A former Grand Forks teacher has placed first in a regional literacy competition.Leslie Davidson, who taught at both elementary schools in Grand Forks as well as at Christina Lake, placed first in the adult creative non-fiction category at the Kootenay Literary Competition with her story Hold On.Davidson won $500 for the story which details her struggles living with Parkinson’s disease and her husband with Alzheimer’s, and their journey.“It was nice to get the recognition–that was lovely,” she told the Gazette. “With the $500 I was able to use it to support non-profits working for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s research and support. I was nice to know it was read and appreciated.”The award gala took place on March 14 in Nelson, but Davidson was unable to attend.Davidson said she was inspired to write the story from another writer who wrote about post-partum depression.“I learned from a young women who told a very brave personal story about her battles with post-partum depression,” she said. “Telling those hard stories is important for the writer and for those who might read them. It was from her I thought I could do that.”Davidson said writing the story and making it for other people’s eyes helped her clarify her thoughts and feelings.“The writing imposed structure and discipline on my thinking and that was incredibly helpful for me,” she said. “This is what I’m thinking and this is what I believe.”Davidson has written her whole life. As a school teacher for 30 years, she had several opportunities to write for her classroom as needed.After retiring, she wanted to write the next great Canadian children’s novel. Although that hasn’t happened, she has published a number of stories in Cricket magazine, a well-known U.S. publication.“I’m proud of that,” said Davidson. “They’re a very highly regarded American magazine for children.”Davidson’s prize-winning story appears in the anthology Refuge, which includes all the winners from the 2014 Kootenay Literacy Competition.“When I got my copy of the anthology I was really proud,” she said. “I think the quality of the writing is really, really good. I’m very proud to be part of that collection. I’m thoroughly delighted with the company I’m in.”The anthology is available at Peddlar’s Place on Market Avenue in Grand Forks. Excerpt from Hold OnI stumble sideways and he catches me in his arms and turns it into a clumsy waltz.  I dump my first glass of wine and burst into tears.  The second glass spills and this time I laugh and wonder aloud if I can’t pour it, should I be drinking it?We call ourselves “Shake and Baked”.

Grand Forks Gazette