Biography

“To be able to take my experience and thoughts at mid-life, my perspectives and the stories of the people who make us great and bring these together in poetry and song, has been a wonderful thing. During this whole process I’m learning what it is to be a Canadian! My journey has led me to the horrendous subject of 'war' which without exploring, could not have led me to the promise of 'peace'.
The pioneers who came, searching for hope and a piece of ground they could call their own, who built our country and forged a future we now enjoy - the very human feelings that we share no matter where we were born on this planet - are all topics in my songs.”
With her powerful voice and persuasive lyrics, written from a place of experience, Phyllis Wheaton writes and sings Folk, Blues, Country and Celtic music. Harmony is her second language and she's provided back up on stage and in studio for many performers.
Phyllis writes and sings about who we are as Canadians: the pioneer, the farmer, the cowboy, the soldier, the Peacekeeper, friends and lovers.
Her training and work as a counselor and life skills facilitator gives her the insight to creatively focus on 'who we are' as Canadians while helping students to become more aware of their past and the pioneer values they can call upon even in today's times.
Whether performing in an original music concert, or teaming up with Tom Poole and David O'Toole or Acapella singers Diana Slater and Roberta Travis, Phyllis' shows are always very entertaining and filled with energy.
Phyllis' poetic lyrics have found their place in print publications as well. Canadian painter, Real Fournier, published her lyrics to "The Story of Become" in a retrospective of his life works. (2005)
Her song "No Ordinary Cowboy" was published in Ken Mitchell's Rhyming Wranglers, an anthology of Cowboy Poetry (Frontenac House 2007). Phyllis worked with the Mitchell Boys and Burning Sun Productions providing the music for the Cowboy Cantata, 'No Ordinary Cowboy'.
Her songs have been aired across Canada and "There Was No Battle Here" was played by CBC Newsworld in 2004.
In September 2006, Phyllis travelled to Scotland to teach students there about the Scottish-Canadian Connection and to take the letters of WWI soldier David Argo to his descendants, particularly a baby born a month after David died on the front lines. That boy was named after his uncle and in 2006 was 90 years old.
Where is the Book ?
as well as the CD In Harm's Way, which is the music of the book.You can also order the book and music from this site.
Dauphin, MB (book on its way)