Belle Maynard Curd
Belle is a born storyteller. Writing is her passion, and in her stories she weaves threads of her own personal experiences – from family history and the minutiae of everyday life, to the shared grief over tragedies like the Boston Marathon bombing. Inspiration can come from anywhere, including Knowledge Network.
“Almost every day I could write a story about the things I see on Knowledge,” says Belle. She cites a recent example; a documentary about the early days of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. “I wasn’t in Winnipeg during that time, but after watching the program I was able to write my own story about those years and about ballet in my life.”
Belle has been a fan of Knowledge since her grandson, James Hogg, introduced her to Heartbeat years ago. She enjoys much of the programming – from British dramas and history to arts specials, symphonies and documentaries. Having travelled all over the globe, she also loves programs about the many places she’s visited.
Belle’s recognition that Knowledge needs support inspired her to become a Partner. “It takes money to keep Knowledge going. People can be a small part of it, or a big part of it. Whatever they can give makes a difference.”
Twice a month, Belle leads a writing group at the Tsawwassen library. Their genre is personal histories, and Belle’s experience is invaluable. She has self-published Finding My Family about her search for her father and grandparents, and a seven-book series called Navy Days 1946-1956 about her first husband’s years in the Canadian Navy, based on the letters he sent her while he was at sea.
Recently, Belle helped Knowledge document a part of BC’s history. As part of the network’s Foncie Pulice project, she sent in a treasured photo of herself and friends taken by the Vancouver street photographer in the late 1950s. Belle feels it’s important to share these moments of personal significance. “The nicest thing my grandma could have given me would have been a story of the pioneer days. In years to come, the stories we’re living now will be as remote as the pioneers are to us.”
Photo caption: Belle Maynard Curd (left) and members of her writing group, Lula Reed and Marina Stam, met with Rudy Buttignol at a tour of Knowledge Network.
