Branwen Patenaude moved to British Columbia with her parents and brothers in December 1941. Born in Shanghai, China, where she led the sheltered life of a British schoolgirl, her life changed dramatically when her family moved to West Vancouver. When Branwen was in Grade 11, her family moved to the Cariboo, and shortly thereafter she met Wilfred H. Patenaude. The two were married in Ashcroft in 1947. In 1960 Branwen, Wilfred and their two children Anne and David Honor moved to Quesnel, where eventual Branwen volunteered at the Quesnel Museum and began writing. Branwen has published eight books on Cariboo history, making her a great contributor to the information available on pioneer life in the Cariboo during the last century.