PAUL OWNMAN
My name is Paul Ownman, and for more than thirty-five years, my life’s work has been centered around people particularly young people and their families.
I have worked as a social worker, a teacher, and a coach, and in each of these roles, I have been given a front-row seat to the realities that many individuals face but few openly discuss. I have seen resilience in its purest form, but I have also witnessed the quiet struggles that often go unnoticed.
Those experiences have shaped not only who I am, but also the stories I choose to tell.
My journey as a writer began when I was twelve years old. Like many young writers, I started with a simple short story unpolished, but full of imagination. What began as curiosity gradually became a lifelong passion. Writing, for me, has always been more than a creative outlet; it has been a way to process, to understand, and to give voice to experiences that might otherwise remain unheard.
Over the years, I continued writing alongside my professional career, slowly developing my voice and perspective. I am proud to be a member of The Writers Union of Canada, and to have published works that reflect both my personal insights and my professional experiences.
I currently teach part-time at a community college, where I continue to engage with students and remain connected to the ever-changing challenges faced by younger generations. These interactions continue to inspire my writing and keep my perspective grounded in real-world experiences.
On a personal note, I live in Ontario with my wife, and together we have raised four wonderful children. Being a parent has been one of the most rewarding and humbling experiences of my life, and it has deeply influenced both my worldview and my work.
Beyond writing, I am passionate about connecting with communities and contributing to meaningful conversations.
I am available in Eastern Ontario to speak to:
School groups
Teachers and educators
Women’s groups
My goal in these engagements is simple: to share insights, spark dialogue, and encourage understanding around topics that matter particularly those affecting youth, families, and personal growth.
I have worked as a social worker, a teacher, and a coach, and in each of these roles, I have been given a front-row seat to the realities that many individuals face but few openly discuss. I have seen resilience in its purest form, but I have also witnessed the quiet struggles that often go unnoticed.
Those experiences have shaped not only who I am, but also the stories I choose to tell.
My journey as a writer began when I was twelve years old. Like many young writers, I started with a simple short story unpolished, but full of imagination. What began as curiosity gradually became a lifelong passion. Writing, for me, has always been more than a creative outlet; it has been a way to process, to understand, and to give voice to experiences that might otherwise remain unheard.
Over the years, I continued writing alongside my professional career, slowly developing my voice and perspective. I am proud to be a member of The Writers Union of Canada, and to have published works that reflect both my personal insights and my professional experiences.
I currently teach part-time at a community college, where I continue to engage with students and remain connected to the ever-changing challenges faced by younger generations. These interactions continue to inspire my writing and keep my perspective grounded in real-world experiences.
On a personal note, I live in Ontario with my wife, and together we have raised four wonderful children. Being a parent has been one of the most rewarding and humbling experiences of my life, and it has deeply influenced both my worldview and my work.
Beyond writing, I am passionate about connecting with communities and contributing to meaningful conversations.
I am available in Eastern Ontario to speak to:
School groups
Teachers and educators
Women’s groups
My goal in these engagements is simple: to share insights, spark dialogue, and encourage understanding around topics that matter particularly those affecting youth, families, and personal growth.
The journey writing
Writing has never been a straight path for me, it has been a journey shaped by life itself.
For many years, I balanced my professional responsibilities with a quiet commitment to writing. Ideas would come from conversations, from observations, from moments that stayed with me long after they had passed. I didn’t always know when or how those ideas would take shape, but I learned to trust the process.
Bullies was one of the most difficult stories I have ever written. It required me to revisit experiences and emotions that are not easy to confront. But I believed, and still believe, that it is a story that needed to be told. Too many young people suffer in silence, and too many adults underestimate the seriousness of what they are going through.
Writing this book was not just about telling a story, it was about responsibility.
With Trees For the Forest, I found myself exploring a different tone. While still grounded in real-life challenges, this story allowed me to incorporate humor and imperfection in a way that felt both honest and refreshing. It reminded me that growth often comes through discomfort, and sometimes through laughter.
As a writer, I continue to evolve. Each story teaches me something new, not just about writing, but about people, about life, and about myself.
And as long as there are stories to tell, I will continue to write.
For many years, I balanced my professional responsibilities with a quiet commitment to writing. Ideas would come from conversations, from observations, from moments that stayed with me long after they had passed. I didn’t always know when or how those ideas would take shape, but I learned to trust the process.
Bullies was one of the most difficult stories I have ever written. It required me to revisit experiences and emotions that are not easy to confront. But I believed, and still believe, that it is a story that needed to be told. Too many young people suffer in silence, and too many adults underestimate the seriousness of what they are going through.
Writing this book was not just about telling a story, it was about responsibility.
With Trees For the Forest, I found myself exploring a different tone. While still grounded in real-life challenges, this story allowed me to incorporate humor and imperfection in a way that felt both honest and refreshing. It reminded me that growth often comes through discomfort, and sometimes through laughter.
As a writer, I continue to evolve. Each story teaches me something new, not just about writing, but about people, about life, and about myself.
And as long as there are stories to tell, I will continue to write.
