Local Impact

International Women's Day Celebrated in Elgin

2011-03-21T13:46:00.009-03:00

Written in Part By: Sharon A. Layton-Pollock & Elsie Steeves

Photos Top to Bottom;

1. 85 Women joined together in the Elgin Fire Hall Community Center to help celebrate International Women's Day

2. Author Deborah Carr, guest speaker for the day, receiving her certificate of appreciation from MC Moranda Vangeest.

3. Singers Donna Carty and Ruth Kristenson had everyone singing tunes of old.

4. Guest speaker Winona McLean receiving her certificate of appreciation.

5. Comedian Debra Steeves

International Women's Day Theme” Books"

Written By: Elsie Steeves

Moranda Vangeest was the emcee at the 9th Annual Women's Day Celebration held at the Elgin Community Centre. This year is the 100th Anniversary for International Women's Day. Everyone received a warm welcome at the door from Debby Leaman. Up words of 75-80 Ladies were present.

Healthy Living displays and W.I. materials were on hand. Every table had books on display for all to view. Everyone enjoyed the music by Donna Carty and Ruth Kristenson. The Audience sang along to the music titles of 1911-1918. Julie Kean Marks conducted a game titled "Sorts". This contest got everyone up and moving around.

Karen Davidson introduced the special speaker of the day, Deborah Carr, author of her book titled "Sanctuary." Her book tells the story of the life of Mary Majka from Caledonia Mountain. It depicted Mary’s life of passion, and many points of interest in her life. Mary Majka is a remarkable Lady. Publisher Goose Lane said this about the book: “Authentic. Original. Inimitable. Mary Majka is one of Canada’s great pioneering environmentalists. She is best known as a television host, a conservationist, and a driving force behind the internationally acclaimed Marys Point Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve on the Bay of Fundy. Sanctuary gives full expression to the intensely personal story of Mary’s life. A daughter of privilege, a survivor of World War II Poland, an architect of dreams, Mary Majka became a passionate environmentalist intent on protecting fragile spaces and species for generations to come. In this amazing story of determination and foresight, Deborah Carr reveals a complex, indomitable, thoroughly human being — flawed yet feisty, inspiring and inspired.”
Deborah signed and sold many copies of her book that day in Elgin.

Hazelanna Carter spoke about the 100th Anniversary of the Elgin W.I. which will be held June 25th and 26th at the W.I. Hall this. Anyone wishing to start up a Junior W.I. Group was invited to please contact Hazelanna at 756-2531.

Lunch Break was held, and just prior to lunch the Women's Institute Grace was sung. Elgin W.I. group provided the delicious lunch.

The other guest speaker of the day was Winona McLean. She spoke about her life achievements, famous people she has been involved with and events, present day. Winona is the Editor of the local paper " Local News and Views". This paper is published once a month from the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame located in Petitcodiac, New Brunswick.

Comedian Debra Steeves kept the ladies in stitches with her comedy act. Everyone joined in the Theme song, "I Have A Dream".

Stephanie Colburne spoke about the "Green Party", and she gave a list of ideas and concerns. Linda Goggin conducted an exercise break. Julie Kean Marks held a quiz of the daily events. Many thank you certificates were given out to those taking part. Hats off for a job well done to the Women's Day Committee, another very successful day and year.

A Brief History of International Women’s Day

By: Sharon A. Layton-Pollock

100 years ago, the first International Women’s Day celebrations were taking place around the globe. In 1977 Canada supported the leadership of the United Nations by proclaiming a specific day to celebrate the existence of rights for women and to celebrate their achievements. This special day was, in part, brought about to help draw attention to and to resolve such issues as: violence against women, harassment and forms of sexual exploitation, discrimination and pay equity in the work place, and to bring attention to the terrible truth of poverty among many single moms and their children.

These issues remain unresolved, not only for women in Canada, but still greater in the developing countries. This is why we celebrate International Women’s Day, so that we are reminded that the job of equality is far from satisfactory.

In New Brunswick the suffragette movement began in the mid-19th century, but not until April 1919 were women allowed to vote. The fight for equality was far from over, for not until 25 years later were women allowed to stand for provincial public office.

Last year great gains were experienced during our provincial election with the greatest number of women running for office in New Brunswick’s history. Higher levels of Canadian women are earning university degrees, and women make up nearly half of the country’s workforce.

International Women’s Day was celebrated in Elgin with a near full house as women from Elgin, Salisbury, Petitcodiac, Havelock, Portage Vale and surrounding areas came together to honour and encourage women who have paved the way for a more equal world for women, and to encourage the generations to come.

Deborah Carr…Part of Her Story

It was a pleasure and encouragement to listen to Deborah describes the different stages of her life that lead her to where she is today, a successful author.

In 1999 at the age of 38, after working for the federal government for 17 years, Deborah made the difficult decision of leaving the security of this good job behind to find the life she desired. In her search she experienced new landscapes, false starts, failures, fear, and financial setbacks. In her pursuit for answers she reached into her memories of childhood, ran marathons, read many books and wrote for the Times Transcript as well as many other magazines. She discovered the importance of spending quiet reflective time alone. It was during these quiet times she looked inward, always seeking and testing her motivations, and paying heed to her soul’s whisperings.

Deborah drew comparisons between Mary Majka being 38 years old when she stood in a meadow on Caledonia Mountain and knew that this was where she belonged and herself being 38 when she handed in here resignation to start living the life she was meant to live.

It was passion and purpose that drew Deborah into the life of Mary Majka. Deborah wanted to learn how this woman achieved so much, where she got her energy and how she managed to get others fired up enough around her to support her and help her achieve her dreams.

Deborah learned that when she allowed her own authentic nature to shine and purposely allow space in her own life for the things that were dear to her heart, was when she truly discovered her own power and reason to be. She began to live, on purpose.

Mary’s nature showed Deborah that she bent for none, and accepted her strengths as well as her weaknesses without apology, understanding that they are opposite sides of the same coin. This was an important fact, for far too often we allow our perceived shortcomings to keep us from doing the things we were born to do. We have to learn to accept our shadows, as the necessary backside of our light.

NOTE:

In Deborah’s book ‘Sanctuary’ Mary’s story unfolds like that of a butterfly and every page brings the reader closer to the beauty of a good soul. Well worth the read.

A Few Photos To Cheer

2011-03-12T16:13:00.006-04:00

Sharing My Thoughts of Just Yesterday

2011-03-11T09:59:00.002-04:00

When I got up this morning the news of the earthquake in Japan was being reported on Canada AM. As I listened I couldn’t help but think about what I entered into my journal just yesterday, and I would like to share it with you.

Thursday, March 10, 2011 10:00a.m.

THOUGHTS:

It is time for earth’s population to beat their weapons into ploughshears.

(I remember for years, even as a very young person thinking it would be beneficial for the human race to intermingle and marry, have children so that our population would become mongrelized so that there would be no racial differences, then there would be a greater chance of PEACE ON EARTH.)

We are at a crucial time in the history of our home-earth. There have been crucial times before over the eons of time for our planet, but this is the here and now for us!

We (everyone) have heard, seen and experienced the reeling of our home/earth, whether through floods, earthquakes, volcano activity, or massive crippling storms and diseases. Our own home/earth will be the weapon of mass destruction, and everyone on earth will count as not. Floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, storms or diseases will be no respecter of anyone on earth.

Are we not intelligent enough, as a whole, to see what has happened, and what surely will happen again? Do we not see the need, and realize that now is the time to beat our weapons into ploughshears?

Even though we know we are powerless to the devastational power of “Mother Earth and Mother Nature” we know we have the power to rise up and assist areas that are suffering under these devastations, that is, if we band together as a human race!

Angel Howatt...Committed and Focused

2011-01-06T02:15:00.003-04:00

You have all heard the old saying, “Practice Makes Perfect,” Angel Howatt of Petitcodiac has proven that the saying is so. She practices on and off the ice six days a week and sometimes seven. This hard work and determination won Angel Silver overall at the 2010 Skate Canada Skate NB Fall Competition and first for NB. This competition gave Angel a seven point lead over the next NBer going into the next competition for CWG points.
At the 2011 BMO Skate
Canada Skate NB, NS, PEI Sectionals (provincials) Angel won GOLD for NB and finished first overall for the Maritimes. Angel has fifteen points above the next NB skater sealing the deal on making the 2011 Canada Winter Games in February.
Angel also gained her spot on the NB Eastern/Western Challenge Team (PreNovice Nationals) for December 1st competition in Mississauga, Ontario. There will be no ‘taking time off’ for Angel as she continues pursuing her dreams.
Angel loves sports in general and next to skating she loves basketball. She made a very difficult decision this year to not try out for basketball, the game she has played and worked into her off ice times since she was five years old. Angel has given up a lot of things she loves, but she knows she has to keep all her energy and focus on skating in order to pull off the skate she needs to obtain her goals.
Much credit is given to Angel’s coaches, she says, “It wouldn’t have been possible without my coaches, Robert Leger, long time coach and second mom Kathy Grenier and coach and mentor Meaghan McGibbon. They work me hard, keep me motivated, dry my tears at times and give me hugs when it’s needed most. We are definitely a team and with each of them I feel it’s possible. Of course I love and appreciate my family who are always behind me with love and support!”
Angel is hoping to add some new elements to her routine to help get more points. For sure she’ll have a double axle and she’s asked her coaches to put in a triple axle. Angel is always pushing herself, as do all true athletes.
Good luck Angel, all of Petitcodiac will be watching and cheering for you!

Winter Can Be Beautiful

2010-12-29T12:32:00.008-04:00

Photos By: Sharon A. Layton-Pollock

Hi everyone. I just wanted to share a few photos taken today while out walking on the Mapelton Road near beautiful Elgin.

Enjoy!

Gillespie’s Cottage Industry

2010-12-24T18:32:00.003-04:00

Written By: Sharon A. Layton-Pollock

Danny Gillespie of Parkindale was recycling long before it was a common household task that it is today. In the early 70’s, while in Fredericton, Danny was introduced to a local initiative project called “The Repair and Redistribution of Household Articles”
Later Danny enrolled at the Moncton Community College to further hone his skills of upholstery. His skills were enhanced by friends and family who brought their furniture to him for restoration.
In 1989, after all the necessary procedures and papers filed, Danny hung out his shingle…”Valley Upholstery” at his Parkindale log home and has been there ever since. Danny enjoys the satisfaction of taking a precious family heirloom that has seen its better day and restoring it to its original state, much to the pleasure of his customer.
Danny has experienced a great variety of jobs over the years from bike seats, truck and car interior, snowmobile and ATV’s, barber shop chairs, salon chairs and even a chiropractor’s bench. He remembers fondly of redoing a 1937 Desoto and many other antique cars.
Not only does Danny work in the local areas of Salisbury and Petitcodiac, but does special jobs for Spenser Memorial Home, various truck companies, CRC Recreational Vehicles, banks and the Jordan Life Care Center.
But Danny’s talents don’t stop with upholstery; Danny is a fine musician with his own unique voice and style that has delighted audiences everywhere. In Danny’s own words he tells this story:
“I feel like I have been around music all my life, from the songs we sang in Sunday School and church, the songs my parents sang and the songs on the radio. Saturday nights, as a little
boy, would be bath night and afterwards we would listen to country music on the radio, live CKCW…the Bunk House Boys. I would learn the songs off the radio get in the old swing in the yard and sing my heart out.
By the time I was 13 I had a guitar. Pauline Stevenson showed me how to play “Pick Me Up On Your Way Down,” and I have been playing ever since. As a teen, I and a group of friends got into folk music, Ian and Sylvia, etc. I started to play coffee houses and house parties. As soon a I turned 21 I went to Fredericton. In 1971 I gathered up a bass player, a lead guitarist and started playing the bar scene. We played songs by Dylan, Neil Young, The Band, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, and did a Blue Grass set as well. I also played the mandolin.
By 1974 I had moved back to Albert County started technical school and played Howard Johnsons on the weekends. By 1977 I hooked up with Dale Stiles and my wife, Coleen, who is an excellent bass player, we called ourselves “Pickled Skunk,” and we played all types of venues in Sussex, Petitcodiac and Moncton.
Lately I have been playing solo with guest performers, and having a fairly eclectic song list I try to provide the music the audience likes.” Entertaining is my drug of choice, and I always feel so lucky when I have a chance to do it.”
Something fairly new in the music circle, and which Danny has adopted is “House Concerts.” A House Concert is a chance to experience music in a warm and intimate environment. Someone opens up their home and invites people into their living room or rec room to share great music by one of their favorite musicians for a minimal fee that goes to the musician. It is a chance to meet the performer, purchase and have them sign one of their CD’s if they have one.
House Concerts are a wonderful way to open up your home and enjoy great music with friends and family. Great music makes so many people happy, and House Concerts also gives great exposure to incredible musicians, whose talent you really believed in, and wish to help promote.

