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Ramona Baillie is a seasoned writer and creative professional with a sharp eye for life’s grittier edges. Born in Westmount and raised in Pointe-Aux-Trembles — then one of Montreal’s roughest neighbourhoods — her childhood played out against a backdrop of gangs, BB guns, and street-level crime. By age nine, she was navigating dangers most adults never face, from attempted abductions to daily fights. Even the first — and only — bike she and her brother owned was stolen the day after they got it. Those early experiences gave her a crash course in resilience, street smarts, and human complexity — all of which now shape her distinctive narrative voice.
Her work is unapologetically honest, often exploring the messier, more off-centre parts of life. As one colleague put it, Ramona has “a distinct affinity for the messy and off-kilter,” and she’s not afraid to go there. While happy endings sometimes find their way in, her writing lives firmly in the real world.
Professionally, Ramona has built an impressive 30-year career in the staffing and HR industry, earning an Honorary Life Award from the Human Resources Professionals Association for her outstanding contributions. She has served on corporate and non-profit boards and brings a strong leadership mindset to her creative projects.
As a playwright, screenwriter, and producer, Ramona has had six of her plays performed across Canada, and her film scripts have garnered awards internationally, with productions in Canada, Europe, and the U.S. She’s also spent time in the vibrant arts scene of South Beach, Florida, before settling in Toronto where she now lives with her husband.
Ramona continues to explore the shadows of human experience through story — where the darkest green often hides the richest truths. Ramona’s debut book, The Darkest Green, is as unfiltered and grounded as the life that shaped it.
