Chris Neeter is an exceptional writer and proud resident of Berwick Parksville. With a passion for storytelling and a knack for capturing the essence of everyday life, Chris crafts engaging, thought-provoking resident feature stories that resonate with our readers. When not writing, Chris is one of the original members of the drama group, Berwick Parksville Players, and can be found leading several and participating in other Active Living programs at Berwick Parksville and enjoying the beautiful community of Parksville.
Asked about her background, Chris said “After school in the UK, I worked in retail and later switched to the hotel industry, in Ontario and Alberta, before moving back to Ontario where I was marketing director for a professional theatre. I relocated to Parksville in 2017 and into my new home, Berwick Parksville on July 6th, 2022, on the first day open to residents, a move prompted by my need for socialization after Covid.”
On moving to the island, and volunteering with Special Olympics Oceanside, she became their first PR person, promoting awareness of Oceanside’s Special Olympians in the local paper. Later volunteering with Oceanside Community Arts Council, under the same auspices, she suggested artist articles to promote them and the artistic community. They were published in monthly magazines Neighbours of Nanoose Bay, Hammond Bay and Qualicum Beach.
Asked why she started writing blogs, Chris said “I didn’t notice blogs from Berwick Parksville. After seeing a resident from Qualicum Beach seeming to be a resident blogger, I thought we should have the same for Parksville and I wanted to be that person! Friends will tell you I am competitive! Following the success of our first play, I wanted to show off our drama group. Corinna, our Community Relations Manager, has asked me to write a couple of articles for Berwick Parksville, for one of the magazines I have written for before and for the local paper.”
Chris finds her ideas for blog posts in daily life at Berwick Parksville and asked about staying motivated during times when inspiration may be lacking, Chris said “I have to say that thankfully, so far, inspiration has not been lacking. Most recently I was asked by Lesley to write about Ed and Doreen from Berwick on the Lake, who met there and got engaged. Aside from being asked to write for another Berwick, which was a thrill in itself, it was so lovely to chat with them and get to know them a little.”
She loves spending time in person or on zoom with her granddaughter, and when not writing, enjoys travelling, the arts, and her friends, and her cat. She also enjoys reading, and playing canasta with her Covid bubble friends, and recently, started an American Mah Jongg group at BPV.
Asked about her goals for her blog in the future, Chris said “I would like to think I have achieved my goal of being Berwick Parksville’s resident blogger. We have some interesting people here, so I don’t think I will be short of ideas.”
She said she hadn’t realized how much she missed writing, after she stopped writing for Oceanside Community Arts Council, and is delighted to have been able to reignite this passion. She hopes to also be able to write blogs for any other Berwick sites.