Joseph Howse - 200th Anniversary Celebration
Radio Interview (June 03 2010): Lyn's interview with Bill Corbett in Calgary on Bookmark AM Radio 770
Radio Interview (June 02 2010): Lyn's interview with Gary Freeman in Calgary on Bookmark AM Radio 770

from left: Lyn, Marianne Sadar, Carol Huynh, Robert Turner

The SFU Alumni Association is pleased to announce the 2009 Outstanding Alumni Award recipients (from left: Lyn, Marianne Sadar, Carol Huynh, Robert Turner):

Arts and Culture
Lyn Hancock, BEd '77, MA '81 (photo on far left)
Author, Photographer, Environmentalist, Educator

"A distinguished author, photojournalist, lecturer and filmmaker for over 40 years, Lyn Hancock has published 20 books and countless articles in newspapers and magazines around the world. Ever true to her calling as an educator, Lyn has taught thousands of children about wildlife habits and habitats. Through her talent, creativity and endless enthusiasm, she has shared her passion for nature with three generations of Canadians" (SFU Alumni Association).

Aussie-born dynamo Lyn Hancock, an extraordinary teacher, renowned author, experienced photojournalist, photographer, and presenter, as well as an actress and adventurer, has written 20 books and thousands of articles. According to her students, Lyn is a “super hero” who inspires audiences with a love of learning and literacy.

Her multi-award-winning signature book There’s a Seal in my Sleeping Bag, in print for 40 years, is now revised and updated and turns on a new generation. Her text book Nunavut, the first book on Canada’s most recent territory, is based on Lyn’s 25 years of living in Canada’s north. Her latest book Tabasco the Saucy Raccoon, another best seller, was nominated for the Diamond Willow award.

Lyn’s tremendous energy and enthusiasm, her world-wide travels and storehouse of entertaining anecdotes have the power to rivet any audience. You may not live with eagles, seals, raccoons, bears, apes or cougars. Or stalked walrus and polar bears in the Arctic, jaguars in Belize, or penguins in the Antarctic. You may not have run from grizzlies, swum icy rivers or flown to the North Pole.

But you will learn how Lyn uses such experiences to turn on people of all ages to keep journals, read books, produce magazines and write poems, plays and stories based on their own passions. “Books Begin in Backyards” remains one of her most popular presentations.

Here’s a typical testimonial: “I have taught for 30 years and by far this is the most stimulating presentation I have attended. The combination of slides, your reading of excerpts, as well as your many personal anecdotes made your stories come alive. By telling us the steps you follow to write a book, plus the details of how you and your illustrator worked together, our students gained a greater understanding of the tremendous work involved. Spellbinding. Riveting.”

Lyn follows her presentations with writing workshops and provides handouts of helpful ideas to get you writing and reading and a free activity book to accompany Tabasco the Saucy Raccoon.