Canadian Syrup Inc. Elgin….Celebrates Re-Opening

2010-12-21T19:00:00.024-04:00

Photos Top To Bottom:
Murals on door by Fred Harrison of Goshin, Elgin, NB
Murals in Conferance Room
Map showing all the countries where Canadian Syrup Inc. goes to.
Roger showing parts of the factory.
Roger pointing out packages ready for Australia
Ribbon cutting, staff in blue (6 of 15)L President of the Albert County Chamber of Commerce Brian Keirstead, MLA Wayne Steeves, Judy and Roger Steeves and son Kirk.
Murial in staff room
Fire in May of 2009 that destroyed the original plant

All photos by Sharon A. Layton-Pollock

On Tuesday, December 21, 2010 many family, friends and neighbours braved the stormy weather to join Roger and Judy Steeves, of Canadian Syrup Inc., to help celebrated the re-opening of their 12,000 square foot production facility by highlighting its new production and packaging capacities.

Roger took several groups on a tour of his new and improved facility. While doing so he told of his families struggles and hardships to bring “From The Ashes,” so to speak, his company to become a company that now ships maple products to countries all over the world. He was very proud to tell of the new product lines they have developed and of the new ones they are working on. His latest success was to develop a syrup that stayed suspended in ice cream to make a Maple Swirl Ice Cream treat.

As he lead the tour to the far end of the facility, the shipping and receiving department, he pointed out, with great pride, the boxes upon boxes all wrapped and waiting for the big trucks to start their journey to their final destination of Australia.

HISTORY

Our family was one of the first settlers to arrive in the Elgin area dating back to the 1700's. Our great-grandfather received land grants. At that time there were native Indians who were very familiar with the art of making maple syrup. Legend says: in the early days, Indians discovered maple syrup by accident. It has been told that one spring an Indian brave threw his ax into a maple tree located near their fire pit. While the women were cooking on an open fire, the heat from the fire started the sap dripping from the tree, down the ax handle and into their pots. This made their meal very sweet, so they collected this "sweet sap" in larger amounts and boiled it into a sweet thick syrup. Similarly, our great-grandfather made maple syrup in large iron pots over an open fire, using wooden spills in small drill holes in the maple trees.
Our grandfather was one of the first in the area to construct a building, as well as using a new method of extracting the water with an evaporator. He advanced from wooden spills to steel spills, and collected the sap with horse and sleigh. Our father carried on the tradition. He used more modern equipment such as corrugated evaporators, lids on cans, and plastic pipe which ran from one tan house to the main camp. With our father we expanded using pipeline to all trees, vacuum pumps, reverse osmosis machines and forced air evaporators. The tradition continues with our son. He helped to develop a WORLD CLASS LINE OF NATURAL PRODUCTS that are sold world wide.
Our "Original Canadian Syrup" continues this tradition, as an award winning 100% Natural product that was hailed as breakthrough in Maple Syrup technology.
This special formulation consists of the same natural ingredient breakdown as maple sap, but is much more consistent in taste, color and aroma. With our unique process, Original Canadian Syrup brings the highest quality with no additives or preservatives, allowing you to use it exactly like traditional maple syrup at a significant cost savings.

The "Original Canadian", A natural choice from the Steeves family to yours!

The Honourable Rob Moore was unable to attend, due to illness, but had earlier said, “The Canadian food processing industry makes an important contribution to the strength of our provincial and regional economy. Thought our government’s investment of more than $240,000. Canadian Syrup Inc. is enhancing its productivity and improving its capacity to compete in national and international markets.”
The project has helped the company to retrofit an existing building to replace the processing, packaging and warehouse facilities that were destroyed by fire in May 2009. The company’s state-of-the-art facility supports an enhanced production process, automated packaging and provides co-packaging services to other companies.
MLA Wayne Steeves said, “The Government of New Brunswick recognizes the importance of the maple syrup industry as a contributor to the province’s economy. We are proud to be able to contribute to the success of Canadian Syrup Inc. a home-grown New Brunswick company, with assistance from Business New Brunswick’s NB Growth Program.”
Roger Steeves, President of Canadian Syrup Inc. said, “We know firsthand how difficult it is for small business in our province with a lot of companies closing or moving out of NB. We are proud to say that we continue to grow and are the largest employer in the small community of Elgin. Now, after a year of hard work, determination and significant investments by our family in getting our new facility operational, along with some funding help from ACOA and BNB, we are able to continue producing our great products for customers all over the world.”
Support for the Canadian Syrup’s development of its new facility includes a $240,000 repayable loan made available through ACOA’s Business Development Program (BDP). The Province of NB is assisting the company with an investment of $40,000.00

CHECK OUT THEIR WEB SITE FOR MORE INFORMATION AT: www.canadiansyrupinc.com
Manufacturing of syrup, sugars, spreads and candies. Canadian Syrup Inc. has won the Canadian Grower New Product Award and is Federal Licensed Packaging Plant. With the capability of producing 20,000lbs of bulk product per day, plus packaged ...163 Gowland Mountain Rd., Elgin, NB

FIFTH ANNUAL INDUCTION CEREMONY

2010-12-16T19:34:00.002-04:00

Written By: Sharon A. Layton-Pollock

November 6th, 2010 the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame held its fifth induction ceremony at Casino New Brunswick. Those inducted were (photo) left to right: John Timmins, Bill Snowden, Winona & Ernie McLean, Greg Sewart, Jim Hallehan, Raymond Roach, Dave Gorvett, Mrs. Dave Mosher, Gerry Marshall and Frank Fraser.
The evening was glitz and glamour and fine dining. The manager of the dining facilities at the Casino stood off on the side lines and watched as members took their place on the stage to receive their awards. She later said she had never seen a ceremony so moving and well done.
The seventh members to be called for their induction were Winona and Ernie McLean. Winona in her long black gown and sequenced gold top Ernie looking dapper in his black tuxedo, walked arm in arm across the floor. Every person in the room came to their feet and applauded them as they made their way to the stage, a fine tribute, to their contribution, over the years, to motorsports in the area.
Plans are already in the making for 2011 sixth annual Induction Ceremony.

The Day I Met Mary

2010-12-13T11:46:00.005-04:00

(Photo #1 Deborah Carr Photo #2 Mary Majka Photo #3 Myself and Mary Photo #4 David Christie, Mary and Deborah

Written By: Sharon A. Layton-Pollock

I arrived fifteen minutes early at the library in Riverview and already the large room was filled to capacity. With camera in hand and my book ‘Sanctuary’ tucked under my arm, I managed to find a spot in the corner. I was anxious to have the author, Deborah Carr, and the subject, Mary Majka autograph my book. As I got myself settled and was waiting my mind wondered back to when I first met Mary.
In 1987 my daughter Lois and her classmates, from JMA Armstrong high in Salisbury, were going on a field trip, and I volunteered to drive a vanload of her friends. The itinerary for the afternoon was exploring Albert County, and finishing up at Mary’s Point Bird Sanctuary in Harvey. The day was a delight and I so enjoyed telling my Albert County stories to these Westmorland County kids. My father was born and raised in Curryville and there I was born also, so the countryside was very familiar to me and I had no problem arriving at our final destination.
We pulled in and piled out at Mary’s Point Shorebird Reserve, and there to greet us was Mary Majka and David Christie. What an interesting woman she was, with her thick Polish accent, and tuffs of white hair peeking out from under her knitted hat. We followed her down a winding pathway through forest and field and arrived at her cottage on the Bay. We sat around wherever we could find a spot, on a picnic table some refreshments were laid out and Mary began. She told of the flight and plight of the Semi Palmated Sandpiper, she introduced us to the vast variety of life found in and around the marshes of Harvey, she told us about the restoration of heritage properties in the area. The more she talked the more excited she became, and the more she used her arms and hand jesters in telling her stories. I as enthralled with her knowledge, hospitality and excitement, as were the students who gathered round.
The day was a delight, and a great learning experience; it was nice to be back home in Albert County. On our way to Harvey all vehicles travelled the same route, but on the way home I veered off the beaten pathway. I went around this turn and that turn onto dirt roads in the deep woods. After driving for quite awhile and shadows were lengthened I looked over at Lois, with great concern in my voice I said,
“Gee I wonder if I made the right turn or not?” You could have heard a pin drop, Lois turned around to her friends and said, “Don’t worry, Mom’s just kidding, she knows her way around here,” much to their relief.
I never saw Mary again for several years, but often wondered about her. In 1995 I married and moved to Albert County and soon met Mary again. I was very much involved in the tourism industry and Mary was still working on her many passions, one being the natural preservation of Albert County.
Often times our aggressive tourism industry associations plans would not set well with Mary’s endeavours and she was not afraid to speak her mind. On one such occasion I decided to put my thoughts, in these regards, down on paper in a letter to Mary. After receiving and reading my letter Mary called me and asked me to tea. There she told me she never thought about the tourism industry in the way I had shed light upon it. We became friends and allies in different Albert County projects. Mary has since won awards in tourism related matters.
Since I have moved away from Hopewell Cape we have kept in touch via phone calls, e-mails and great visits. So to say the least it was a great pleasure to join with the many people at the Riverview Library on November 23, to listen to author, Deborah Carr, read an exert from her newly published book of Mary’s extraordinary life called “Sanctuary…The Story of Naturalist Mary Majka.”
The book Sanctuary was seven years in the making. Deborah would take her lap top on what Deborah called “Her Thursday mornings with Mary.” There she visited, interviewed, walked, talked and sometimes even cry with Mary. Then when she felt she had enough info, Deborah locked herself away, so to speak, and began weaving Mary’s story together.
It was so moving to listen to her; because I had also gotten to know Deborah, we both lived in Hopewell Cape. I joined her at different writers workshops, followed her articles in different newspapers and magazines and latter attended workshops given by Deborah herself.
Deborah opened the floor up for questions, and there were many, for she and her writing was no stranger to those in attendance. Then she stepped back and invited Mary to come to the front. David pushed her forward in her wheelchair, and all waited with baited breath to hear what she herself had to say.
The stories were not new to me for she had shared them with my husband,Richard and I, on her different visits with us, but they were still wonderful to hear, and to watch as she got more excited, the twinkle in her eyes and waving her hands about adding to the pleasure of listening.
Mary told us she was 87 years old and she found the process long and sometimes very painful as Deborah kept pulling her past to the forefront of her memory. Remembering the loss of her beloved Father, the separation from her Mother and brother during World War II. The toils of farm work in the hills of Austria.
But her spirit sustained her and life got better. She and her husband Mike moved to Canada and arrived at Pier 21 in Halifax. Caledonia Mountain in beautiful Albert County New Brunswick became her new home, the place where she has pursued her life long passions. Mary said it was her hope that those reading her story would be inspire to do their best and make a difference in the world we all live in.
At the end there was a line up waiting to have Deborah and Mary sign their books. A gentleman at the back of the room was sitting at a table selling her book, and he told me Sanctuary was one of the most popular local books Chapters has ever had, and that they have trouble keeping it on the shelf. I would recommend her book to everyone. Deborah told Mary’s story eloquently and it will move you and inspire you, and I will cherish my book forever.
I was the last in line and Mary wrote in my book…”To Sharon an old, good friend with best wishes! Mary Majka Nov.2010.”

The Story of Mary Majka...Sanctuary By Deborah Carr

2010-09-16T23:36:00.006-03:00

Photos By: Sharon A. Layton-Pollock

Book Launch -Sanctuary: The Story of Naturalist Mary Majka
When: October 2, 2010, 2:00 PM.
Location: Harvey Hall, Marys Point Road, Harvey, NB (near Riverside-Albert, off Route 915 in Albert County)

Join author Deborah Carr, Mary Majka and Goose Lane Editions for the launch of Sanctuary: The Story of Naturalist Mary Majka at the beautiful Harvey Hall in Albert Co. Come out and celebrate the life and legacy of a great Canadian naturalist. The hall is a special location as it is one of Mary's heritage projects. There will be refreshments, soft music and lots of ambiance. Cleveland Place Books will have a supply of books for sale. For more information, visit Deborah's book page: www.deborahcarr.ca/sanctuary.htm

'Live, on Purpose' Luncheon
When: October 3, 2010, 1:00-3:00PM
Location: The Artisan Shoppe, Main Street, Alma, NB
This is an elegant four-course luncheon put on by Cleveland Place Books with Deborah Carr and Mary Majka as guest speakers. Deborah will be sharing what she has learned from the process of writing biography - in particular what she has learned about living an authentic life of purpose – one directly related to an individual’s inner passion, unique gifts and life experience. For more information, visit Deborah's book page: www.deborahcarr.ca/sanctuary.htm

Salisbury.....A Community Rallys in Support

2010-09-11T14:31:00.003-03:00

Gerry Matheson, at age forty-one, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. The friends of Gerry Matheson held a fundraiser on July 25th at Grady’s Pub in Salisbury, from 2pm – 10pm. There was live entertainment, Country Jailhouse, Dunking Booth, 50/50 Draw, tickets sold, 24’s of beer and door prizes as well as hundreds of items given away.
Prizes won were * Birch Kitchen Island won by Lisa Black;
* $200.00 worth of Lobster, won by Johnnie Bos; * Outdoor Fire pit, won by Maritime Cash; * Texas Mickey Crown Royal, won by Jason McKnight; * 12’x12’ Gasebo, winner Colin
Mullins.
There was a BBQ and a live auction with over $11,000.00 worth of items and services.
All of the food, entertainment, prizes and auction items were donated, as well as the time of a lot of good-hearted people. The day would not have been possible without the generosity of many businesses and people in Salisbury, River Glade, Petitcodiac, Riverview, Moncton and surrounding areas.
There was $25,000.00 raised and presented to Gerry.
His many Friends wish him lots of years of health and happiness. The organizing committe was Cheryl McMackin, Gary Branscombe, Helen McCordic and Cheryl O’Neil.

