top of page
Paper And Pencil

Arts Immersion: The Stories

Finding Her Voice

When Rhonda first came to Arts Immersion, she wasn’t looking for a mentor, she was looking for someone to write her stories down before they slipped away.

Her vivid imagination was intact, but memory challenges and mobility limitations made capturing her ideas feel impossible...Everything changed the day she met her mentor, Dennis.

 

All she asked for was patience. What she received was partnership.

 

Together, they found tools that let her express herself independently, assistive software to hold her ideas, a handheld printer to piece together her notes, and visual storyboarding techniques to organize her plots.


 

​

 

 

One of her first creations was a deeply personal song. With Dennis’ guidance and the help of folk musician Doc Higgins, Rhonda brought it to life.

 

When she shared the final recording with peers, the room fell silent...her voice, her words, her story had moved everyone.Since then, Rhonda has blossomed as a writer. She now works on a short story, poetry, character studies, and weekly reflections, no longer searching for a scribe, but confidently shaping her own narratives.

And then she began to write.

Thank you, Rhonda, for sharing your story and for your incredible courage to put your thoughts into words. Your willingness to be open and authentic is inspiring and makes a meaningful impact on those who read it.

Thank you, Sukhi, Arts Immersion Coordinator, for taking the time to sit down with Rhonda and capturing her story. 

CONTACT US

23 Mississaga St W, Orillia, ON, Canada,
L3V 3A5

705-481-0176 ext 3

CONNECT WITH US
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

We respectfully acknowledge that the North Simcoe Arts is located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabeg peoples, including the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations of the Three Fires Confederacy, and the ancestral homelands of the Wendat peoples.We recognize the enduring stewardship and presence of the Chippewa Tri-Council First Nations: Beausoleil First Nation, Chippewas of Rama First Nation, and Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, whose relationships with these lands and waters continue today. We also acknowledge the Métis peoples of this region, and the Haudenosaunee and other Indigenous Nations who have travelled, gathered, and cared for these territories over time.This region lies within the territories covered by the Williams Treaties of 1923, as well as earlier agreements including Treaty 5 and the Lake Simcoe–Nottawasaga Treaty. As an arts council, we are committed to ongoing learning, relationship-building, and supporting Indigenous voices, stories, and creative expression in the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and reconciliation.

We believe the arts are strengthened by the voices, experiences, and creative expressions of people from all backgrounds, identities, and abilities. We strive to create welcoming, accessible, and respectful spaces where artists, audiences, staff, volunteers, and community members feel valued and empowered to participate fully. 

Registered Charity Number : #835354341RR0001

© 2026 by North Simcoe Arts. 

bottom of page