I'm a passionate writer with over 30 years of experience, concentrating mainly on writing for social media, poetry, and memoir. I've freelanced for Pink Play Magazine and contributed to various online platforms, a Canadian food journal, a poetry anthology, and McLean's Magazine. In 2024 I self-published a memoir dedicated to my late wife, and I continue to work across theatrical, literary, and digital media spaces. I run an active YouTube channel and create content for multiple projects, narrating my own work and facilitating programming. Through Captain Grief and my ongoing narrative healing work, I explore grief and resilience with candor, humor, and openness, helping others find expression and connection through storytelling and creative practice.

Kelly Wilk Ricard

I'm a passionate writer with over 30 years of experience, concentrating mainly on writing for social media, poetry, and memoir. I've freelanced for Pink Play Magazine and contributed to various online platforms, a Canadian food journal, a poetry anthology, and McLean's Magazine. In 2024 I self-published a memoir dedicated to my late wife, and I continue to work across theatrical, literary, and digital media spaces. I run an active YouTube channel and create content for multiple projects, narrating my own work and facilitating programming. Through Captain Grief and my ongoing narrative healing work, I explore grief and resilience with candor, humor, and openness, helping others find expression and connection through storytelling and creative practice.

Available to hire

I’m a passionate writer with over 30 years of experience, concentrating mainly on writing for social media, poetry, and memoir. I’ve freelanced for Pink Play Magazine and contributed to various online platforms, a Canadian food journal, a poetry anthology, and McLean’s Magazine. In 2024 I self-published a memoir dedicated to my late wife, and I continue to work across theatrical, literary, and digital media spaces.

I run an active YouTube channel and create content for multiple projects, narrating my own work and facilitating programming. Through Captain Grief and my ongoing narrative healing work, I explore grief and resilience with candor, humor, and openness, helping others find expression and connection through storytelling and creative practice.

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Experience Level

Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate

Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Workshop Facilitator at Private Residence / Self-Employed
September 1, 2025 - Present
Created and led Narrative Healing for Your Journey of Loss Six-Week Workshop Series; designed sprint writes, prompts, and activities; supported participants in processing grief through writing and ritual; provided constructive feedback; created a safe space for sharing.
Author at Iguana Books
January 1, 2024 - Present
Self-published memoir The High-Flying Adventures of Captain Grief (2024) dedicated to my late wife.
Drama Coach at TDSB Elementary Musical (Volunteer)
January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2020
Volunteered to do drama coaching for sixty elementary students with a musical director; contributed to the production Go Fish and Lost in Disneyland; developed materials and coached performers.
Motivational Speaker at Spoken Lives
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2019
Participated in Motivational Speaking Series; delivered talks about life struggles and resilience; performed readings from memoir; contributed to community outreach.
Workshop Facilitator at Various organizations (Camp Widow, Narrative Healing Workshops)
January 1, 2017 - Present
Facilitated in-person and online workshops focused on writing, literacy, grief, and personal healing.
Content Creator / Narrator at Captain Grief (captaingrief.com)
January 1, 2013 - Present
Narration of own work and YouTube content; development of Captain Grief narrative projects.
Narrative Healing Workshop Facilitator at Feet Matter
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2019
Created and facilitated Narrative Healing Workshops for Loss Series; used creative writing and cartooning to support positive mental health; established safe peer-support environment.
Writer / Blogger at Brave.Creative.Me
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2023
Published essays, poetry, and short stories; built a wide online presence and engaged a community across blogs and social platforms.

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Honours at University of Guelph, Guelph
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2003
Holistic Practitioner Care Program at Centennial College – Toronto, ON
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2007
Wellness Promotion in the Workplace at Centennial College – Toronto, ON
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2004
Bachelor of Arts, Honours at University of Guelph
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2003
Holistic Practitioner Care Program at Centennial College – Toronto, ON
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2007
Wellness Promotion in the Workplace at Centennial College – Toronto, ON
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2004

Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts, Honours
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2003
Holistic Practitioner Care Program
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2007
Wellness Promotion in the Workplace
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2004

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services, Software & Internet
    30-Day-Poetry Challenge for Instagram @Brave.Creative.Me

    During the pandemic I did a lot of walking around the neighbourhood of East End Toronto with our two young boys. It was beautiful, leafy green time of year and poetry was everywhere. Or rather the possibility of poetry was everywhere. I used my eyes like a camera seeing places and things that would inspire me with their shape, colour, texture, arrangement or mood. I would take a picture of it and use an app on my phone and challenge myself to write a short poem to place overtop of the image, to work in harmony with it not against it. Brief poetry is powerful poetry, it stays with you. and when coupled with an image I believe its power is only extended to the reader. Reaching out to the person viewing it over social media, particularly at a time when many people were stuck in their home. Keeping the imagination alive is one of the gifts of poetry.