Bonnie Nish: Finding Healing Through Words

Heroes of the Phoenix Rising by Vision One World

"I can feel it beating up against the walls of my body, skin keeping it in place as though if I were to burn it all off I would dissolve to water. I am water..."— From “River Flows Through Me”

by Bonnie Nish

Roots in Resilience

Bonnie Nish is a poet, educator, and community activist whose life is a testament to the healing power of art. She grew up in Toronto in a home filled with extended family — a controlling, traditional environment. Her mother, suffering from mental health challenges, was verbally abusive.

“There was an expectation that I would not go to university, that I would grow up and get married to a nice Jewish doctor or lawyer,” Bonnie recalls.

Even as a child, Bonnie resisted those limitations. She found refuge in the homes of supportive friends and left home at eighteen. Despite her mother’s disapproval, she enrolled at the University of Toronto, working part-time to earn her degree in English Literature.

Love, Loss, and New Beginnings

Bonnie’s adult life brought marriage and three children. But after 9/11, her husband’s industry collapsed. The resulting stress fractured their marriage, leaving Bonnie as the sole provider for her children.

“There must be beauty buried in all of this pain... it is the rise of the self and of finding you again.”— From “Beauty” by Bonnie Nish

Despite not having worked outside the home in years, Bonnie pushed forward — juggling 60-hour work weeks, parenting, and community involvement. Then, tragedy struck again.

Injury and the Power of Expression

While supervising children at a playground, Bonnie was hit in the head and suffered a serious concussion. Just as she was recovering, a second blow — a basketball accident — reversed all progress.

Yet even in this, Bonnie found purpose. During her recovery, she began compiling stories from others with similar brain injuries, creating a powerful manuscript to help those facing invisible trauma.

“My poems come from my history, my sorrow, and my joy. Poetry has always been a way in which I could express myself especially at times when I felt I had no voice.”

A Life of Purpose

Bonnie now works in a high school classroom supporting disabled students. Beyond her job, she uses poetry to uplift others. She runs writing workshops in drug rehab centres and children's hospitals, believing deeply in the power of self-expression.

“One thing that came from growing up with a mother that had such mental health issues was that it gave me compassion for other people's circumstances.”

She also leads a weekly youth writing group and funds a scholarship for one participant to attend Vancouver Public Library’s summer book camp.

Building Community Through Words

Her work has one core mission: “Promoting the Arts That Inspire the World to Take Notice of Itself.” Bonnie hopes to foster literacy, build community, and restore confidence — especially in those often overlooked.

“I want to raise personal, social, and global awareness through the creation of poetry and the arts, collaborating and working together.”

From schools to transition houses to inner-city programs, Bonnie’s workshops are helping hundreds find their voice in a noisy world.

“People ask me, why do you do everything you do?” Bonnie says. “And I answer: because I can.”

A Legacy of Healing

“She discards her shoes when she plays, feet tucked on either side of the cello… vibrations move up her body until the rhythm carries her beyond heaven...”— From “Transformation”

by Bonnie Nish

Thank you, Bonnie, for weaving happiness and hope into every line you write.