our story
We are Mark and Cheryl Buchanan. Mark is an author, pastor and professor. Cheryl is a spiritual director and recovery coach. We were in pastoral ministry for 24 years, 18 of those in the Duncan, BC, part of the Cowichan Valley. That is where God first woke us up and opened our eyes to our Indigenous neighbours.
That is where our own New Story began.
In those years, through many conversations with Indigenous friends and Elders (for whose patience we are forever grateful), through much reading and pondering, through much trying and failing and trying again, we began to understand both the staggering beauty of Indigenous peoples and cultures, and the deep harm and trauma that many Indigenous people and communities struggle with and we began to see our own role in all of that.
We began to change our minds, and to change our ways. We began to use our voices to raise awareness. We began to get involved – clumsy and misguided at times, but slowly moving toward genuine friendship and partnership with Indigenous peoples. We began to experience real and lasting change in ourselves. Along the way, we fell in love: with the people, with their culture, with their humour, with their wisdom.
all that has led to new Story Community
In September 2021 we launched our first New Story Community on Keats Island, BC. We began with two young women, who courageously began to identify their pain and trauma to name the things they wanted to change, and to open themselves to healing in ; body, mind and spirit. As they looked at their past, they begin to shape and live into a new for their future. They
graduated in April 2022.
September 2022, we began our second New Story Community. We welcomed three new participants, as
well as one of the previous year graduates to join us as an intern. Later in the year, we welcomed an Elder, a
residential school survivor, to join us for three months, as she sought a safe place to work through her own pain and to write her own new story.
We ran three programs on Keats Island and saw 9 women come through the program. In 2024 we begin our 4th cohort at Camp Caroline in Alberta where we will welcome up to 5 women.
We hope to return to Keats Island one day, as well as to multiply locations across Canada.
Our staff
Cheryl Buchanan
Director of New Story Community
Mark Buchanan
Leader, Instructor
Steph Helsel
Program and Spiritual Care Director
Olivia Wesley
Intake and Cultural Relations
Shelley St. Germaine
Work Placement and Special Events Coordinator
We also have several volunteer and support personnel.
Our board of directors
Chair: Graham Bruce – Settler Canadian - CEO, Granneke Management & Consulting; former Mayor, MLA, & Cabinet Minister
Vice-Chair: Linda Martin – Severn Cree - Muskrat Dam First Nation, counsellor
Secretary: Melissa Lochhead – Settler Canadian – Pastoral Care Director, Barnabas Family Ministries
Treasurer: Rick Martin – Settler Canadian - counsellor
Member: Tal James - Penelakut First Nation – Regional Director of North American Indigenous Ministries
the story of Our Logo
As I spoke with Cheryl and Mark Buchanan about their vision for New Story I was enthralled with the purpose of this new community. Though there were many beautiful ideas shared, three primary themes stood out to me. Growth, flourishing, and Process. To nearly everything in life, there is a process. One does not happen upon flourishing and growth. In the process and in the difficult work of becoming, is when one becomes. New Story’s vision of being a community where one can safely work through this process of becoming and flourishing is truly beautiful. In this piece I wanted to capture a bit of that hope, growth, beauty, and flourishing. As the community members write and grow into their new story, I pray that they will be filled with the hope of our Creator and flourish into the beautiful beings that he made them to be.
Snachaliya (Thank you)
Randall Bear Barnetson
our Credentials
New Story Community is an Incorporated BC Society registered as New Story Recovery Society.
New Story is Registered with BC Assisted Living – Supportive Recovery.
Canadian Registered Charity: New Story Community Recovery Society - 741810410RR0001
Licensed through Alberta Mental Health