Shannon Moroney

Author & Public Speaker National Speakers Bureau & Global Speakers Agency; Random House Canada, Simon & Schuster USA/UK/Australia

  • Toronto ON

Shannon Moroney: Speaker, Author, Advocate

Contact

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Biography

In 2005, Shannon Moroney was a teacher, guidance counsellor and happy newlywed when a police officer arrived at her door to tell her that her husband was in custody having confessed to the kidnapping and brutal sexual assault of two women in their community. Thrust upon a terrifying journey of grief, loss, confusion and stigma, Shannon witnessed first-hand the vast ripple-effect of violence and gaps in the justice and correctional systems for victims, offenders, families and communities.

After her husband pled guilty, was sentenced to life in prison, and they finalized their divorce, Shannon became an advocate for change--healing herself as she helped others. She earned a Masters degree in Child Welfare with an emphasis on trauma and restorative justice, became a certified restorative justice facilitator, began a public speaking career, and then wrote her memoir. Through the Glass became an instant national bestseller upon its release in 2011 and was published worldwide in 2012. It has been nominated for several awards including the Governor General’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction, was a Canada Reads Top 40, and is currently #1 on the reading list at the international Empathy Library. Her work and story have been widely featured by media outlets around the world and her interview for CBC radio’s The Current was named in the top ten of the program’s ten years on air.

Passionate about restorative justice, Shannon has spoken internationally on the topic, provided written testimony to the Senate of Canada on Crime Bill C-10, and contributed to the public consultation for Canada’s Victims Bill of Rights. She is also a volunteer with Leave Out Violence and a member of the International Forgiveness Project. In 2015, Shannon wrote, narrated and co-produced a documentary called "In Harm's Way" for CBC Radio's The Current, which features the voices and stories of some of her readers--friends and family members of offenders--and gives insight to the issues they face.

Since 2008, Shannon has been engaging audiences all over the world. Using vivid photographs and artwork to illustrate her journey, Shannon tells her story and guides the audience to think about the big, universal themes: justice, forgiveness, and resilience. Shannon inspires triumph over trauma for people and communities. Those who hear her never forget her story.

Shannon lives in Toronto where she is remarried and the mother of twins. Visit her at www.shannonmoroney.com

Industry Expertise

Public Safety
Judiciary
Corrections
Women
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Mental Health Care
Writing and Editing
Health and Wellness

Areas of Expertise

Forgiveness/Reconciliation
Restorative Justice
Violence
Prison Reform
Resilience
Writing to Heal
Families of Offenders
Crime and Justice
Stigma
Trauma
Ptsd Recovery
Criminal Law
Criminal and Social Justice Policy

Education

Trent University

BA Honours

International Development Studies

1998

Completed year-abroad program in Ecuador
Winner of Peter Robinson College Award for Outstanding Contribution to College Life
Dean's List Graduate

OISE - University of Toronto

B. Ed.

Education

2000

Certified intermediate/senior teacher
Specialization in Alternative and Global Education

Queen's University

Specialist Certificate in Guidance and Career Education

Counselling

2003

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Affiliations

  • Writers' Union of Canada
  • The Forgiveness Project
  • Leave Out ViolencE (LOVE)
  • The Banff Centre
  • Doubleday Canada (Penguin Random House)
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Languages

  • Spanish
  • English

Testimonials

Professor, Bachelor of Community & Criminal Justice

http://www.conestogac.on.ca

Conestoga College

"Shannon's work consistently inspires students to think more critically about their world, and to reflect more deeply about their own values. I have used Shannon's book as a text in a number of courses and would highly recommend it to others."

Assistant Professor, School of Criminology & Co-Director, Centre for Restorative Justice

http://www.sfu.ca

Simon Fraser University

"With courage and compassion Shannon Moroney draws us into the hidden world of those navigating our justice system - victims, offenders, family and friends. Shannon's compelling story, Through the Glass, has something to offer us all - personally and professionally. Her story allow us to see the possibility of a justice system that draws on our instinct for compassion, over our instinct for retribution. Against the odds, Shannon navigates a journey of hope for all of us."

