“The Job for Me” for Legion Magazine now up!

“Whiplash is how they described it. In 1980, when captains Nora Bottomley, Deanna (Dee) Brasseur and Leah Mosher walked anywhere in their Canadian air force blue flight suits, heads snapped around. The three women were the first in the country to receive their wings for active duty, and they knew they were under the microscopeContinue reading ““The Job for Me” for Legion Magazine now up!”

A Q&A with Dean Jobb, author of Empire of Deception

Empire of Deception: The Incredible Story of a Master Swindler Who Seduced a City and Captivated the Nation (Algonquin Books / HarperCollins Canada). By Dean Jobb. Now available as Hard cover, paperback, and e-editions.   I love historical true crime and creative nonfiction, so I was excited when I found out about this latest bookContinue reading “A Q&A with Dean Jobb, author of Empire of Deception”

Book Review: Separate Beds

Separate Beds is an excellent academic treatment of the system of Indian Hospitals set up in Canada. Dr. Lux says from the outset that she is focusing on understanding the government bureaucracy through the documentary record, but still balances this well with some oral histories from Indigenous Elders, leaders and former patients of the hospitals.Continue reading “Book Review: Separate Beds”

Houston Talk: “Writing Stories of Humiliation and Hope”

If you live in and around Houston, I invite you to come to this free talk through The Final Twist Writers Society on Saturday, January 7, 2017! “Writing Stories of Humiliation and Hope” January 3, 2017 is Humiliation Day and is observed worldwide on the same day each year. Humiliation Day is thought to beContinue reading “Houston Talk: “Writing Stories of Humiliation and Hope””

Community Blooms through Love Thy Neighbor Initiative

Ligi Varghese and her 3 year-old daughter clutched bunches of roses in front of the Maryam Islamic Center outside Houston, Texas before Friday prayers on December 2. They, along with a dozen or so community members of various faiths and backgrounds passed out more than 400 flowers to worshippers as they arrived at the mosque. TheContinue reading “Community Blooms through Love Thy Neighbor Initiative”

One young reader’s thoughts on In This Together

I read In This Together, and wow. There were stories in there that I connected with emotionally, stories in there where I could relate to what the author was saying, and stories that made me question myself. All the stories made me think. Thank you for this book. I honestly believe that it needs toContinue reading “One young reader’s thoughts on In This Together”

The Charles Camsell Indian Hospital: From Haunting to Understanding

I was walking around my new neighbourhood here in Houston, Texas, and all the pumpkins, witches and ghosts decorating homes got me thinking about the Charles Camsell Hospital and how far we’ve come. In 2014, when I first started researching the Camsell in earnest, most news stories and internet hits talked about its status asContinue reading “The Charles Camsell Indian Hospital: From Haunting to Understanding”

A Celebration and Transformation

When I decided to throw a party to launch my new book in the US, I wondered the best way to do it. While traditional book launches are lovely, this book has been all about creating community, having tricky discussions, and seeing each other through new eyes. I wanted my young son to be ableContinue reading “A Celebration and Transformation”

ROSELLA BJORNSON: CELEBRATING WOMEN OF AVIATION

Rosella Bjornson is Canada’s first woman commercial airline jet aircraft pilot and Canada’s first woman airline captain. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Alberta Aviation Museum, 11410 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton Rosella Bjornson makes history by becoming Canada’s first woman airline jet aircraft pilot – April 1973. The Alberta Labour History Institute (ALHI),Continue reading “ROSELLA BJORNSON: CELEBRATING WOMEN OF AVIATION”