90 Years of Counting His Blessings

2010-09-10T10:10:00.004-03:00

Everett Albert Steeves, of Hillside, near Elgin, N.B., will be counting his blessings for his 90th year on September 18, with his wife, Anna, daughter Diane, son’s Randy and Terry and all his many family and friends at an open house from 1 - 5 in the Elgin Community Center (Fire Hall).
Everett was born in Meadow (now Hillside) in 1920. Everett was the third child of parents Trenholm and Janice (Bannister). Everett’s siblings are: Roy, Clarence, Kenny of Petitcodiac, Ruby of Forest Hill, Elizabeth, Mona and Alberta of Magnetic Hill.
Everett didn’t go far from home to find the love of his life, Anna Milton, who just lived in the road in Hillside. Everett and Anna were married on March 19th. 1955 and raised four children: Larry, Randy of Elgin, Terry who lives in Alberta and daughter, Diane, who resides in Sussex.
Those who know Everett well know how much he enjoys music and dancing. Anna tells the story of one morning, not that long ago, while trying to sleep in awhile, she could hear the music playing. But there was a different sound that caused her to wonder what on earth was going on downstairs. She could hear this thump, thump, thumping sound, which caused her to get up and go down to investigate. When she looked into the kitchen there was Everett step dancing to the beat of the music.
One could classify Everett as A-Jack-of-All-Trades. He has made his living logging, farming and driving heavy equipment for the DOT. For the past 30 years he has lovingly cared for the cemetery at the Hillside Baptist Church. He shows no sign of setting back in the rocking chair; his neighbors count on him to keep the snow plowed out of their driveways.
One of Everett’s favorite things is gardening; he keeps Anna busy pickling, preserving and making jam from the bounty of his labor. On Father’s Day 2005 Everett looked out the window and couldn’t believe his eyes. There coming down the road was a brand new sugar camp, and even more surprised when the driver maneuvered it onto the spot where his old camp had once stood. His children were the instigators of his new camp. He’s quite at home in the spring of the year in his new little sugar camp gathering, boiling, stirring and sharing with his many friends and family, and the grandchildren he loves so dearly.
As people of the area gather at the different dancing get-togethers, and the music starts and toes start tapping, it’s nothing out of the ordinary to find Everett the first on the dance floor. A partner is no problem to find, but as the music slows he gathers Anna close and sachets her around the dance floor. A pleasure for all to watch.
Some of Everett’s fondest memories are the time his brother-in-law, Angus, flew him & Anna and his wife Elda to Massachusetts and New Hampshire in his four-seater plane. Going out west to attend his son Terry’s wedding was a treat and taking in the celebration of Expo 67.
Everett has enjoyed his life in Hillside and has no intention of ever leaving, besides he’s too busy enjoying his many friends and family, especially when they drop in for a visit, good conversation, fine hospitality and a great game of cards.

Six Week Writing Workshop...2010

2010-09-10T10:10:00.000-03:00

Gail Taylor will be giving a 6-week writing workshop focussing on turning
your words into song and poetry. The course starts on September 16 and is
being held at the Saint John Arts Centre. See the attached poster for more
details.

Lee Thompson
Executive Director
Writers' Federation of New Brunswick
P.O. Box 306, Moncton, NB E1C 8L4
506-459-7228
wfnb@nb.aibn.com
http://www.wfnb.ca

Literary Events in NB 2010

2010-09-10T10:07:00.000-03:00

Here are a few upcoming literary events in NB this month:

September 16, in Moncton, Elaine Amyot will be launching her book, The
Seven Gates: A Memoir of a Descent, at 8 pm, at La Teraz Art Gallery, 154
Church Street, Moncton. All are welcome!

On September 23, in Fredericton, Allan Donaldson will launch his literary
mystery, The Case Against Owen Williams (Nimbus Publishing) at 7:00pm at
Westminster Books.

Allan Donaldson's 2005 debut novel, MacLean, was a harrowing, literal day in
the life of a shell-shocked, alcoholic WWI veteran searching for booze and a
birthday gift for his mother. It was shortlisted for the prestigious Rogers
Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Donaldson's follow-up novel is a venture into
lliterary mystery ."The Case Against Owen Williams" tells the story of Owen
Williams, a quiet soldier stationed with a garrison of conscripted men
dubbed "the Zombies," who are unwilling to serve overseas. When a teenage
girl is found dead in a gravel pit after a dance, Owen Williams was the last
person reported to have seen her. What follows is a novel that "explores the
circumstances of a wrongful conviction and the gaps in the justice system
that allow it to flourish.

And a grant writing workshop:

September 16 · 6:00pm - 8:00pm at the Saint John Arts Centre, 20 Hazen
Avenue.

Enterprise Saint John and ArtsNB are partnering to offer a FREE workshop on
grant writing for artists and creative entrepreneurs. The guest speaker is
Vanessa Moeller, Deputy Managing Director with the New Brunswick Arts Board.
The focus will be on upcoming ArtsNB grants and the Saint John Regional
Project.

Register with Sarah Jones at 648-4640 or email sjones@enterprisesj.com.

CORNHILL FAMILY BUILDING BIGGER AND BETTER

2010-07-27T19:35:00.007-03:00

Written By: Sharon A. Layton-Pollock

The Von Waldo’s welcomed over 2000 people during their open house on July 10. They came from far and wide to view first hand a new, to this area, technology for milking cows, as well as to examine their wonderful facilities.
Joerg first came to Canada from Germany to visit his dad, who had immigrated years before and now owned a farm in Cambridge Narrows. When the family was together in Germany they farmed and Joerg always wanted a farm of his own some day. While visiting his Dad, Jeorg was very impressed with the province of New Brunswick.
He returned home to resume his trade as a machinist as well as trying his hand as a car salesman. He traveled again to the western provinces where he worked on farms, then to Ontario before returning home again. When Joerg was 20 years old he decided to return to Canada permanently and in 1967 he became a Canadian citizen. In 1973 Joerg bought the Gerald McKenzie farm in beautiful Cornhill. At that time it consisted of 100 acres and 11 milk cows. He never wanted to milk cows and began building a beef herd. Then one day Alan Saunders a ‘dairy specialist’ paid him a visit and suggested he sell his beef cows and buy a dairy herd. Joerg bought a herd of 20 milking cows.
Things in Joerg’s life began to take another turn in 1982. He decided to pay a visit to his friend Dr. Nayak. There also visiting was Jane Couillard, daughter of John and Beth. Upon seeing young Joerg coming up the lane Jane immediately inquired as to who he was. Jane and Joerg became Mr. and Mrs. in 1986.
Jane had no farming background but settled in well and found it very interesting. Joerg looks after the fieldwork and Jane looks after the cows, Joerg said, “Jane is the real Cow Girl.”
Twenty two year old Karl Von Waldo, self-taught in design, began discussing with his parents and younger brother, Blake, his ideas of a new barn. His younger brother, 20-year-old Blake with his electrical engineering and telecommunication degree assisted greatly in the plan. Joerg figured he had the land and the feed to feed an expansion, so thus the planning began.
The family began traveling to see for themselves what new designs were out there and new farming technologies that would fit with their type of farming. Their travels took them to Ontario, Wisconsin, Germany and Holland. Although nothing was found exactly as what they had in mind, it non-the less was a great learning experience and good to talk to such forward thinking people.
December 2008 the Von Waldo family began the planning stages. In April of 2009, during a visit to Quebec to see a rotary milking parlor, they accidentally met with the engineer who designed the rotary. By May 2009 all of the engineering plans were drawn up. Karl then sent his plans to Group Alco out of Quebec who build 50 barns a year.
All during the planning and building of the Waldo expansion, Karl became the official translator. He and his family were very glad he had gone through the French immersion program at Petitcodiac Regional High, for only one man on the engineering team was able to speak English.
The Federal and Provincial government assisted in the amount of $100,000.00 and matched by the Von Waldo’s under the “New Technology Initiative Program.” The new technology Acti-Zyme, so far is the only one of its kind in eastern Canada.
February 2, 2010, the first dry cow walked through the doors of its new home. March 18th the milking cows began their new learning experience of when to go on and when to come off the rotary milking parlor.
Jane will be even more impressed with the new building when finally all of the paper work of running such a farm can go into the offices in the barn and out of her house. She enjoys doing her chores, due in part, to the great ventilation and heated floors in the parlor. Joerg says he feels good about what they have done and both their sons, Karl and Blake, are very proud. Karl said he always wanted the public to be aware and educated about modern farming techniques.
During the open house they handed out a Fact Sheet to help to answer questions anyone may have had, and the facts are as follows:
started moving fill in May 2009
moved into the barn March 18, 2010
number of employees are 8
size of building…main barn is 345’ X 124’
parlor barn is 80’ X 180’
385 stalls with individual water beds and bedded with pressed manure
the manure press is manufactured by Press Technology from Springfield, Ohio
milking 225 cows three times a day (5a.m. 1p.m. 8p.m.)
parlor…blom platform is 32 inside rotary brought over from Holland
Boumatic milking equipment
Milk tanks…large is 6000 gallons (23800liters) small is 3000 gallons (11856 liters
During the open house I was one of the 2000 in attendance, I too congratulated Joerg and as I was leaving I saw and overheard an old farmer briskly shake Joerg’s hand and exclaimed, “You have built a masterpiece!” *

Festival By The Marsh

2010-07-23T00:33:00.002-03:00

Hi Everyone,

A wonderful, month-long event is taking place in Sackville - Festival by
Marsh. Friday, July 24th is WritersFest and will feature Beth Powning, Lisa
Moore and many others. See schedule below.

Saturday, July 24

WritersFest & Celebrating Sackville Day
Unless otherwise noted, WritersFest Day events will be held at Boultenhouse
Heritage Centre

9a.m. Breakfast with local young writers reading and Kate Inglis reading
from her work. Also workshops for young writers. At Cranewood. Workshops
are FREE.

10:30a.m. An Apostle for the Arts - Oscar Wilde in Canada reading by Dr.
Kevin O'Brien and play The Importance of the House Beautiful - Oscar Wilde
in Moncton.

11:45a.m. Writer's Workshop with Beth Powning
Workshops are FREE.

1p.m. Dr. Charlie Scobie reads

2p.m. Much Ado About Nothing

4:30p.m. Dining with Writers At Cranewood featuring Writers Day authors. $12
See Ticket Details.

6p.m. Beth Powning reads. Also Celebrating Sackville.

7p.m. Lisa Moore reads.

8p.m. Much Ado About Nothing

10:00p.m. Closing reception with live music by Landon Braverman and reading
by Poet-in-Residence Kenzie Reid, at Joey's Bar.

For more information on Festival by the Marsh, see:
http://www.festivalbythemarsh.ca/eventsSchedule.html

Lee Thompson
Executive Director
Writers' Federation of New Brunswick
P.O. Box 306, Moncton, NB E1C 8L4
506-459-7228
wfnb@nb.aibn.com
http://www.wfnb.ca

Get A Jump Start On Your Novel

2010-07-23T00:33:00.001-03:00

24 hour Write-In: Get a Jump Start on Your Novel

Fredericton, NB - August 14th, 2010. The Freddy Words writing group will be hosting a 24-hour Write-In starting at noon on Saturday, August 14, 2010 at the Fredericton Inn. The cost of the Write-In is $20 if paid by August 7 or $30 after that. Proceeds from the event will go to support National Novel Writing Month, a challenge to write a 50,000-word novel in the month of November. There will also be a meet n' greet social event Friday night, August 13.

The write-in will take place in two large rooms set up with tables and chairs. You are welcome to arrive and leave at any time during the course of the event. We encourage you to set personal goals for your time at the 24-Hour Write-In, such as number of words written or amount of time spent writing. There will be writing games and other activities going on to keep you motivated to reach your personal goals.

