Flourishing and Free provides 16 true stories of fearless, determined women who forged their unique paths on Vancouver Island. Many were the first females, and often the first Indigenous people, to break free of traditional roles. Most were born in the early 19th century when women couldn’t vote, own land, or attend university. The stories range from Mary Ann Croft, the first female lighthouse keeper in Canada; to Maria Mahoi, a Salt Spring pioneer of First Nations and Hawaiian descent; to physician Victoria Chung, the first Asian Canadian to receive a medical degree. Also included is the story of Barbara Touchie, whose work to preserve the Nuu-chah-nulth language is evident today on the First Voices Indigenous languages app. Each story is a window into the past providing empowering tales of unsung women.

144 pp., 5.5 × 8.5", b&w photographs • Bibliography

Source: Association of Book Publishers of BC - BC Books for Schools (2021-2022)

Haley Healey is a high school counsellor, registered clinical counsellor, and the bestselling author of On Their Own Terms: True Stories of Trailblazing Women of Vancouver Island, Flourishing and Free: More Stories of Trailblazing Women of Vancouver Island, and Her Courage Rises: 50 Trailblazing Women of British Columbia and the Yukon. A self-proclaimed trailblazing woman herself, she has taught in isolated fly-in communities, guided whitewater canoe expeditions, and plays the violin. She has an avid interest in wild places and unconventional people.

Haley Healey's profile page

"Flourishing and Free provides 16 true stories of fearless, determined women who forged their unique paths on Vancouver Island. Many were the first females, and often the first Indigenous people, to break free of traditional roles. Most were born in the early 19th century when women couldn’t vote, own land, or attend university. [...] Each story is a window into the past providing empowering tales of unsung women."
—BC Books for BC Schools

"The stories of women in this book are as diverse as they are extraordinary. Each of the 16 chapters in Flourishing and Free stands alone as biographical sketches, so readers looking for a "Choose Your Own Adventure" experience can read the book in any order."
—BC History