Faces of the Tri Cities is an absolute delight of a read – one that exceeded my expectations in so many ways. Co-curated by Geneviève Kyle-Lefebvre and Cathy Cena, this book showcases incredible women in our community. While I only kind of know Geneviève and Cathy – we cross paths at local events – they are hard to miss! They are popular, incredibly warm, and have the kind of magnetic energy that makes you want to know them better. They radiate confidence, always dressed impeccably, smiling, and chatting with everyone who walks by. They are the type of people who light up a room. That said, they are not just about the extroverted charm – they have had their own challenges and struggles, and I appreciated that they also shared parts of their journeys in this book.
This book turned out to be both refreshing and sweet, with an ease to it that made it so enjoyable to dive into.
As someone who lives in this community, I recognized many of the women featured, which made it even more personal. The structure was beautifully done – each woman’s profile spans two pages, including a quote and a picture, which really brought each story to life.
I’ll admit, when I first started the book, I got a little skeptical. Three of the first four profiles felt more like self-promotion, with women using the space primarily to market themselves and their businesses. But the book quickly found its rhythm. As I continued reading, I found the stories becoming more humble, interesting, and deeply honest. Barbara Jones’s story, in particular, left a lasting impression. The level of vulnerability in her story was remarkable – I truly admire her for sharing so openly.
I also enjoy the diversity of experiences featured, though I do feel some demographics were missing. There were no Indigenous women, queer voices, or artists beyond two makeup/beauty artists and a couple of writers. Given that Port Moody is the City of the Arts, I would have expected at least one musician, painter, sculptor, or filmmaker. I also would have loved to see more women working in male-dominated trades – a brewer (Kristy at Mariner Brewing comes to mind), a truck driver (I know quite a few in my industry), a farmer, an HVAC technician (Jessica Bannister from Cam Cool would have been a great feature), or really any tradeswoman. Of course, it’s impossible to include everyone, and I’m not sure how the selection process worked, so maybe these stories just weren’t put forward.
Many profiles stood out to me – so much so that I couldn’t help but write comments on almost every page. Sometimes it was just a “Wow,” other times a full sentence capturing my thoughts and emotions in the moment.
The francophone women’s stories were especially inspiring. As a francophone myself, they filled me with pride.
I also realized that women I thought I knew quite well had stories far beyond what we had ever shared. Vivian Symington, for example – I see her several times a year, and we always have great conversations. But after reading her profile, I realized just how little I actually knew about her journey. Her story is powerful, and I loved reading all the details. Some other profiles left me with questions – which I love. Jenn Fontaine’s, for instance, made me want to meet her and learn more. Carlie Gollner’s decision to include a photo of her and her daughter stood out to me – it beautifully reflected how her journey was shaped by motherhood and the community she built around it.
And then there were the last two profiles, right before the co-author’s own story. So refreshing, different, and full of self-awareness. The book truly couldn’t have ended on a better note.
One unexpected takeaway? This was, in a way, my first AI book. Don’t get me wrong – it’s not a criticism. AI is a tool, and a great one that people should use. But I definitely felt its presence, particularly in how often the word “resilience” appeared. Sometimes three times in a single profile! And trust me when I say that I loved the word resilience. I only learned its meaning about seven years ago when we were raising our first PADS dog. People kept saying, he’s not very resilient, and I had no clue what they meant. Once I fully understood, I fell in love with the word. But I won’t lie, after reading it on practically every page of this book, I think I need a short break from it. 😅 That said, I did pick up some great new words – like “cringe” – which I can’t wait to use in my next work story or post.
Anyway, this is my long-winded way to express that this book is fabulous and that you should read it. Since I scribbled all over my copy, I can’t pass it along, but you can be purchased yours at Western Sky Books in Port Coquitlam or online in HERE. I imagine that the sales of the book will support those who created this beauty and also helps celebrate the incredible women in our community.
