen invites
anyone interested in helping or participating to please contact her
at fountainofpeace@gmail.com
