Alexandra Shimo

Teacher Writing Coach Author Journalist

About me

Hello there. Welcome. I am an author, journalist, and educator. Raised on both sides of the Atlantic, in England, the United States and Canada, I came home to my birth town of Toronto after receiving my BA at Oxford in politics, philosophy and economics, and an MA from Columbia University in journalism. A former producer for CBC radio and editor at Maclean’s, Canada’s largest current affairs magazine, I am passionate about journalism and social justice, and pursue these interests through my volunteer work, journalism, teaching, and books.

I am the co-author of the bestselling memoir Up Ghost River: A Chief’s Journey Through the Turbulent Waters of Native History, and author of the memoir Invisible North: The Search for Answers on A Troubled Reserve. I have been a finalist for the Governor General’s award, the Trillium Book award, the B.C. Non-Fiction award, and winner of the CBC Bookie Award, the Speaker’s Book Award, Donald Grant Creighton Award. My essays, stories, and criticism have appeared in The Guardian, The Independent, The Walrus, The Globe and Mail, Maclean’s, Toronto Life, and many other publications.

I teach creative non-fiction and memoir at the University of Toronto. In my spare time, I also teach meditation at the Consciousness Explorer’s Club and sit on the advisory board for Up With Women which helps formerly homeless women and gender diverse individuals escape poverty. I identify as BIPOC (Asian) and LGBTQIA +. Oh, and I’d be lost without my wife, Lia Grimanis, my partner in crime, questionable fashion, and parenting.

Teacher

Nothing brings me greater joy than helping my students find their own voices and cutting through the crackly static of publishing to get noticed. I have lectured and taught at many places including Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto’s Young Voices Arts Festival Program, Saskatchewan Talking Fresh Writing Festival.

Currently I teach Creative Nonfiction, Freelancing the Feature, the Master Class, and Memoir at the University of Toronto Continuing Studies.

Subject Expertise

Journalism, business journalism, broadcast journalism, writing (print, online, television and radio), business writing, feature writing, the art of pitching, decolonizing the curriculum, marketing, business marketing, PR and communications, book publishing, digital and social media marketing.

Student Achievements

My students are brimming with talent and with a little guidance, find their way towards publication. There isn’t enough space to list their many achievements, so I’ve focused on some of the highlights.

Testimonials

Writing Coach

A secret. Almost all my coaching clients have gotten published. So what’s the secret sauce? I help you find and celebrate your authentic voice.  I guide you to other texts that open and unleash your creativity. I know what it is like to be stuck and to spiral downwards when that happens. I know how to get through it, every time. I provide the psychological, meditation and editorial tools that help you pick yourself up, stare down doubt and kick him out the door.

How do I do it? I don’t do it. You do. I believe that everyone, with reading and hard work, can be published. And I love it, that all. Helping my clients publish beautiful, poignant work is the best damned gift a person could get.

So, join me. Let’s go on a creative journey, learn some wicked skills, and let’s have ourselves some fun.

Up Ghost River

Invisible North

Environment Equation

Journalist

Returning to Canada after studying journalism at Columbia University on academic scholarship, I went to work as a producer at the CBC for shows such as The Current (radio), Sounds Like Canada (radio), Newsworld (television), and The National (television). I then worked as an editor at Maclean's, Canada's largest current affairs magazine.

Currently, I freelance for The Guardian (London), The Independent (London) , The Walrus, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Life, and many others.

Here are some of my articles:

The Globe and Mail: After my annus horribilis, I'm questioning the future of the nuclear family

Today’s Parent: My kid didn't feel like two moms were enough—so we created "project queer”

Hazlit: The Scars to Prove It: “In the mid 2000s, new programs made it seem like Canada might finally reckon with the toxic legacy of residential schools. Less than 10 years later, they’re going broke and forgotten. Sounds familiar.

The Guardian (UK): Are sexual abuse victims being diagnosed with a mental disorder they don't have.

Toronto Star: How many children were killed? Indigenous people need truth before reconciliation.

The Walrus: Inside Kashechewan - How a community exaggerated its water crisis to tell a more important story of desperate conditions.