The Fredericton Inn is conveniently located near many food outlets. You can find out more about the hotel from their web site: http://www.frederictoninn.nb.ca/. A few couches for out-of-town participants are available with members of Freddy Words. These are provided on a first-come first-serve basis.

To register, please email freddywords@gmail.com with your name and whether you would like to be billeted with one of our members. We can accept payment by PayPal or cheque, and we accept cash at the door. We will respond to confirm you are on our list, and your spot will be secure once we receive your payment.

++++++++++++++

Lee Thompson
Executive Director
Writers' Federation of New Brunswick
P.O. Box 306, Moncton, NB E1C 8L4
506-459-7228
wfnb@nb.aibn.com
http://www.wfnb.ca

Technical Writer Wanted

2010-07-23T00:33:00.000-03:00

senior technical writer - leading enterprise software company - fredericton, nb
Do you have a passion for technical writing? Do you have a reputation for creating highly effective technical documentation? Are you looking for an opportunity to work with an award winning software development company where the documents you create will make a real difference? Do you have a proven track record in creating and updating highly technical documents? Do you prefer a technical writing environment where you are not only updating existing documents, but creating new documents as well? If so, this opportunity will be of interest to you.

THE OPPORTUNITY
You will be creating and updating documentation for for an award winning enterprise software product using a variety of media, including PDF and online help. You will have the opportunity to learn about exciting new technologies and regularly create new documentation, rather than simply updating existing documents. The technical documents you create will make a real difference in the use of an enterprise software product that is currently being sold internationally.

THE COMPANY
Our client is recognized as a leading enterprise software company with sales internationally and a strong and seasoned management team. They have also been recognized with several prestigious awards for their software. They are growing quickly and are looking to grow their documentation team. They have a strong team environment where team members are appreciated and rewarded for their contributions.

THE REWARDS
In return for your skills and expertise you will receive a very good salary and benefits package, including three weeks’ vacation and a stock option plan. Relocation expenses are also provided.

THE LOCATION
The position is located in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. Fredericton is one of the most successful and vibrant small cities in North America. It is a beautiful, historic city with two universities, many cultural activities (including an excellent jazz festival), lots of night life, plenty of recreational facilities and activities (including a rowing and sailing club), beautiful parks and an extensive network of walking trails. It also has a vibrant and rapidly expanding knowledge industry sector. You can find out more about Fredericton at Team Fredericton http://www.teamfredericton.com Tourism Fredericton http://www.tourismfredericton.ca/en/index.asp the City of Fredericton http://www.city.fredericton.nb.ca/ea1.asp Canadian Relocation Systems http://www.relocatecanada.com/fredericton/index.html and Found Locally's Business Directory (http://www.foundlocally.com/fredericton/).

THE REQUIREMENTS
Our ideal candidate has several years' of technical writing experience producing technical documents for hardware and software and a strong technical aptitude - preferably with networks. In addition, the ideal candidate has excellent experience with FrameMaker, the Adobe Suite of products, and on-line help systems. Formal training in technical communications is a definite asset as is experience with technical writing for networking software.

TO APPLY
If you are interested in the above position, please e-mail your resume in confidence to liane@people-reach.com. We will treat any inquiry or resume received with the utmost confidentiality. Under no circumstances will we submit your resume to any client without your prior approval.

Summer 2010 NBInk Newsletter

2010-07-23T00:04:00.002-03:00

Message From The President

Some 26 years ago my mother, Ann Brennan, mailed out a survey that invited recipients to “prioritize” their objectives for a soon-to-be-formed provincial writers’ organization.
One of the survey respondents was Alden Nowlan. He returned his completed form with a short note that bore his trademark wit: “Yes, I will become a member,” he wrote. “Any writers’ group that would use the word ‘prioritize’ needs all the help it can get.”
Alden’s reply led to a lively discussion at the next meeting of the group’s founding members. The debate concluded with a typically insightful comment by Nancy Bauer who defended the use of the word ‘prioritize’. “Isn’t that what writers are for,” she asked, “to create new words?”
This is among the stories told about the early beginnings of the Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick – a strong, unified voice for New Brunswick’s literary community.
Fast forward to today and WFNB continues to ‘prioritize’ our objectives, (with apologies to strict grammarians) to strengthen our voice, expand the scope of our services and increase the size of our membership. Our priorities are contained in WFNB’s three-year action plan, which was presented by federation director Gerard Beirne at our highly successful AGM in Fredericton in May – attended by 550 people no less!
This document charts a progressive and innovative course for the future of our organization that calls for the formation of regional chapters, the creation of a mentorship program between established and emerging writers and the launch of a corporate fundraising committee. Other initiatives will seek to get more youth involved in the federation, to expand the WFNB website to include member profiles and blogs and to have a full-time executive director.
I am fortunate to be at the helm of WFNB at such an exciting time in the federation’s history. For this, I have to thank many hardworking, forward-looking people, particularly the WFNB board, led by immediate past president Marilyn Lerch and executive director Lee Thompson. Under their leadership, WFNB’s membership has nearly doubled and the organization is in a positive cash position. Our dedicated directors have laid a solid foundation upon which to build an even bigger, better organization going forward.
This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the federation – an occasion we will celebrate at WordsFall on the Miramichi in October. It will be a time to pay tribute to the men and women who recognized the need for an organization that would represent and promote New Brunswick writers, individually and collectively. As the daughter of one of the original board members, it seems like WFNB’s history has come full circle.
When the WFNB was formed 25 years ago, writers like David Adams Richards and Sheree Fitch had just arrived on New Brunswick’s literary scene. They were, as my mother put it, the “kids” in WFNB’s early “ice house gang”. The federation played an influential and inspirational role in their careers, and that of other New Brunswick writers who have made important literary contributions to the province, Canada and indeed, the world.
As president, my goal is to ensure that WFNB remains the foremost source of information and inspiration for writers in New Brunswick, whether or not they write for passion or profit. I am truly honoured and humbled to be taking over the reins of the WFNB and thank you for the confidence you have placed in me. I look forward to earning that trust.
Rayanne Brennan

Executive Director’s Report, Lee Thompson
If the past week has been any indication, it’s promising to be a very hot summer. I imagine myself not at the beach, or driving forested back-roads with the windows down (though I will do those things), but in an air-conditioned office, a shiny new computer,
WFNB posters on the walls, and a chatty, but very helpful office assistant at my beck and call. But since air conditioning is bad for the environment, it’s going to have to be a little fan, a cluttered desk, solitude, and my book-filled apartment. Well, at least my computer is new.
There will be no rest for the E.D. this summer, as I’ll soon begin the process of creating member pages for our website (see page 12, or watch your email inbox), helping to plan WordsFall, keeping in touch with membership, and shepherding various committees to productive pastures. There will be many far-reaching effects of our AGM and the Three Year (Action!) Plan, which was put together by board member Gerry Beirne, former treasurer Laurie Glenn Norris, and consultant Gwen Martin, with additional feedback from former president Marilyn Lerch and myself.
For me, the goal is to never write another report lamenting a lack of time/money/personnel.
In the immediate future there will be two changes affecting the membership, one of which involves NB Ink. With the aim being to save time and money (and the environment too), we’ll be going to an electronic version of the newsletter, following the lead of many other arts organisations. Shipping and printing costs are substantial,
as is the time required to stuff and label all those envelopes. We realize that not everyone has email access, so those who wish to receive the newsletter by mail will be able to do so. See our bulletin board on page 3 for further details.
There are of course advantages to an electronic version of the newsletter, including full colour photos, clickable links to the internet, and speed of delivery.
Another change, one that will also affect the membership this year, involves our literary competition. Though we hope to run to competition in some form in 2011, with perhaps the Richards Prize and the Bailey Prize only, diminishing submissions and sizable financial losses have forced our hand. We are rethinking the competition, reconsidering the time of year when we run it, the categories we offer, our advertising approach, and the need for sponsors. The goal is to make it better, more manageable, and, at the very least, a break-even venture.
Another goal of the Three Year (Action!) Plan involves bringing more of the province’s professional writers to the Federation. The question has always been: what can we offer an established writer? Connected to this question is our desire to begin a mentorship program, which would offer funding for established writers while providing invaluable feedback for aspiring writers. Member pages on the website can help established writers with their visibility, since their contact information would be readily available. I often use the members pages at WFNS and WANL to get hold of authors for readings and to find judges for our literary competition.
It’s important to stress that all of the changes are meant to move us forward. We are not a small organisation and, if the trend continues, should have close to 300 members by the end of 2010. We are in good shape financially and we have a vision. Our new president, Rayanne Brennan, has been active in getting the Federation’s name out in press releases and is eager to meet the membership and continue the process of growing a community of writers that her mother, among others, began over 25 years ago.
On another note, I’d like to welcome our new board members, Andy Flanagan,
Corey Redekop and Kate Merlin, and to express my gratitude to everyone who attended and helped organise WordsSpring. Kathy Mac, Carla Gunn, Lynn Davies, Johanna Bertin and Andrew Titus helped make WordsSpring a fantastic event. Also, several STU students manned the book table, spending hours setting up, sitting upright,
smiling, and taking our money. Thanks everyone!
I hope you enjoy the articles and photos in this issue.
And the hot summer. ###

Finding the Reader, Lisa Dalrymple
I came “from away.”
And I admit I was a little nervous at being an outsider – first day at a new school kind of nervous. Not only had I never been to the Maritimes, but I had never been to any kind of writery gathering before either – at least not as one of the writers. So when the customer service rep at Air Miles suggested that, if I was going to a writers’ conference perhaps
I should have a business membership, I laughed and said, “Oh, I’m not really a writer yet.”
And, I confess, I’d been wondering what I was doing by heading out to WordSpring – a conference – where I might even be expected to confer. What could I offer? And what could a conference offer me? I wasn’t a writer, more like a woman who occasionally finds herself writing on the bathroom floor after jumping from the shower with hair still sudsy or who occasionally returns to reality scribbling on the back of a grocery list while buttering toast for kids’ breakfasts.
My fears were dispelled however as, before the readings even began on Friday night, I found myself comfortably seated amidst the writers being genially introduced to each person who entered the room. And there was the most delicious pecan pie!
I also discovered I wasn’t the only person from out-of-province.
Apparently WordSpring attracts writers from far and wide.
The weekend’s agenda was strikingly well arranged and orchestrated. Events were markedly distinct and varied and yet each offered something invaluable to my own literary
journey. The Friday night readings – both the words and their delivery – from Gerry Beirne to Kathy Mac, from Corey Redekop to M. Travis Lane, might have made me feel all the more alien, but instead were welcoming and heartening, such art coming from people who until they took the podium had simply been chatting. And eating pie.
And Sally Armstrong was formidable, demonstrating the practical, human need for written expression while, in a hands-on workshop, Ilkay Silk offered – along with the shredding of some bizarre interpersonal boundaries – strategies for effectively projecting that message to a live audience.
A true highlight of the conference came on Saturday afternoon
when we dissected the novel – along with reptiles, amphibians and pachyderms (oh my!) – in a panel discussion
with Jessica Grant and Carla Gunn. This was followed
by the excitement of Tony Tremblay’s book launch and a fabulous Saturday night banquet and celebration.
Then, on Sunday morning, there was the Ice House. As a writer, I know I should be able to describe this experience,
this awakening, but it’s difficult for me to find words to embody such sharing of creative labour – words and art filling a silent, almost sacred space, a space rife with atmosphere
and history. I do know that I am honoured to have been a part of what transpired there, to have received and to have offered, and to have parted with a memory that will forever be a part of me.
As I flew out of Fredericton, the young woman beside me was scribbling in her journal, trying to hide her words by holding the book under the seat tray in front of her. I slipped a piece I’d been working on from my bag, started re-reading it and sensed the moment when she took notice.
“You’re a writer?” she said and I opened my mouth to deny it, but stopped.
I know I’ll return to New Brunswick for the Frye Festival next April. I also know that, this time, I’ll upgrade my Air Miles card before I fly. ###

