Glennis was born April 5, 1935 in Parkman, Saskatchewan. She grew up in New Westminster, B.C. and attended Vancouver General Hospital and the University of British Columbia School of Nursing, graduating in 1957 and 1958 respectively. She later received a Bachelor of Journalism from Carleton University in 1969 and a Master of Arts in Communications from Simon Fraser University in 1981.

Glennis’s diverse working life has included positions at Maple Ridge Hospital; New South Wales, Australia; and the Royal Columbia Hospital in New Westminster (as an instructor). She was an Assistant Editor for The Canadian Nurse from 1963 to 1969 and an editor/reporter for the Canadian Press from 1969-1972. She states that she found the most interesting aspects of her career the combination of nursing and journalism for The Canadian Nurse and The Canadian Press, and later as a freelancer in medical journalism.

From 1973 she has been a freelance writer, editor and writing consultant, working mainly with individuals and organizations in health care areas. A special area of interest is history of nursing and health care. She has a long list of publications and other professional credentials, including editing eight volumes of proceedings published by various health care associations or universities. As a writing consultant she has been a resource person for many workshops and a guest speaker at public lectures and meetings. She has been active in many professional organizations.