WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Roy Spires Nanoose Bay, BC

My brief but enjoyable career as a BC Notary commenced with the Master of Arts in Applied Legal Studies program at SFU.

It ended, by choice, after a single year of practice on Vancouver Island. I entered the program in the twilight of my global finance career with the specific objective of creating a practice in the community to which I planned to return after my last corporate assignment in Bermuda (2007 through 2011).

For lifestyle reasons, I decided to limit my areas of practice and not conduct any conveyancing—the bread and butter of most BC Notary practices, with its associated and often uncontrollable deadlines.

The economics in very quiet Nanoose Bay were challenging. It quickly became apparent that the structure of my Notary practice, which

Despite the brevity of my association, it was filled with many great moments and wonderful people.

I did not wish to change, could not compete with the economics and controllable time commitment of a consulting practice in my former field of international banking/finance. The ability to better manage my time would also allow me to follow another lifelong ambition—writing novels.

After a discussion with CEO/ Secretary Wayne Braid on the limited options available and with quite some reluctance on my part, given the educational and financial commitment I had made, I hung up my Seal after one short year.

Despite the brevity of my association, it was filled with many great moments and wonderful people. The members of my cohort were, without exception, a very fine group. Of particular note and with no disrespect to any of the others, Kristy Martin, Nelson Diaz, Cam Sherk, and Lukasz Muc were all instrumental in my achievements at SFU. I am delighted to see they have all since gone on to successful BC Notary practices of their own.

During my practicum period, I also had the good fortune to work in the office of Nanaimo Notary Tiah Workman and Parksville Notary Daryl McLane. Whether they enjoyed it as much as I did as they tried to impart their years of knowledge in as short a time as possible, I do not know; safe to say from my side, it was time well spent.

Tiah Workman

Daryl McLane

Since “retiring” as a Notary, I initially did more consulting than writing until, inevitably, the writing took over. I now write from first thing in the morning until around noon by which time my creative juices are slowing down.

Deciding to write the first book was daunting. I took several short courses through SFU on various aspects of the craft, all of which helped immensely. Then, fortuitously, someone recommended Stephen King’s book On Writing. No horror in this one, just a semi-autobiographical novel on how he writes and things that would be helpful to a fledgling writer. As it was for many others, On Writing became my writing bible and I haven’t looked back.

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Writing under the pseudonym B.R. Bentley, I published The Cross in 2014 and The Bermuda Key in 2015. The critics have been kind. With that encouragement, my third book is well underway. Unlike the first two that take place in Bermuda and Europe, this one is set in BC with plenty of local content.

The books are available in eBook, paperback, and hardcover and through my website at www.brbentley.com. I’d be delighted to receive feedback of any kind. I have found I learn something from almost every review I receive.

Life has a funny way of unfolding. I’m sure I wouldn’t be where I am now if it hadn’t included my short spell as a BC Notary and everything I learned along the way. It is a journey for which I will be forever grateful. s brbentley1@gmail.com

“I remember that terrifying drive following my premature baby down the highway to a level 3 NICU, as he was airlifted out and I was too sick to safely fly with him. We were thankfully only displaced for a few days but they were hard and expensive days being far from home trying to make sure we all survived. My heart is with any family impacted by a baby born premature and critically ill.” – Sharon Howson, donor and Mom

Sandra Schmirler. Wife, Mother, Friend, Champion.

Over $500,000 has been donated to hospital NICUs in BC to help save newborn lives. The Sandra Schmirler Foundation funds life-saving equipment for babies born too soon, too small, or too sick. We believe that every baby born in BC deserves the chance to grow up and be a champion like Sandra. Please show your clients how easy it is to support these miracle babies through their wills.