Meet Your WFNB Executive and Board of Directors
Kate Merlin, Treasurer. Kate has written for a variety of local, regional and national publications.
She has a BSc in Ecology and Systematics
and an MSc in botany and genetics and enjoys drawing on her background in science in her writing. Her book Trails of Greater Moncton which was published by Goose Lane Editions in 2003. She is the former President of the Moncton
Chapter of PWAC and currently works as a library assistant at Caledonia Regional High School and Hillsborough Elementary
School.
Gerard Beirne of Fredericton is the Federation’s
Three Year Action Plan plan producer. Gerry has worked as writer-in-residence at UNB and is fiction co-editor for The Fiddlehead. Irish-born, he has Canadian writer has won or been shortlisted for many awards, including the Daily Express (UK) Book of the Year (2004). His most recent book is Turtle (Oberon Press 2010)
Corey Redekop was born in Thompson, Manitoba, and has travelled throughout the country. During his treks in the wilderness, he has worked as a disc jockey, tree planter, waiter, lawyer,
and librarian. Currently, he works as the new publicist for Goose Lane Editions.
In the midst of all that soul-searching he found time to write. His novel Shelf Monkey (ECW Press, 2007) was Winner of the Best Popular Fiction Novel, 2008 Independent Book Publisher Awards. http://shelf-monkey.
blogspot.com, http://www.ecwpress.com
Grace Morris lives in Moncton, New Brunswick and serves as WFNB’s secretary; she has also served for a number of years as secretary for Friends of Victoria Park. As Entertainment
Coordinator for Greenwood Lodge Community Centre. for the past 10 years, Grace has developed and promoted literary, musical and other arts events. She has had narrative and biographical articles published in newspapers
and newsletters. Her most recent literary project, Mill Write: Notes From A Small Place, brings together published writers, educators, local poets and storytellers in a rural setting in support of Laubach Literacy NB.
Deborah Carr writes articles specializing in nature, conservation,
travel and people profiles. For corporate
clients she develops web content, marketing material, newsletters, company
profiles and media releases. President of the Moncton Chapter, Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) she encourages others to explore the joys of writing through PWAC-delivered seminars and through her own Nature of Words creative writing workshops. In addition to countless articles in magazines, she has written a company history book for Winegarden
Estates entitled, In Vino Veritas: How an Old German Traditions
Becomes New Brunswick’s Windfall. Her first full-length book, Sanctuary: The Story of Naturalist Mary Majka, will be released by Goose Lane Editions in September 2010. www.deborahcarr.ca / www.natureofwords.ca
Dorinda Glover of Miramichi is a founding member
of the Miramichi Writers’ Group and has successfully
nurtured a strong, effective Federation presence in the Miramichi area. She is a regular contributor to Words on Water, which provides opportunities
for “Miramichiers” to perform stories, poems, and music in public. She has published poetry and short fiction, and is an actor and director
with The Heritage Players’ Group.
Marlene Hull of Saint John, is a retired medical technologist who began writing in connection with her volunteer work. She has produced promotional
videos articles and skits for several clients as well as humour and social justice articles for various New Brunswick media. Marlene released her first novel in October 2008. Her main task for 2009 is to attract new Federation members from southwestern New Brunswick, one of the least represented geographical area of the province.
Andrew Flanagan’s working career focused on business, finance and planning, and he currently is the economic
development officer for the municipality of Belledune. Writing dreadfully boring business
plans and statistical analyses drove him to hobby writing and Andy now writes short stories for various genres, as well as several
manuscripts geared toward juvenile and young readers. He also enjoys writing historical
fiction and true war stories. Formerly Mayor of Belledune (for 12 years), he is president of BREA, the Belledune Regional Environmental Association.
WFNB President Rayanne Brennan has extensive experience in print journalism, corporate communications and government relations.
Her work as a freelance photojournalist has been widely published
and she is editor of The Atlantic Co-operator. Rayanne operates
an independent communications consultancy and editorial services firm – Brennan Communications. A member of Moncton’s Press Club, Chamber of Commerce and Business Professional Women’s organization, Rayanne also draws on her background to support the efforts of various
non-profit organizations in her community, most recently as vice-president of the Moncton Chapter of the Professional Writers Association of Canada and as media relations coordinator for the Frye Festival. She is a Red Cross volunteer and a public information specialist with United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. In February,
she volunteered to go on a mission to Nicaragua to provide photography and editorial services to the Canadian Cooperative Association (CCA), including a daily blog. Her volunteer work with the CCA continues.

5
Mill Write: Notes from a Small Place
Grace Morris
Editor? Graphic Designer? Literary Clairvoyant?
Advertise in NB Ink!
Reach thousands hundreds of like-minded readers
in each issue!
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$50
The editor of course has the right to refuse tasteless, rude, and ungrammatical ads.
Call now 1.506.459.7228, operators standing by.
On Saturday, April 17th, the Greenwood Lodge, located in rural Kent County, hosted its second literary event.
The Greenwood Lodge was constructed in 1979 and is a charming
hewn-log structure. Over the years it has operated under several
groups of volunteers. The most recent group has kept the community center running for the past 10 years by hosting various
events. These events range from dinners, breakfasts, music nights (both local and big name acts) and hall rentals for every occasion from weddings to memorials.
Last year marked its very first literary event with the “Save Al Purdy’s House Poetry Event and Dinner”. Inspired by the success of that night the crew decided
to try something similar. A suggestion
was made to have another fundraiser of some sort and, because it was a literary theme, Laubach Literacy
New Brunswick seemed like the perfect cause.
The afternoon started at 4:00pm with a meet and greet. The guests were treated to wine and conversation
until 5:00 when the roast ham dinner was served. During
this time, guests were entertained with music by Voni Mann of Moncton. At 6:00pm the MC for the evening, Roy Gould, set the stage for the evenings plan. He gave information on the sad state of literacy levels in this province and excerpts from the book Raising Lifelong Learners by Lucy Calkins. He then introduced
the first guest speaker of the evening, Lee Thompson of Moncton, who is Executive Director of the Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick. Lee presented information on WFNB and read some of his own work. Following
Lee was Doug Underhill of Newcastle who told some great stories and read some of his own poetry. Peter Sawyer, president of the Moncton Regional
Learning Council, concluded
the first segment. Peter was part of the planning group that established Laubach Literacy
of Canada and was the founding president of Laubach Literacy New Brunswick.
After a short break the evening resumed with Dr. David Weale of Prince Edward Island. David, a retired professor of Canadian and Prince Edward Island history, is an award winning author of 15 books and one of the Island’s best-known storytellers. From the moment David took the stage until he left the entire audience was in stitches. Looking around the room one could see people wiping the tears of laughter from their eyes. He spoke of Island lore and folk history and, although he had everyone laughing, you knew his stories came from love of his Island home.
The last part of the evening focused on the “Open Mic” segment. The first guest was Sherman Fisher of Dundas, then a quick (and mainly unintelligible) recitation by 5-year-old Odin Sanipass of Brown’s Yard, followed by Roy Gould and George Griffin both of Moncton, Marilyn Lerch of Sackville, Frank Augustine
of Burnt Church and Melissa Augustine of Ford’s Mills all read some of their own work. Janet Hammock read from a story she wrote for Breaking the Word Barrier and Deborah Carr read a poem written by Edna Thompson of Bass River when she was about 10 years old and was too shy to read herself. Donna Dealy read a poem written by George Morris of Harcourt who had passed away many years ago and had members of his family who attended in tears. Voni Mann ended the evening with some of her own work.
All in all, it was a wonderful evening for the little community of Ford’s Mills. It was well attended by local people and visitors alike. There was $110 in donations at the door for Laubach Literacy NB and a feeling in the air that we must do it again next year. We welcome any ideas and/or suggestions for our next event and encourage everyone to toss ideas our way by contacting us at greenwood_lodge@hotmail.com. ###

POETPALOOZA!
Andrew Titus
As our fren-emy Wikipedia states, “The word [lollapalooza] dates from an American idiom from the late 19th / early 20th century meaning ‘one that is extraordinarily impressive;
also, an outstanding example’”, and was revived in 1991 by Jane’s Addiction lead singer Perry Farrell as the name for what would become one of North America’s largest
alternative music festivals. Since then, it has seen a bazillion folks come out during the summer to rock their faces off to some of the world’s heaviest, and arguable weirdest, musical acts to ever emerge from the fringes. In other words, as a cultural display it has become the modern
equivalent to Barnham and Bailey’s Circus and, as such, a milestone in the development of youth who are, thank god, always looking for some reason or other to run away from home.
Alas, as with all things that were once revolutionary, Lollapalooza
has succumbed to the mundane, the acceptable, the commonplace, and as such clearly needed to be replaced
by something much more “extraordinarily impressive”.
Thus step up the poets who, as in all times of quiet conservatism, are handed the mantle of creating the new from the ashes of the old.
And so, wise and phoenix-like Kathy Mac gathered together
the ashes, whispered her incantations over the charred remains of what was once outrageous, and called forth the legions of poets to raze the ground and plant fertile seeds upon the bleached bones of poetic culture. And from her mighty mind came POETPALOOZA!
Were you there? If so, you remember the gathering of the tribes, the tall and the short, the bang and clang, the jazz, the shouting and the snapping of fingers. If not, allow me to elucidate...
The stage was not at all what one would expect: in the Margaret McCain study hall on the St. Thomas University campus one can usually, and quite literally, hear a pin drop as the hordes of students bust their brains to make sense of term papers, exams, and unanswerable questions about the nature of crime, language, and knowledge. The opportunity to raise ours voices there was a dream, like walking through a china shop with both your arms out... For anyone who had ever been there, this beautiful acoustic
space begged to be howled in. From Ryan Griffith’s reading theatre version of his play “Arcturus Line”, to the woven verses of the WolfTree Writers, from Stand and Deliver’s
rock-scious banging on metal plates to the shouting from the balcony, and from WordShop’s roundhouse performances
to the Vagabond Trust’s immaculate deliveries and their raw and often humorous poetry, the new and the established blended together to make something out of nothing, and have the spoken word heard loud and true in this hallowed hall. And as if that wasn’t enough, our extraordinary
jazz band, ‘Epic. Jazzing.’, ensured the sultry and the swing, and so filled the place with the atmosphere of both class and exuberance.
We showered the room with paper airplanes, laughed out loud, and ooo’ed and ahhh’ed as poet after poet balanced on their tight lines and showed that in a world where too often making it big means selling out, there is still a love for the word that will always bring people to gather together in celebration of art at its finest: shared and exchanged free of charge, with the exception of the charge you get from being there.
Were you there? Come run away from home and we’ll see you next year when the circus comes to town. ###

Editirs Note:
This letter appeared in the Moncton Times and Transcript shortly after WordSpring.

Thanks for hospitality
To The Editor:
I’d like to offer a warm public thank you to the Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick and the people of Fredericton
for their kind and generous welcome following my first visit to New Brunswick.
I came to meet writers and readers prominent (Sally Armstrong,
Jessica Grant and Carla Gunn) and “emerging” (like me), hear them speak their peace and offer us the encouragement of their own fine examples.
Wandering the UNB campus with my oversized bags (when will I learn how to pack?) I met by chance the lovely
and charming Roxanne Graham, pursuing her studies at the University, who offered me a lift to STU’s MacLeod House, ‘way top of the hill.
This was after the airport concessionaire led me to the CCMTA Annual Meeting’s volunteer drivers for a lift to town from the airport, but before I was made to feel like a “regular” at the Beaverbrook Gallery on my second visit there.
In between, there was the friendliness of Marilyn Lerch, WFNB President, and Lee Thompson, Executive Director, and all the other members who welcomed a visitor like me. I got to shake the hand of David Adams Richards and hear Tony Tremblay read from his new biography of this great Canadian writer, drink in Alden Nowlan House (figuratively, of course), and sample the sights and scents (not to mention the fine coffee and carrot cake) of your farmer’s market.
It was all delightful and I hope to return sometime soon as I hear the swimming and beaches are also really fine.
Beverly Akerman,
Montreal, PQ

MEMBERS BOOKS

Interview with Ray Fraser on his latest book "The Trials of Brother Bell"

