PATRICIA O’HARA- Author

Patricia grew up on the shores of Lake Ontario in Kingston. She raised her family on Wolfe Island, which is in the mouth of the Upper St. Lawrence River known as the Great River. She worked for Kraft Canada and was transferred to Cornwall Ontario which is where she lives today.

Very early Patricia was aware of her passion for the water world. She dreamed of becoming a scuba diver. Her dream came true.

She began scuba diving on the shores of the Great River in Cornwall. Her sense of adventure and curiosity has taken her to many shores, reefs and all the Great Lakes, but the Great River is home.

Patricia has volunteered on numerous in water cleanups and has assisted with other science-based projects. This has earned her the distinction of citizen scientist. Patricia received the 2024 River Award recognizing her commitment to protect the river through initiatives she participates in through the Great River Network. This award is presented annually by the River Institute.

Now in retirement, she has the luxury of getting in the water as frequently as Mother Nature allows.

Fresh water fish may not be as colourful as their salt water cousins but they are nevertheless just as unique and interesting. There is so much to learn as you watch them interact with each other, the current, the changes in the River herself and, yes, sometimes the divers.

Through her children’s books, she wants to share her adventures and discoveries of this world with you.

Her books will take you to the world of the Great River. You will experience the life of those who live here, encounter their challenges with them and come away with life lessons that apply to all of us everywhere. There are also science-based facts intertwined in these stories.

Pick up one of her books (or all of them as they are published) and take the plunge into understanding the creatures and the ways of the Great River.

SHEILA DUNKINSON-Illustrator

Sheila and Patricia are twins and throughout their lives have collaborated on oodles of dreams.

Sheila grew up on the shores of Lake Ontario in Kingston. Now she divides her time between homes in Seeley’s Bay and Cornwall Ontario.

She studied visual arts at Queen’s University and St. Lawrence College. She continues to work with various artists through community courses and has participated in numerous juried art shows.

During her career as an elementary school teacher, Sheila spent hours reading and sharing stories with her students. Through these experiences she gained an awareness of what makes a good story, both verbally and visually.

She also loves everything nature. When the seasons allow, she is either on or in the water.

Sheila skillfully brings the “Ollie Smallie’s Fish Tales” characters to life on backgrounds of original mixed media and water colour paintings.