It was a late afternoon in March 2023 while I was having a late lunch when a spark of magic drifted into my thoughts. What if the elf slipped the ticket into the locker, waiting to be found by the child who discovers the maple leaf? The idea felt like a secret gift, and I rushed to my Remarkable to capture it before it could fade away. From the very beginning, I knew Jacy and the Maple Leaf would be more than words alone. To truly bring the story’s wonder to life, I worked hand in hand with our illustrator, whose colors and imagination transformed my vision into a world children could see and feel.
Together we spent months and years dreaming, sketching, and experimenting. Sometimes we stumbled, and sometimes we surprised ourselves. Slowly, the story grew into something vivid enough to welcome readers in.
Our retail merchandise, including gift bags, shopping bags, and tissue paper, was redesigned with the essence of the story shining through. Every banner and image on the website was reimagined to carry the spirit of the story while customers shop online. For two years, our customers have been meeting these characters through our products and online artwork. Now, at last, we have something more to present: a story that feels deeply Canadian, a reflection of our love for our country and for the children who are growing up within it.
Of course, not every idea made its way into the final pages. For every polished illustration that lives in the book, there were many others that appeared briefly in our drafts. Some were playful experiments. Others were beautiful, but they did not quite fit the flow of the story. In sharing this glimpse behind the scenes, it feels as though I am inviting you into the creative process itself, a place filled with rough sketches, unfinished ideas, and sparks of imagination that still hold a special place in my heart.
As the pages were refined, certain moments asked for extra care. One of them was how Jacy came across the maple leaf. Finding the leaf in a locker on Christmas Eve did not feel believable, so that scene went through several drafts before it felt just right. I tried many variations, sometimes adding more detail and sometimes less, always searching for that perfect spark of discovery. It needed to feel both simple and magical, while also carrying a sense of place that felt true to Canada.
Later in the story, Jacy’s journey with Santa was another part I spent much time shaping. I considered weaving Calgary landmarks into the background, like the Calgary Tower, the Saddledome, and other familiar sights. They brought a local charm, but on the recommendation of our editor I realized they tied the story too closely to a single place. To keep the focus on the characters and the emotions at the heart of the book, I chose a simpler backdrop. That decision gave the story a more universal feel, one that could belong to any reader, anywhere.
Looking back, what struck me most as an author was how every decision, whether big or small, shaped the way the story would be felt by readers. Sometimes it was the choice of a single word. Other times it was deciding which illustration carried the right mood. Working alongside the illustrator reminded me of the power of words and images when they speak in harmony. It also reminded me that storytelling is not only about what is said, but also about what is left unsaid.
In the end, creating this book became as much a journey for me as I hope it will be for those who read it. Every draft, every sketch, even the ideas that never reached the final pages, are part of the heart that lives within the story. Sharing this behind the scenes is like opening the door to my creative process filled with love. Now the story is ready to stand on its own, to find readers in its own time and way.
This journey took me two years to bring to life, and in just ten minutes, you'll turn its pages and arrive at the end of Jacy’s adventure. My hope is that, in those ten minutes, you’ll feel the magic and wonder woven into each word - a story filled with the spirit of Canada and the simple lessons it holds for our children: about wonder, kindness, and finding the extraordinary in the everyday. ✨
Jacy’s journey to the North Pole is only the beginning - follow along to discover where his imagination will take him next.