How did it come about that “The Trials of Brother Bell” contains two novels in one binding?
Just thought I’d give the reader his money’s worth, two for the price of one. My original idea was to put a handful of short stories with the new (and shorter) novel, REPENTANCE VALE, but because it had a common character in Brother Bell I felt THE STRUGGLE OUTSIDE would make a good companion piece for it. It also gave me a chance to re-issue a slightly revised version of STRUGGLE which had been long out of print.
The second part of the book, “The Struggle Outside”, was originally published in 1975 - did you have any trouble getting permission to republish it?
McGraw-Hill Ryerson declared that book out of print a few years after publication and sent me an official notice saying all rights had reverted to me.
Do you plan on doing this with some of your other out-of-print books?
I’m not planning on it, but I wouldn’t mind if it happened. THE BLACK HORSE TAVERN, THE BANNONBRIDGE MUSICIANS, and BEFORE YOU’RE A STRANGER are all out of print.
What sales pitch would you use to get readers to buy The Trials of Brother Bell?
If they don’t buy it something terrible will happen to them.
To what extent do you mine your own life for stories?
I write quite a bit from experience. This book however is pure invention.
You’ve been publishing for over 40 years, have the challenges of writing changed throughout that time?
Not quite sure what that means. I just know that nothing stays the same, there are always changes of some sort going on.
What would the ideal novel contain?
I don’t think there can be “the ideal” novel. Novels that are very different can be on the same high level and give equal satisfaction.
Members’ Books
Interview with Ray Fraser on his Latest Book
The Trials of Brother Bell
Heart-corroding sex with a tin woodman. The encapsulation of a foundering marriage in the state of a cat on the brink of death, whose health cannot be restored, but still manages to purr. Sharon McCartney’s visceral exploration of relationships — how they begin and end, the tenuous threads that hold people together, and the events that can tear them apart is unstintingly, eyes-wide-open aware. Beginnings, endings, transitions — none elude the sometimes sardonic but always sensitive, sinuous, and frank language of McCartney’s finely wrought poems.
Shedding wilful blindness in favour of life-affirming humour, McCartney pushes language from absolute rawness to moments of intimate retrospection, revealing a delicate tension between anger and calm, past and present, denial and acceptance.
To hear Sharon reading from For and Against, see:
http://soundcloud.com/brantablog/sharon-mccartney-for-and-against
$17.95 Paperback
Goose Lane Editions
Raymond Fraser was born in Chatham NB and now lives in Fredericton. He is the author of more than a dozen books. For more information see: http://raymondfraser.blogspot.com/
The Trails of Brother Bell is published by Lion’s Head Press and is available a local bookstores.
What, if anything, are you working on now?
I’m taking an extended break, something I haven’t done for quite a while, and gathering energy (at least I hope so) to put the finishing touches on a novel I’ve already spent over four years working on. I plan to get at it in the fall. ###
For and Against
Poetry by Sharon McCartney
Fundy: Hidden Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast
Robert J. Cunningham
with Margaret Patrica Eaton
Cunningham explores the importance of Fundy as a trade route during the “Golden Age of Sail”, revealing how Fundy grindstones and the production of kerosene from bituminous asphalt coal discovered in Albert County, N. B. by Dr. A. Gesner, fueled industrialization in the United States and how Fundy- built wooden ships braved the dangers of the sea to cross the Atlantic.
For more information contact neil@go.ednet.ns.ca

MEMBERS NEWS

Rosi Jory has produced and currently on display her PICTO-CODED ENGLISH GRAMMAR with colourful shapes sticking out upstairs in the ‘Beyond Words, Volume II’ Library Exhibit of the Saint John Arts Centre. Everybody welcome!
WFNB member Laurie Glenn Norris recently signed a contract with Nimbus Publishing for her second book, whose working title is Behind the Great Amherst Mystery: The Life and Times of Esther Cox. The book is slated to be published in the Spring of 2012. Her best friend Barbara Thompson from Bridgewater, NS, is the researcher on the project
Joe Blades was elected President of the League of Canadian Poets at their AGM in Toronto. Joe Blades gave a series of poetry readings and presentations in Central Europe, in April–May 2010, including at a Canadian Studies conference in Baia Mare, Romania; at the National Library for Foreign Literature in Budapest, Hungary; at the University of Kragujevac and the American Corner Kragujevac in Serbia; at the University of Banja Luka, Republika Srpska; and with the Sarajevo Poetry Days festival in Sarajevo and Tesanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition to several newspaper and television interviews and articles, translations of several of his poems have been published or ar forthcoming in journals in Mostar and Sarajevo. Side-by-Side Editions / Éditions Côte-à-Côte, Fredericton’s newest literary publisher, released its first publication on 3 April at a League of Canadian Poets’ National Poetry Month-sponsored reading on the Fredericton Walking Bridge. The reading and trilingual poetry chapbook, Fredericton Green–verte, featured Joe Blades, Herménégilde Chiasson, Jo-Anne Elder, M. Travis Lane, and Nela Rio.
Doug Underhill signed a contract with Gooselane to do a book on fly-fishing for Atlantic Salmon in New Brunswick.
Beverly Akerman’s monologue “’Chelle” has been selected for presentation at Sarasvàti Productions’ FemFest 2010: On the Edge (September 25th to October 2nd) at Winnipeg’s Canwest Centre for Theatre and Film. Also, she is one of the finalists named to the short list for The Eric Hoffer Award for short prose. From over 2,000 entries, her story, “Sea of Tranquility,” is among the 16 finalists that will be published in Best New Writing 2011, slated for October release by Hopewell Publications, LLC. The short prose Award, named in honour of the late American social writer and philosopher, includes a $500 prize, and is one of several created to highlight outstanding writing worthy of wider recognition.
Jean-Frances had two publications in Bread and Molasses this year: January February: 3 poems and painted images “Thoughts by the River”; March April:”Following Grandmother Morehouse”, a short article about discovering connections to her grandmother Morehouse when taking the back roads to Fredericton on a Sunday afternoon.
Margaret Eaton’s article “35 Years and Counting” featuring Westminster Books, Atlantic Canada’s oldest independent bookstore, was published in Atlantic Books Today, Spring 2010.

Calling All Artists!
ArtsLink NB is building a network of artists from all around New Brunswick. Writers, musicians painters, dancers- all artists are welcome to join this new organization and membership is free right now. You can sign up easily at www.artslinknb.com or call Sandy at 506-977-1278 for more information.
ArtsLink NB is working over the summer to help educate politicians about the importance of increasing support for the arts community. We will suggest that politicians begin to consider the Arts and Culture sector as an important industry- there are more Canadians working in the Arts and Culture Sector than in Oil and Gas, Agriculture, fisheries
and ultilies combined- over 1.1 million canadians work in this sector!
By joining your voice to ArtsLink NB, you are joining the 300 individual members and organizations like the Writer's Federation of NB, Performing Arts NB, Music NB, galleries,
dance companies and other arts institutions. Add your voice to ArtsLink NB.
Would you like to get involved in helping to educate politicians
in your riding? Drop ArtsLink NB a line and we'll hook you up with the local candidates and the ArtsLink NB messages.
NL Publisher Breakwater Books Survives Fire
As a result of a fire occurring in the premises adjacent to Breakwater
on June 12, our location at 100 Water Street is closed. We expect to announce a temporary location in the coming days. All employees can be reached at their regular e-mail addresses. To reach Breakwater by phone please call 709-722-6680 and your call will be directed to one of our employees.
Direct order fulfillment will resume once our temporary office is secured. In the meantime books are available for purchase through Downhome Distribution and at bookstores nationwide.
Downhome Distribution
(709) 726-5113
mailorder@downhomelife.com
www.shopdownhome.com
For more information please contact Breakwater:
(709) 722-6680
info@breakwaterbooks.com
www.breakwaterbooks.com

Markets & Contests

Theatre New Brunswick is pleased to introduce TNB New Voices, an exciting province-wide call for short plays. Submissions will be considered for production as a Main Stage Opening Act! Part of Theatre New Brunswick’s mission is to create extraordinary theatre while celebrating New Brunswick’s best theatre artists. TNB New Voices offers New Brunswick playwrights the opportunity to have New Brunswick plays professionally produced. Each play should be written for 2-4 actors, be 10-12 minutes in length, and be inspired by a true New Brunswick story.
NL-based publisher UNDERTOW PRESS Are now considering full-length manuscript proposals in the genres of Literary Fiction, Poetry and Creative Non-Fiction. Feel free to visit www.caughtintheundertow.com for more information.
THE BEACON SOCIAL JUSTICE LITERARY SOCIETY is launching a new award for an unpublished novel, The Beacon Award for Social Justice Literature. The purpose of the award is “to stimulate the creation, publication and dissemination of new works of fiction designed to ignite readers’ passion for and understanding of social justice.” The entry deadline is February 1, 2011. Ten finalists will be announced on May 1 and their manuscripts given to a jury of three distinguished writers, critics and teachers involved in social justice literature. The jury’s selection will be announced in October, 2011. The prize is $1000 and publication by Roseway Publishing in the fall of 2012. The Society particularly wants to encourage writers from marginalized groups. Writers wishing to enter a manuscript can get the submission form and more information by emailing the Society at info@beaconaward.ca. Website is: www.beaconaward.ca.
THE MALAHAT REVIEW OPEN SEASON AWARDS, Deadline: November 1, 2010. $1000 Prize in each of three categories Submit work in any of our three marquee genres: poetry, short fiction, or creative non-fiction. Poetry: up to three poems per entry (max. 100 lines each); Short Fiction and Creative Non-Fiction: one piece (max 2500 words). Fees: $35 For more information: http://www.malahatreview.ca/. Enquiries: malahat@uvic.ca
RIDDLE FENCE is currently accepting submissions for its seventh issue. We are considering previously unpublished submissions of fiction, creative non-fiction, and for the first time, artwork. Please note: We are not accepting unsolicited submissions of poetry for this issue; we will resume accepting poetry when we place our call for submissions for issue eight. Please send no more than 1 piece of prose (max. 5,000 words) OR 3 pieces of artwork. Payment is $30 per printed page of text and $30 per image (plus a copy of the issue in which your work appears) for first Canadian serial rights. The deadline for submissions is September 1, 2010. E-mail submissions can be sent to the genre appropriate email address below. Please submit text as Word or Rich Text Format attachments and include it in the body of your email; please send images as JPEGs (minimum 300 dpi): fiction@riddlefence.com; non-fiction@riddlefence.com; artwork@riddlefence.com Submissions may also be made by regular post (please include a self-addressed stamped envelope or sufficient IRC postage in the case of submissions from outside Canada): Riddle Fence, PO Box 7092, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3Y3. For information, contact info@riddlefence.com.
THE CAPE BRETON STAGE COMPANY welcomes submissions from playwrights with any level of experience. Original, preferably unproduced, scripts by Atlantic Canadian playwrights. We will consider plays with any tone or subject matter. We tend to favour plays with small casts and straightforward production requirements. You may submit a script in progress, but do not send proposals, summaries, or excerpts; we require a complete draft to evaluate your submission properly. As a co-operative, we exercise collective artistic input with all our projects. Playwrights should bear this artistic spirit in mind, and should be open to having CBSC artists contribute to script development after their plays have been selected for production, although playwrights will retain final authority over their scripts. Submissions may be emailed (Word or PDF format preferred) to info@capestage.ca. Please include “Script Search” in your email’s subject heading.You may also mail your script to the following address. If you want your script returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Cape Breton Stage Company, 142 Cabot Street, Sydney, Nova Scotia, B1P 4E1. Please include your contact info, along with a brief bio (100 words) If your script is still in progress, you may also include a description of your plans for future development.
THE INTERNATIONAL 3-DAY NOVEL CONTEST: September 4-6. The goal: write a complete novel in only 72 hours. The reward: a heck of a creative experience and one coffee-stained, tear-tinged, rule-breaking first draft. And for the winning author, publication. (Plus a 2nd Prize of $500 and a 3rd Prize of $100.) Born in Canada in 1977, it has since become a notorious rite-of-passage for writers everywhere. Every Labour Day weekend; Fee: $50; Pre-register at http://www.3daynovel.com/.
CV2 ANNOUNCES THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY POETRY CONTEST. To celebrate this remarkable anniversary, we have created the 35th Anniversary Poetry Contest. 1st Prize: $500.00 + paid publication; 2nd Prize: $300.00 + paid publication; 3rd Prize: $150.00 + paid publication. Two honourable mentions will receive paid publication. Entry fee of $24.00 per entry. Each entry may contain up to 4 poems and includes a 1-year subscription, renewal or gift subscription to CV2. The catch is that each poem must incorporate “35” somehow or somewhere in the submission. It could be that a poem is 35 lines or 35 stanzas or it could be that the number “35” is literally written out in the poem or title. If the use of “35” is not immediately obvious (ie: each line is thirty-five words in length) please include a note in the entry explaining how you have used the requisite number. Although we will award no extra points for being tricky, we are definitely open to innovation. Entry fees can be paid by cheque, money order or credit card online through PayPal. The fee is $24.00 per entry and includes a 1 year subscription to CV2. Deadline: November 1, 2010. Judging is blind so include complete contact information on a separate sheet of paper: name, address, phone number and email address if you have one. Poems may not exceed 100 lines. Manuscripts must be typed on 8.5 X 11 sheets of paper; for multi-page poems, include title and page number on each page. Please do not staple entries, use a paper clip instead.Only paper submissions by post will be accepted. Entries will not be returned, but if you wish to be informed of the results please include a SASE or current email address. You may enter as often as you like, though only your first two entries will be eligible for subscriptions. Winning selections will be published in CV2 volume 33 no. 3, Winter 2011. Each piece must be original, unpublished and not sent elsewhere for publication or broadcast. Any piece found to have been simultaneously submitted to, or published by any means of publication including on the World Wide Web, broadcast, or another contest will be immediately disqualified.
THE CBC LITERARY AWARDS Competition is now open. Categories include creative non-fiction (2000-2500 words), poetry (1000-2000 words), and short fiction (2000-2500 words). The compeitition’s deadline is November 1, 2010. Entry Fee is $25. All work can be submitted by either email (through their online registration form) or by regular post. See: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/literaryawards/
Their online registration form can be found at:
http://prixlitterairesformulaire.radio-canada.ca/en
Extensive Rules and Regulations can be found at:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/literaryawards/about/rules/
For more markets, see
www.placesforwriters.com

Fiction Contest Renewed
Building on the success of its initial contest last year, Enfield & Wizenty is once again offering a $5,000 advance for best novel or short story collection by a Canadian author. Last year’s winner,
Michelle Berry, will see her novel This Book Will Not Save Your Life released this September alongside two new titles by contest finalists Richard Cumyn and Jeff Bursey. E & W will be assessing fiction submissions from now until December 1, 2010. For further information visit enfieldandwizenty.ca. Please submit sample and query letter to:
Enfield & Wizenty
Maurice Mierau, Associate Editor
345-955 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3G 0P9
OR by email to

Writers’ Trust of Canada is now accepting applications for the BERTON HOUSE WRITERS’ RETREAT program. Four residency
positions are available covering the period between July 2011 and June 2012. Each residency lasts three months. Writers-
in-residence are housed in Pierre Berton’s childhood home in Dawson City, Yukon. They receive a $6,000 honorarium and their housing and travel costs are covered. The residency provides a unique opportunity for writers to advance their writing careers.
Further information about Berton House and the program, including
application forms, is available at bertonhouse.ca.

