Hetty van Gurp has been an elementary teacher, a principal, and a university professor. When her fourteen-year-
old son died at his school as a result of an incident of bullying, she was inspired to write a book for
teachers offering practical, hands-on activities to help foster a classroom climate in which everyone feels safe.
When her sister-in-law, Heather, was diagnosed with dementia, she was motivated to do something similar.
She has been engaged in creative arts since childhood, including silver jewelry, macrame, bookmaking,
pottery, sewing, knitting, rug hooking, crocheting, and weaving.
She has been the recipient of many awards for her work in schools including the 1996 YMCA Peace Medal,
the Baha'i Commendation for "Promoting Racial Harmony" in 1998, the Partners Against Racism award from
the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission in 2006. She was named as a "Canadian Hero" by TIME
magazine, and Reader's Digest in 2006, and by Today's Parent in 2013.
She is the author of Hooked on Tancook: A Collection of Whimsical Hooked Mats (2021), Creative Coiling:
The Artistry of Jean Poythress Koon (2015), Creating Caring Schools: Peace-promoting activities for all
seasons 2nd Edition (2015), Peer Mediation: The Complete Guide to Resolving Conflict in Our Schools
(2002), Peace in the Classroom: Practical Lessons in Living for Elementary-Age Children (1994), and The
Peaceful School: Models That Work (2002). She also wrote teacher guides to accompany three National Film
Board documentary films. The toolkit is entitled Peace@School. One of these films, Teaching Peace in a Time
of War, is about her peace education work in Serbia.
She lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with her husband, Ward. Her son and his family live nearby, so she spends
much time with her three beloved grandsons.