Professor

http://www.macewan.ca/wcm/index.htm

Grant MacEwan University

“Shannon Moroney’s book Through the Glass is a useful resource for my students who are engaged in thinking about the importance of good assessment practices. It guides students in sorting through ethical and boundary issues, provides a powerful insightful look into Canada’s correctional and justice system, and the relational practice of forgiveness and empathy.”

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Media Appearances

Building From Betrayal

CBC Radio One's The Current with Ana Maria Tremonti  radio

2011-10-11

Barely a month after her wedding, Shannon Moroney's world was turned upside down. She was out of town at a conference when a police officer knocked on her hotel room door and told her that her husband Jason was in custody, accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting two women. The officer also told her that Jason had confessed to the crimes. In that moment, Shannon Moroney also became a victim, but one who didn't have an easy or comfortable place in the criminal justice system. She writes about her experience in her memoir, "Through The Glass." Anna Maria Tremonti spoke to Shannon Moroney in October of 2011. As The Current celebrates its tenth anniversary on the air, it's one of the top ten interviews we've aired.

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George Stromboulopoulous Tonight

CBC  tv

2011-10-11

Shannon says in the instant she heard the news of Jason's arrest, her life was destroyed. Her book, Through the Glass, offers an intimate account of her path to "be whole again." It also serves hope and solace to the families and loved ones of perpetrators, and describes an inspirational journey to forgiveness.

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In Harm's Way

CBC Radio's The Current  radio

2015-09-09

Readers become the subject in Shannon's new documentary. "In Harm's Way" is a two-part program featuring the voices of offenders' families who have reached out over the years, and the women in one very special group who are supporting each other.
Produced and narrated by Shannon Moroney with CBC Senior Producers Kathleen Goldhar and Joan Webber. Introduced by The Current's host, Anna Maria Tremonti.

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Sample Talks

THROUGH THE GLASS: One Woman’s Pursuit of Justice, Forgiveness and Healing

In October 2005, Shannon Moroney was a successful professional, proud homeowner, active volunteer and happy newlywed. A knock at her door shattered the life she knew: it was a police officer, there to deliver the shocking news that her husband, Jason, was in custody after confessing to the brutal sexual assault and kidnapping of two women in their town. Hear Shannon tell the story of her husband’s arrest, trial, sentencing, and the insights she gained about justice, healing and the relationship between the two as she struggled to triumph over tragedy. Openly sharing her experiences, reading selected pieces from her book and using photos and artwork to illustrate her journey, Shannon will leads the audience through an unforgettable ordeal and inspires hope even in the most desperate moments of the human condition.

WRITING WHAT HURTS: Recounting without Reliving

Geared toward seasoned and novice writers as well as literature lovers, this presentation offers wisdom and advice on caring for oneself and one’s manuscript while writing about trauma and difficult times. Shannon shares her own writing journey and discusses the private and public experience of opening her heart and memory, providing the audience with practical tools. Whether the goal is to publish, to document a journey, or to find personal healing, participants will come away with tools and resources to guide the process. Recounting doesn’t have to mean reliving.

RESILIENCE INSIDE OUT: How people and communities can overcome trauma and build peace

Is resilience something you're born with or something you can develop? What makes a person, community or society elastic and able to overcome life's challenges, big and small? Sharing her own personal journey to recover from the trauma of her husband's violent crimes, and her extensive knowledge of the peace building process worldwide, Shannon Moroney engages the audience in a bigger understanding of what "being elastic" is all about and offers practical advice for building resilience in yourself and your family, workplace, school, community and society.

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Style

Availability

  • Keynote
  • Panelist
  • Workshop Leader
  • Author Appearance

Fees

$2500 to $7500*Will consider certain engagements for no fee