Ariadne’s Notes: The World Poetry Café Radio show with hosts Ariadne Sawyer and co-host Neall Ryon were honoured to welcome the talented and amazing storyteller and genealogy quester Evelyn Benson on December 3, on CFRO 100.5 FM. CLICK HERE to listen to this fascinating show of stories and the poetry of Poet Laureate Emeritus  Don Benson.

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EVELYN BENSON

Born at New Westminster B.C. in 1934, Evelyn Sangster Benson is the youngest daughter of former Mayor J. Lewis Sangster. The Sangster family has deep roots in the Royal City reaching back to 1894.   Evelyn’s husband of 62 years, Don Benson, is New Westminster’s Poet Laureate Emeritus.

Evelyn’s first book is a Best-seller in New Westminster:  “A CENTURY IN A SMALL TOWN – One Family’s Stories”.  Evelyn has been gathering oral history most of her life and her remarkable memory allows her to retell stories told TO her in her childhood years by her grandparents, parents and other kin.  As a high school teacher, she realized how interested her students were as she related stories from “the olden days”.  Urged by her students to “write a book”, Evelyn put it off until she realized her 80^th birthday was on the horizon.

Now, at speaking engagements, Evelyn urges others to put their family’s stories and anecdotes down in written or recorded form for the generations to come.  Her enthusiasm is an inspiration to her family and to other Seniors. Her book won the “Best book of 2013 Award” from the Genealogical Society of British Columbia.

Evelyn says she is almost ready to launch “A CENTURY IN A SMALL TOWN – More Family Stories”.