Born in Jamaica into the lush landscape of a sugar plantation, Vilma began composing poetry (in her headspace) as a child walking along dusty roads fringed with hot hibiscus hedges. She migrated to Canada at age 17 and from that first wintry night has been observing scenes in settler spaces.

Always a word lover, she started writing poetry while teaching in the Toronto District School Board. Now she is starting a new chapter as a writer.