Dispelling the Clouds

Few dare to live out their lives as an experiment - much less a desperate experiment. Faced with the blunt reality of the murder of her daughter and the haunting presence of an overwhelming reptilian emotion, Wilma Derksen dares to choose a counter-intuitive way of dealing with it all. When her controversial choice hits the headlines, she is forced to defend it, redefine it, explore it, experiment with it, live it, fight with it and eventually accept it. Showing exceptional vulnerability through the use of personal story, Wilma draws us into this long, treacherous journey that took her into the Big House, the Court House, the Halfway House, God's House, Government House and eventually the Candace House. In the end, this unlikely experiment results in the most unexpected findings.

About the Author:

Since the abduction and murder of daughter Candace in 1984, Wilma Derksen has influenced victims, offenders and the community by telling her story. She’s also had an impact by facilitating support group of survivors of homicide, organizing dialogues between victims and inmates in prison, conducting trainings, giving lectures, participating in panel discussions, presenting her insights to the justice system, and addressing victims’ needs at restorative justice conferences throughout Canada and the United States.