Bio
Vivien Bowers was born in Vancouver, Canada in 1951, the second
of four children. She received a B.A. in English (honours) from
the University of British Columbia followed by a teaching certificate,
and was a grade 5 teacher for several years in Nelson, BC. Vivien
has been a freelance writer for more than twenty-five years, writing
elementary and secondary school materials, as well as non-fiction
books and magazine articles for both adults and children. She has
been invited to do presentations on her children's books in
hundreds of schools and libraries across the country.
Bowers has two sons, now grown up, and lives at the base of the
mountains outside of Nelson,BC. She loves to escape
into the wilderness to ski, hike or canoe.
Awards
Winner
- 2007 Canadian Science Writers Association "Science in Society" journalism award, children book
- 2002 Red Cedar Book Award
- 2002 Hackmatack Children's Choice Award
- 2000 Information Book Award
- 2000 BC Book Prize (Sheila A. Egoff Children's Award)
- 1998 Canadian Science Writers Association "Science in Society"
journalism award for children's book
- 1982 Western Magazine Award
Finalist
- 2009 Red Cedar Book Award
- 2008 Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award
- 2008 Diamond Willow Award
- 2006 Silver Birch Award
- 2005 Red Cedar Book Award
- 2004 Banff Mountain Book Festival award for mountain literature
- 2004 Independent Publisher Book Award, Environment/EcologyNature
- 2004 Rocky Mountain Book Award
- 2004/5 Red Cedar Book Award
- 2003/4 (Saskatchewan) Diamond Willow Award
- 2000 Mr. Christie Award
- 2000 Libris Award for Non-Fiction
- 2000 Canadian Science Writers Association Award
- 2000 Red Cedar Award
- 1998 Silver Birch Award (Ontario Library Association)
- 1998 Western Magazine Award
List of Publications
Adult Books
In the Path of an Avalanche: A True Story. Greystone Books, 2003.
Sample Writing
Children's Trade Books
Crime Science: How Investigators Use Science to Track Down the Bad Guys OwlKids Books/Maple Tree Press, 1997. (Canadian Science Writers Association Award)
and the revised edition: Crime Scene: How Investigators Use Science to Track Down the Bad Guys.
Sample Writing
Wow Canada: Exploring this Land From Coast to Coast to Coast OwlKids Books/Maple Tree Press, 1999.
(Information Book Award, BC Book Prize, Red Cedar Award, Hackmatack
Children's Choice Award)
Sample Writing
Only in Canada! From the Colossal to the Kooky OwlKids Books/Maple Tree Press, 2002.
Sample Writing
That's Very Canadian! An Exceptionally Interesting
Report About All Things Canadian, by Rachel. OwlKids Books/Maple Tree Press, 2004.
Sample Writing
Crazy About Canada! Amazing Things Kids Want to Know. OwlKids Books/Maple Tree Press, 2006.
Sample Writing
Hey Canada! Tundra Books, 2012.
Sample Writing
Textbooks and Other Educational Materials
- Regular contributor of articles to "What in the World?", a monthly current events newletter produced by LesPlan Educational Services Limited, Victoria, BC, and distributed across Canada. Also, author of cartoon feature for "Canadian Reader," a similar publication designed for younger students.
- Six Grade 7 Science distance education modules for the B.C.
Ministry of Education, Distance Education Branch, 1998: Astronomy,
Earth's Crust, Environmental Chemistry, Energy, Ecology and Life
Cycles.
- Four Grade 4 distance education modules for the B.C. Ministry
of Education, Distance Education Branch, 1996 and 1997: Crossing
Canada (East & West), Solving Problems, Travelling.
- British Columbia. Grade 4 book,
Canadian Provinces Series. Lerner Publications Ltd., Minneapolis,
1995
- Science Probe 8 and Science
Probe 9 (2nd eds.) 30 1-page features on science-related
topics for these Grade 8 and 9 texts orginally published by John
Wiley & Sons Canada, 1993; re-published by Nelson Canada.
- Personal Growth: Humanities Resource Book
(Primary &: Intermediate). 37 lesson plans for implementing
the B.C. "Learning for Living" (health/guidance) curriculum. Written
for GT Publishing Services Ltd. for the B.C. Ministry of Education,
1990.
- Nelson Intermediate Atlas: Teacher Resource
Book. 20 lesson plans for grades 4-7. For GT Publishing
Services Ltd. Published by Nelson Canada, 1990.
- More Than Meets the Eye: multicultural
unit (Grade 5) for Alternatives to Racism Society, published by
Pacific Educational Press, University of British Columbia, 1989.
- Science & Technology 11: Space Technology
Module (Grade 11) for GT Publishing Services Ltd. on contract to the B.C. Ministry of Education, 1988.
- Our Land: Building the West (Grade
10) for Gage Educational Publishing, 1987 (co-author).
- Canada: Learning from the Past, Looking
to the Future (Explorations Series: Grade 5) for Douglas
& McIntyre (Educational) Ltd., 1985 (co-author).
Magazine Articles
Published in over a dozen international and Canadian national and
regional publications including Canadian Geographic,
Beautiful British Columbia and
Ranger Rick.
Samples
- "Avalanche!" (Canadian Geographic
March/April 94, reprinted in Doctor's Review,
Ski Canada) Sample Writing
- "Mum, Daughters and Mud on the West Coast Trail" (Beautiful
British Columbia, Summer 95)
- "Women Who Climb Walls" (Beautiful British
Columbia, Spring 97) Sample Writing
- "Glacier Trek" (Ranger Rick, August
97)
- Winner, 1982 Western Magazine Award; Finalist, 1998 Western
Magazine Award
- Member, Periodical Writers Association of Canada
- Instructor, community college magazine writing courses
Radio
- Co-host of Kootenay Co-op Radio's "Osprey Outlook," a show
that interviews volunteers who contribute to the local community.
- Contributor to CBC Almanac program as a member of the "Wilderness
Panel."
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