By Lisa Browning
“You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life.” — Zig Ziglar
In 2020, I was working on a children’s book for a client in need of an illustrator, but who had a relatively small budget. I reached out to Guelph secondary school art teachers, to see if any art students would be interested in the experience of becoming a published illustrator, and receiving a small honorarium for their work. This request led me to Courtney Truong, a Grade 11 student who completed the illustrations for my very delighted client. The book was published, and Courtney’s bio on the back cover states: “Being drawn into the fascinating world of illustration and design, Courtney hopes to take any opportunity to advance her career in the arts.”
I never met Courtney in person back in 2020, because all of our communication was via email. I often thought about her though, and wondered what she had done after completing high school. It was a wonderful surprise, therefore, when she reached out to me in 2025 to let me know that she had just graduated with a degree in graphic design. “If you ever have any work in that area,” she said, “please let me know.”
And the rest, as they say, is history. Courtney has now illustrated 10 additional books for Saplings (a branch of One Thousand Trees), and is actively involved in the Saplings Kids Club as well as various other illustration jobs and social media promotion work. Who knew what that one request back in 2020 would lead to? We make an excellent team, because we are both so passionate about empowering children and fostering creativity.
Saplings Kids Club, which I wrote about briefly in my last article, is a monthly event for elementary school-aged children, held at Kirtida Kitchen’s Edinburgh Road location. We are very grateful to Hitesh Jagad for offering us that space. Our goal with this initiative is threefold:
- To plant seeds of inspiration, by bringing in guest speakers (usually authors) each month.
- To empower participants to know that they can do something to make the world a better place, even though they are young.
- To provide encouragement and support for any initiatives they decide to pursue.
I was honoured to have been selected as one of the recipients of the City of Guelph Micro-Grants this past December. That money will go toward Kids Club activities and supplies, and I am deeply grateful to the selection committee for seeing the merits of this initiative.
We held our first session in January, and are looking forward to continued growth. I asked Courtney some questions about all that has transpired since that first illustration job back in 2020. Following are those questions, and Courtney’s responses:
Did you ever expect, while illustrating that first children’s book back in 2020, that it would lead to what you are doing with One Thousand Trees and Saplings now? How do you feel about all of these developments?
Courtney: It feels incredibly meaningful and honestly a bit surreal. When I illustrated that first book, having my work accepted gave me a huge boost of confidence–it pushed me forward and helped me feel more comfortable sharing my art and showing my progress. I never imagined it would grow into such a long-term creative partnership or lead to being so involved with One Thousand Trees and Saplings; it really has been a journey of opportunities building on one another, and it has healed me greatly.
What do you enjoy most about the work you do?
Courtney: What I enjoy most is creating work that has a positive impact, especially for kids. Knowing that my illustrations and designs help tell stories, build confidence, and encourage creativity is incredibly rewarding. I love working with people who help me understand the world in deeper, more meaningful ways, learning from their experiences and perspectives, and then sharing that understanding with others through my own work.
What is the most challenging aspect?
Courtney: The most challenging part is balancing creativity with deadlines and expectations. Finding the best way to visually communicate an idea while staying true to the message can be demanding, but it’s also part of what makes the work fulfilling.
Are there specific areas that you’d like to expand into more?
Courtney: I’d love to work more with animals, character development, and educational resources. I’m especially interested in exploring how my skills can help me better understand the world around me and use that understanding to create work that connects with and supports others.
In addition to your graphic design and promotional work, what activities do you enjoy?
Courtney: I love spending time outdoors, staying involved in creative communities, and I enjoy illustrating most of all. Bringing someone’s vision to life is incredibly meaningful to me–it’s not always about the cost or investment, but about the connection, the meaning behind the work, and seeing the excitement in a client’s eyes when their ideas are finally brought onto the page.
What are your thoughts about the Saplings Kids Club?
Courtney: The Saplings Kids Club feels like a truly special initiative. It’s inspiring to be part of something that encourages creativity, confidence, and curiosity while giving kids a sense of belonging, especially in a world where growing technology doesn’t always leave space for what can still be taught through hands-on creativity. Having the opportunity to offer that balance to kids feels really meaningful to me.
You started out illustrating while you were a high school student, and now a lot of your focus is aimed at empowering students in both elementary and secondary school. How do you feel about what I see as a full circle situation?
Courtney: It really does feel like coming full circle. I never intended to build my art abilities in this way until that opportunity reached me, so starting out as a student illustrator and now being able to support and empower other students feels incredibly meaningful, and it’s something I’m very proud to be part of.
For more information about the Saplings Kids Club, or Saplings children’s book publishing, please visit www.onethousandtrees.com. The next Saplings Kids Club takes place on February 22nd.
