Charlene Roycht (Photo by Jim Tulk)

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Charlene Roycht joined the Peace Corps and served in Sierra Leone, West Africa, immediately after graduating from Northern Illinois University. An extensive tour of Europe followed the Peace Corps. Upon her return, Charlene taught public speaking and communications to high school students in Chicago.

Charlene then trained with Second City in Chicago, and became a part of their first touring company. As she says, smiling, "I'm historic." After protesting the Viet Nam war, Charlene came to Canada, as an actress with Toronto Workshop Productions. Realizing that acting was not her calling, Charlene then started her twenty-two year career in marketing, publicity, and promotion with Big Brothers, CHFI-CFTR radio, and Harbourfront.

Always a poet and creative, Charlene then got a 'divine' idea to produce a movie based on one of her favorite books, Anne Cameron's The Journey. That led Charlene to the Producer's course at the Canadian Film Centre and eight years of trying to achieve that goal. During that time, Charlene earned her bread and butter as a driver in the film industry. Charlene believes the intensity of "trying too hard" was a factor in the sudden onset of colon cancer. Surviving an operation, temporary colostomy, chemo and re-connective surgery deepened her faith and spiritual journey.

Charlene then trained with The Coaches Training Institute of San Rafael, California. "This is it. I love personal coaching. It's so exciting assisting a client become their best in some way, more fulfilled, having a more balanced life. We're all capable of being so much more. As a coach, I get to facilitate that. That's very exciting."

Charlene kept a diary during the year that her mother became ill and died. Later published as a book, If Mom's Not Dead by 9, I'm Leaving ... a journal about living, loving, dying is a raw, emotional account of healing, going deeper, and loving. "The entire book experience has been amazing. Most amazing!"

Charlene combines her coaching skills, her ability to teach, and her love of presentation into speaking engagements and workshops. "I really want to inspire, motivate... help awaken people to their potential."

Charlene was very proud to come out, on her 65th birthday, as an official peace and political activist. She continues to stay involved in the Department of Peace efforts in both the U.S. and Canada, Charlene agrees with author, lecturer, and activist Marianne Williamson who encourages everyone to begin "waging peace, not war." As time marches on, she likes to remember the Emily Dickinson quote, "We turn not older with years, but newer every day."