About
Greetings fine people of the world. I’m Robbie (Roberta). I live in Vancouver, Canada. I often write about mid-life health, film, and social impact initiatives. I’m the founder of the Late Bloomers Collective, a growing group of female identifying people that are doing seriously cool stuff after 35.
My mission is to support and work with individuals and companies that are community minded and purpose driven to convey your story in a way that feels authentic.
Please read on to learn about the twists and turns of my weird and wonderful career as a storyteller and community builder.
Upon graduating journalism school in 2002, my life-long love of writing became a full-time reality. Launching into my first major project, I co-wrote and edited a legacy memoir with Paul Jeffries, famed tattoo artist and the visionary behind Smilin’ Buddha Tattoo in Calgary.
The fast-paced business world of Calgary kept me busy for years as a freelance writer and editor and I wrote for Avenue, Where, Swerve, the Calgary Herald and many others. I’ve chatted with Ang Lee about prairie oysters, hung out backstage with Order of Canada recipients Blue Rodeo, and written about a Monsanto art show for THIS magazine.
Immersed in the thriving arts scene, I edited the first annual arts guide for Fast Forward Weekly and profiled artists for Galleries West. Joining the creative team at iStockphoto, I created a wide range of content and communicated with a robust and growing community of international artists. As the voice of the company, I also documented international photoshoots.That same year, I wrote and edited the Calgary Book of Everything, which quickly became a best seller. When Dave Kelly of City TV interviewed me about the project, he dubbed me the “ultimate researcher”.
During a sojourn in New York City in 2008 (right before the crash) I wrote about the complex world of art as investment for the Sunday Times of London. It was an intense creative experience living on the Lower East Side and I discovered a passion for photography that led me to some incredible opportunities and collaborations. When I returned to Calgary, I immersed myself in editorial photography and shot the Lilith Fair return for Spin.com. Although I focus mainly on community building and writing these days, I still enjoy taking my vintage Pentax film camera out and about for a technical challenge.
I spent the last five years of my time in Calgary in the incredible community of Inglewood. We had chickens in the back yard and regular potlucks in the park. I served on the community association board and created the New Street Spoken Word Safari, a collaboration funded by the Canada Council for the Arts.
Bringing the prairie work ethic with me to Vancouver in 2012, I wrote and directed a short film and wrote about my experience for the Tyee.
Serving the board of Women in Film has been an enriching experience and I’m inspired by the advocacy work being done here in BC and beyond by a dynamic and diverse team of media professionals.
In late 2018, I joined the small and mighty local team of Good Pitch Vancouver to provide outreach and event coordination for a unique event that supports social justice filmmakers in building robust communities around their projects. There were many goosebump inducing moments during that contract, including meeting David Suzuki.
The sublime energy of the West coast, combined with the growing number of ethical companies that are thriving here, sparks my inspiration daily. Conversing with passionate creatives lights me up, and I love it when someone shows me a new way of thinking.
Tererai Trent asks: “What breaks your heart?” For me, it’s the stories that go untold, the magnificent life threads and experiences that have the potential to bring us together, but languish in the neverland of “someday”.
If you’re ready to take action and create impact, let’s talk. Please choose a time that works for you here.