UNPUBLISHED AUTHORS COMPETITION
KINGLAKE PUBLISHING LTD.
Genuine, no fee competition for unpublished authors. One winner every month for twelve months. A different genre every month. A contract and royalties for each winner. Full promotion and marketing
of winning books.
Entry form and full details on website, www.kinglakepublishing.co.uk or jennifer.jackson@kinglakepublishing.co.uk

ANSWERING THE CALL VII retreat is coming up October 22, 23 and 24, 2010 at the Villa Madonna in Renforth. The cost is $168.00 which includes room and board. It’s an opportunity to get away from the interruptions of everyday life to dig into a body of creative work or dream up a new one. There are no scheduled workshops, no meals to cook, no obligations to fulfill; in short, no excuses not to write! See http://creativespiritualretreat.blogspot.com for more info or contact Kathy-Diane Leveille at shadowsfall@kathy-dianeleveille.com.

The Malahat ReviewCreative Non-Fiction Prize 2010 Be Creative,Yet Real!Canada’s premier literary magazine,invites entries from everywhere to itscreative non-fiction contest. Take achance and write from both sides ofyour brain. Submit a personal essay, amemoir, literary journalism, orsomething so cutting edge no one’sthought of it yet.Prize: $1000Deadline: August 1, 2010For complete guidelines go to: malahatreview.caInquiries:malahat@uvic.caThe Malahat ReviewDefining excellent writing since 1967

For the latest in the Atlantic Canadian Literary Scene, check out saltyink.com

WFNB OFFERS MANUSCRIPT EVALUATION SERVICES
WFNB offers manuscript evaluation service to our membership. When contacted, we will attempt to connect the writer seeking evaluation with an appropriate professional writer within our database.
At the beginning of each fiscal year, WFNB sets aside funds for this program. Once the funds are spent we will not be able to match funds (though we will still help match up writer and evaluator).
Here are some of the programs basic rules:
* Provided there is sufficient funding, WFNB agrees to match funds, up to $200, that the writer will pay the evaluator.
The writer must be a WFNB member whose dues are paid. In cases of financial difficulty, WFNB may choose to waive the writer’s requirement of providing funds and will still provide up to $200. However, since this is less compensation for the evaluator, fewer services may be provided.
* Evaluators will be chosen from professional writers who are members of the WFNB’s compiled list.
* Both the writer and the evaluator must sign forms stating that work was presented and critiqued upon.
* The evaluator may choose not to continue with the project, but will not receive funding via WFNB.
* All travel costs and postage costs are the responsibility of the two parties involved, not of the WFNB.
For more information, contact executive director Lee Thompson.
MEMBER WEB PAGES
We will be adding member pages to our website as soon as time allows. Each page will feature a photo (if provided),
a short biography, interests, publications and contact information. Forms will go out soon by email (or by post for those without email).

Not a member of the WFNB? Check out www.wfnb.ca to see what we can offer you!

2010-07-16T23:39:00.002-03:00

A wonderful, month-long event is taking place in Sackville - Festival by Marsh. Friday, July 24th is WritersFest and will feature Beth Powning, Lisa Moore and many others. See schedule below.

Saturday, July 24 WritersFest & Celebrating Sackville DayUnless otherwise noted, WritersFest Day events will be held at Boultenhouse Heritage Centre

9a.m. Breakfast with local young writers reading and Kate Inglis reading from her work. Also workshops for young writers. At Cranewood. Workshops are FREE.

10:30a.m. An Apostle for the Arts - Oscar Wilde in Canada reading by Dr. Kevin O'Brien and play The Importance of the House Beautiful - Oscar Wilde in Moncton.

11:45a.m. Writer's Workshop with Beth PowningWorkshops are FREE.

1p.m. Dr. Charlie Scobie reads2p.m. Much Ado About Nothing

4:30p.m. Dining with Writers At Cranewood featuring Writers Day authors. $12 See Ticket Details.

6p.m. Beth Powning reads. Also Celebrating Sackville.

7p.m. Lisa Moore reads.8p.m. Much Ado About Nothing

10:00p.m. Closing reception with live music by Landon Braverman and reading by Poet-in-Residence Kenzie Reid, at Joey's Bar.For more information on Festival by the Marsh, see: http://www.festivalbythemarsh.ca/eventsSchedule.htmlLee ThompsonExecutive DirectorWriters' Federation of New BrunswickP.O. Box 306, Moncton, NB E1C 8L4506-459-7228wfnb@nb.aibn.com http://www.wfnb.ca/

Tale Spin Writers Camp For Kids

2010-06-24T23:54:00.003-03:00

Tale Spin, Active Writing and Extreme Art Camp!

Children's author Jennifer McGrath Kent and illustrator Jennifer Aikman-Smith are teaming up to offer a comprehensive and creative week designed to hone the emerging talents of young writers and illustrators ages 10 - 13. Participants will explore styles and techniques to help them produce their own book by the end of the week as well as taking part in a wide range of games and activities.

Tale Spin will take place July 26 - 30th at Magnetic Hill School in Moncton.

Camp begins each morning at 9 am and ends at 4 pm. Cost of the camp is $150.00, including a $25 non-refundable deposit.

For more information, such as what you need to bring, and what you don’t, or to register your child, please e-mail either Jennifer at talespin@live.com or call Jennifer Aikman-Smith at 506 852-9017 or Jennifer McGrath Kent at 506 386-1555.

Maritime Writers' Workshop

2010-06-23T22:01:00.002-03:00

Maritime Writers' Workshops

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned professional writer - the Maritime
Writers' Workshops is for you! Since 1975, the Maritime Writers' Workshops
(MWW) has delivered high caliber instruction to those seeking an intensive
workshop experience. Over those 30 plus years, hundreds of people have
participated, made new friends, and learned critical skills on the
development of their writing - all in a comfortable and inviting
atmosphere..So go ahead, flex your writing muscles, and join us at the MWW!

The MWW offers participants the opportunity to pick and choose from a series
of one-day workshops, all in a unique and supportive community of writers
who share a commitment to excellence.

There are one-day workshops in everything from "How to Get Started" to Life
Writing, and fiction and screen writing to "How to Get Published".

Workshop Schedule
Monday, July 5 - Getting Started - Jo-Anne Elder
Tuesday, July 6 - Unleashing the Splendor Within: An Adventure in Life
Writing (CCOM 4061) - Eve Mills Nash
Wednesday, July 7 - Creativity to Craft: A First Fiction Workshop - Carla
Gunn
Thursday, July 8 - Screen Writing - Lex Gigeroff
Friday, July 9 - How to Get Published (CCOM 1913) - Biff Mitchell

Time: All workshops run from 9 am to 4 pm (not including lunch).
Location: McCord Hall, 7 Bailey Drive, UNB Campus

Cost: $115 per workshop (+ Hst) or $460 for the week (5 workshops for the
price of 4!)

For more information: Call Alison Howells at 452-6360 or email
ahowells@unb.ca.
Register now at 453-4646!

See: http://www.cel.unb.ca/pers_cult/writers/index.php

Cape Breton Stage Company Seeking Scripts

2010-06-23T21:56:00.002-03:00

CAPE BRETON STAGE COMPANY SEEKING SCRIPTS
For production in their 2010/11 season

A non-profit theatre co-op, The Cape Breton Stage Company has been producing
original, local work in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality since 2007.
This season, we will produce three plays in downtown Sydney, Nova Scotia. We
welcome submissions from playwrights with any level of experience.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:
Original, preferably unproduced, scripts by Atlantic Canadian playwrights.
We will consider plays with any tone or subject matter. We tend to favour
plays with small casts and straightforward production requirements.

You may submit a script in progress, but do not send proposals, summaries,
or excerpts; we require a complete draft to evaluate your submission
properly.

As a co-operative, we exercise collective artistic input with all our
projects. Playwrights should bear this artistic spirit in mind, and should
be open to having CBSC artists contribute to script development after their
plays have been selected for production, although playwrights will retain
final authority over their scripts.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Submissions may be emailed (Word or PDF format preferred) to
info@capestage.ca. Please include "Script Search" in your email's subject
heading.
You may also mail your script to the following address. If you want your
script returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Cape Breton Stage Company
142 Cabot Street
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Canada
B1P 4E1

Please include your contact info, along with a brief bio (100 words). If
your script is still in progress, you may also include a description of your
plans for future development.

Reader's Digest is now actively seeking story pitches from Canadian
freelancers. Contact Zach Wells - zachwells@gmail.com - with queries and/or
pitches.

http://canadianmags.blogspot.com/2010/06/readers-digest-actively-recruiting.html

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: July 30, 2010.

Atlantic Author Day Coming Soon

2010-06-23T21:45:00.002-03:00

(Halifax, NS) Atlantic Author Day Coming Soon to a Bookstore Near You!

On Saturday, June 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. more than 40 Atlantic Canadian writers will be signing books at participating stores across the region. Come out and meet your favourite storytellers and pick up some great books for summer reading!

Presented by Atlantic Books Today/Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association (APMA), Atlantic Author Day features writers included in this year's Summer Reading Guide, available at all book retailers in Atlantic Canada. APMA Executive Director Peggy Walt commented, "Atlantic Author Day is a time to celebrate our home-grown authors. By joining the celebrations at your local bookstore, you will be supporting our local book community."

There are 124 featured books in this year's Summer Reading Guide, representing 28 different Canadian publishers. The books range from fiction, cookbooks, kids', mystery, history, guidebooks, art and the list goes on - something for every reader's summer enjoyment. This year's promotion once again features a chance to win a beautiful basket of books - fill out a ballot from the Guide at your local bookstore and you could win. The contest closes Friday, September 10 and one basket will be awarded per province.

For more information and times and locations of author signing, please visit www.atlanticpublishers.ca and click on the links for Nova Scotia or the PEI, New Brunswick and Newfoundland link. The website serves as a hub for publishing and books in Atlantic Canada. You can also check out Atlantic Books Today on Facebook and Twitter.

Please note that all schedules are subject to change and will be updated until June 26.

For Broadcast Use:

Celebrate Atlantic Author Day in your community - this free event is taking place in bookstores across the region on Saturday, June 26 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Come out and meet your favorite authors! For a complete schedule of author signings in your community, go to www.atlanticpublishers.ca and click on the links for Nova Scotia or the PEI/New Brunswick/Newfoundland link. Pick up your free copy of the Summer Reading Guide in your local bookstore and enter a contest to win a beautiful basket of books!

For more information/interviews: Heidi Hallett (902) 488-5872 heidi@wordbird.ca

Peggy Walt
Cultural Affairs Consulting & Promotion
1240 Edward Street
Halifax, NS Canada B3H 3H4
Telephone/Fax: (902) 422-5403
Cell: (902) 476-1096
E-mail: pwalt@eastlink.ca
Music Nova Scotia nominee 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009: Publicist of the Year

Corn Hill Bicycle Festival...July 24th

2010-06-15T17:50:00.005-03:00

A new bike festival is coming to Southern New Brunswick, on July 24th the Corn Hill Bicycle Festival (rain-date July 25th) will be held in the community of Corn Hill just a short drive from Peticodiac.
The daylong festival is designed to provide a great introduction to Corn Hill’s cycling routes with a number of long and short-guided rides and a series of workshops that will cover basic bicycle mechanics, road safety, touring, and nutrition. The festival is open to everyone from casual riders, avid cyclist, and yes even those of us who have a bicycle collecting dust in the garage. Its the perfect opportunity to bring your family out for a enjoyable day of riding, learning about cycling, and enjoying the country.
The day event will also celebrate the creation of a local bicycle map and be a way to spread awareness of Corn Hill's fantastic cycling landscape. We've got wide open views, rolling hills, low traffic, and a Cafe...what more could you ask for?
Registration opens June 21st and closes July 19th.
More details coming soon!
Check us out on the web at www.bicyclecornhill.wordpress.com and join us on Facebook.
Contact Joanna and Graham at bicyclecornhill@gmail.com if you have any questions or would be interested in volunteering for the day.

