Reinvention is possible, at any age

Sandra lives off-grid in the forest on the edge of the Tusket River in Nova Scotia, Canada. The septuagenarian has had a few former lives including teaching, social work and farming.

At age 55 she reinvented herself as a writer.  Since then, she’s penned four books, contributed to several travel guides, and her articles have appeared in over 70 publications. Although Sandra has journeyed around the world (and written about her travels) she’s just plain nutty about travelling in Atlantic Canada—four provinces she considers her home turf.

“I’m thrilled that Sandra is being recognized for her incredible talent as a storyteller, photographer and a mature woman over 50,” said Carolyn Ray, CEO and Editor, JourneyWoman. “It’s important to have writers who are representative of our readership of women over 50, while  advocating for more purposeful, slower and local travel experiences, as Sandra does in all of her articles.”

Two travel writing awards

Seven Decades of Travelling in Nova Scotia

Sandra’s first award-winning article is called, “Seven Decades of Travelling in Nova Scotia”, and she shares 70 years of experience paddling.

She writes: “I’ve paddled in Nova Scotia for over 70 years and have owned seven canoes: Cleo, Clementine, Willard Hewey, No Name, Bella, Ms. Ebony, and Stupid Canoe. They each have their own peculiarities, stubbornness, and foibles—as do I. Whether you are a wanna-be paddler or have years of experience, there are lakes, rivers, and coastal areas in Nova Scotia to suit every skill level and interest.”

“The Joys of Being Stranded — More Than Once—in Labrador”

Sandra’s second article, “The Joys of Being Stranded — More Than Once—in Labrador”, included an award-winning photograph of Trapper Holman Campbell.

She writes: “So here I was, stranded in Rigolet for a few days. You might wonder: what else is there to do in a tiny community of about 300 people? The answer: plenty! …..But mainly I wandered around, meeting folks like Holman Campbell, a seasoned trapper, and fine storyteller. After meeting Holman the first time, I was so taken with his stories that I returned and was offered an amazing meal of moose stew. Imagine that. The Inuktitut word for tourism is silakKijattisinik. It means “the place you go to enjoy yourselves.” It’s all about going with the flow in this part of the world, where strangers are no longer strangers after the first Hello.”