Salisbury Girl Graduates From Mount Allison

2010-06-15T17:31:00.006-03:00

Sarah Elizabeth Irving of Salisbury graduated from Mount Allison University on May 17. Shown here is her proud grandfather, Ronald Killam, and her mother Cindy Killam. Sarah attended JMA Armstrong High as did her parents and grandparents before her. Sarah graduated on the honor roll from high school in 2006.
Now four years later she has graduated with a BA (Honours in International Relations) from Mount Allison University. During her four years of study Sarah wrote for the student newspaper and was the senior residence assistant of Hunton House. Sarah went on an exchange program to Merida, Yucatan, & Mexico. She has been very active with the community of international students at the University, being a conversation partner for Japanesse students studying english as well as various inter-cultural activities. Sarah had a wonderful experience when she worked at Struts Gallery during the last two summers.
Soon she will be moving to Montreal to take a five week course in french called “Explore” in Chicoutimi, and then hopefully work with an affiliated program called “Odyseey” in Quebec. This program puts anglophone Teacher’s Assistants into francophone classes where english is being taught in order to make english more fun, interactive and interesting for the students. This same program happens in reverse. On May 17th. 2010 there were 318 students graduating from the Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick. At 9:30a.m. in the Marjorie Young Bell Convocation Hall, the graduation ceremony included students from the Science and Commerce program and at 2:30p.m. students from the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Music graduated.
Principal and Vice-Chancellor Robert Campbell preformed the opening of Convocation. CBC’s chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge was installed as the new chancellor and then later addressed the second group of graduates.
Throughout the day there were six ‘Citations For Honorary Doctorate of Laws’ presented. The first was to the Hon. Graydon Nicholas, New Brunswick’s 30th Lieutenant-Governor. Grayton has had many firsts: the first Aboriginal law graduate in Atlantic Canada; the first Aboriginal provincial court judge in the Maritimes; and New Brunswick’s first Aboriginal Lieutenant-Governor.
The second was Heather Reisman who is from Montreal and educated at McGill University. In 2009 the Financial Times of London chose her as one of the top 50 businesswomen in the world. Ms. Reisman is the founder and CEO of Indigo Books & Music Inc., which is Canada’s largest book and gift retailer with 250 stores nationwide.
David Sobey from Halifax Nova Scotia was the third to receive the Citation for Honorary Doctorate of Law. Mr. Sobey’s journey has taken him from managing a single store in Halifax to transforming Sobeys into one of the most successful Canadian corporations ever. He now owns and operates more than 1,300 grocery stores nationwide. He is Chancellor of Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, and is a member of the Order of Canada.
In the afternoon ceremonies, Rev. Brent Hawkes was the fourth to receive the Honorary Doctorate of Law. His caring, courageous and committed effort to bring justice for all members of the gay and lesbian community has not gone unnoticed. Rev. Hawkes is a native of Bath, New Brunswick and a graduate of Mount Allison as well as Trinity College, and the University of Toronto. He has been senior pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church in Toronto for 30 years.
The fifth recipient was Dr. Samantha Nutt. Ms. Nutt graduated from McMaster University and earned an MSc with distinction from London University. Ms. Nutt holds a Fellowship in Community Medicine from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and is further certified by the College of Family Practice.
Samantha has worked in some of the world’s most turbulent war zones for over 15 years. Since the age of 24, she has been a volunteer and medical doctor with the United Nations and various non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) in flash points such as Darfur, Iraq, Afghanistan, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Burundi, northern Uganda, Ethiopia and the Thai-Burmese border.
She has been widely recognized for her work in Canada and around the world. Ms. Nutt is a recipient of the Order of Ontario and is one of Canada’s top 40 under 40, as featured in The Globe and Mail. Samantha has been hailed as one of 200 Young Global Leaders by the World Economic Forum; on of “Canada’s Five Leading Activists” by Time magazine; and is one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women. The final recipient of the day was J.J. (Jim) Keith. Mr. Keith was a professional educator, a graduate of Bishop’s University, and later McGill. He pursued a distinguished teaching and school administration career and assumed leadership positions with school districts in Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. His career culminated as Superintendent of Schools from the Kings County Amalgamated School Board in Nova Scotia, President of the Nova Scotia School Administrators’ Association and President of the Canadian Association of School Administrators.
Jim has been notably active in various voluntary associations, many centred on the health, education, and welfare of young people in particular.
Members of the Mount Allison and Sackville communities best remember Mr. Keith for his steadfast service from 1987 to 2004, and as a member of the Board of Regents at Mount Allison. He routinely sought to engage faculty, staff and students in direct and honest conversation concerning conditions on campus and often-difficult issues. This was arguably his greatest service to the institution.
Chancellor Mansbridge, in his address to the 2010 graduating class of Mount Allison University, encouraged the new graduates to be quiet hero’s, to believe in themselves, believe in their country and to give something back. He stressed the importance of voting, not just at the Provincial or Federal level, but added the importance of voting at the municipal levels as well. Mansbridge challenged the graduates to take up worthy causes and to fight injustice, he said, “Because you can’t correct every injustice doesn’t mean you should fight none. Pick your spots, but please pick something.” Later Mr. Mansbridge spoke with graduates as he handed him or her their diploma.

Crazy For Crafting Stories

2010-06-02T23:58:00.000-03:00

Are you crazy about crafting stories? Then you'll enjoy this full-day creative writing workshop delivered in the heart of beautiful rural Albert County.

Nature of Story: Crafting your Life Story - This workshop pairs creativity with process. Together, we will explore the craft of turning life events into interesting stories. You will work a rough draft through to a polished essay or vignette, while learning about structure, narrative arc and self-editing. For more details, visit www.natureofwords.ca

When: Saturday, June 19, 2010.

Where: Workshop will be held at the lovely Florentine Manor, Harvey, Alb. Co., NB.

Price: $115 includes lunch, materials and HST.

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How better to cultivate wildness of language than spending time where wild things live and grow?

Write in Nature - When we spend time in nature, we do so quietly, patiently and openly, with hopes of receiving understanding, clarity and a deeper connection to place. Leave structure and rules at home and join me for a day of writing with nature as our inspiration. You'll learn to marry observation with imagination, using techniques that easily transfer to any genre. This workshop is about forgetting self and listening to the voice of nature. You'll learn to see your surroundings with fresh perspective. For more details, visit www.natureofwords.ca

When: Saturday, July 17, 2010

Where: Travel to the Fundy Trail Parkway in beautiful St. Martins, NB, along the Bay of Fundy coast. We will meet at the Interpretive Centre and hike along the Big Salmon River with an interpretive guide to reach the secluded Hearst Lodge. Workshop participants must be physically fit for a 1-2 hour relaxed hike of moderate difficulty.

Price: $125 includes guide, lunch and HST. You are responsible for your entry permit to the park.

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About Nature of Words

Nature of Words creative writing workshops are as much about creating a memory, as they are about learning. In small, intimate gatherings (no crowds and fluorescent lights for us!) we venture outside the structured walls of a classroom and into the heart of nature, where true creativity resides. Venues may be rural accommodations, community halls, heritage buildings or other intriguing places with access to beautiful outdoor spaces. For registration or for information on other workshops, visit www.natureofwords.ca.

PLEASE NOTE: Workshop registrations are limited to 12 participants. Pre-registration and payment required in advance. Avoid disappointment and register today!

Deborah Carr
Wordsmith & Writing Coach

506.734.2367
www.natureofwords.ca
www.deborahcarr.ca

Blog: http://deborahcarr.blogspot.com

Writers Full Weekend...July 9

2010-06-02T23:56:00.000-03:00

To All Atlantic Region Writers: A Weekend Full of Workshops

The Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC), Atlantic Region, is
excited to offer Communicating for Cash, a weekend workshop filled with
sessions to show you how to make money from your writing and lots of
opportunities to network and socialize with other professional writers.

Workshop topics and leaders are Getting Work with the Federal Government
with Marion Soubliere, Marketing Your Freelance Writing Services Using
Traditional and Social Media Marketing Tools and Optimizing Your Website for
the Best Possible Search Engine Results with freelance writer and trainer
Paul Lima, Getting Published Using Online Print-On-Demand with award winning
author, speaker and publisher Julie V. Watson, Whose Story is it Anyway?
with author Johanna Bertin and A Package with Punch: How to Make a
Successful Non-fiction Submission with Goose Lane Editions managing editor
Akou Connell. See the attached brochure for more information about these
informative sessions as well as info on accommodation.

Communicating for Cash takes place July 9 to 11 at Mount Allison University
in Sackville, NB. Register before June 10 and PWAC and CFU members pay only
$150 (non-members pay $175). The fee includes three half day workshops (out
of six), two breakfasts, two lunches and coffee breaks. After June 10 the
registration fee goes up to $175 for PWAC and CFU members and $225 for
non-members.

Anyone interested in more information, or who would like to register, can
visit http://pwacatlantic.ca/. Be sure to join our facebook page
Communicating for Cash PWAC Atlantic Writers Workshop for the latest
updates.

Trudy A. Kelly Forsythe

Freelance Writing Services

www.trudykellyforsythe.com

Professional Member of Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC)
(www.pwac.ca)

Member of Cassell Network of Writers (CNW) (www.writers-editors.com)

Member Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) (www.cfib.ca)

Contact info:

e-mail: info@trudykellyforsythe.com

phone: 506-832-0338

fax: 506-832-5480

Get ready to get published!

2010-04-19T19:46:00.002-03:00

Moncton seminar will help writers become authors

Moncton (NB) March 20, 2010 - Have you ever dreamed of becoming a published author? Then plan to attend the “How to Get Published” seminar on Friday, April 23 in Moncton during the Frye Festival. The seminar will cover everything from getting started to getting an agent, from getting your short pieces published to finding a book publisher, from writing a query letter to writing what the publishers want.

Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He teachers creative writing at Ryerson University and George Brown College and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo. But his proudest boast is that he’s helped many of his students to get their first book published and to launch their careers as authors.

As a special option, participants are invited to bring a draft of a query letter they might use to interest an agent or publisher in their book.

The seminar will run from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and will be held at the City Grill, 2nd floor, 130 Westmorland Street.The fee is $55 for the general public, or $50 for Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) members. Participants are asked to register online for the seminar, and all Frye Festival events, through the Moncton Coliseum box office at tickets.moncton.ca.

The seminar is sponsored by Enterprise Greater Moncton, with the collaboration of PWAC’s Moncton Chapter and the Frye Festival. PWAC’s Moncton Chapter is part of a non-profit support network that represents the interests of 600 writers in Canada’s magazine and newspaper industries. To learn more about the Moncton Chapter, its members and events visit www.monctonwriters.ca.

The Frye Festival brings the best local, national and international authors, poets, playwrights, graphic novelists, spoken word artists and storytellers to Moncton, New Brunswick for a bilingual celebration of words. This year, the festival runs April 19 to 25. Visit www.frye.ca.

Enterprise Greater Moncton is the leading community economic development agency for the cities of Dieppe, Moncton and the Town of Riverview, a point of contact for new and existing businesses. Visit http://www.greatermoncton.org/.

Professional Writers Association of Canada – Moncton Chapter Presents

2010-04-18T22:09:00.002-03:00

Professional Writers Association of Canada – Moncton Chapter Presents:
Reveille - an open-mic event to share stories, songs, poems from youth

Moncton (NB) – Question: What do you get when you ask adults to read no-holds-barred tales from their youth? Answer: Reveille - a fun-filled night that gives a forum to our early writings, as embarrassing as they may be. This evening of literary hilarity returns to the Frye Festival by popular demand on Wednesday, April 21.

Reveille is an event where members of the audience and special guests, including local celebrities and Frye Festival authors, share "works" they wrote as children and teenagers (e.g. angst-filled poetry,sorrowful diary entries, sappy songs) in an open mic format. The more cringe-worthy, the better! The event gets underway at 7 p.m. at the Moncton Press Club.

A presentation of the Professional Writers Association of Canada – Moncton Chapter, Reveille’s goal is to give voice to the childhood writer. The event will be emceed by two Chapter members: Brian Cormier, public relations specialist and newspaper columnist and Lana Hansen, communications consultant.

Anyone can participate and admission is free. Spectators should come prepared to groan, laugh and cheer.

To date, four Frye Festival authors have volunteered to step up to the microphone and read writings from their childhood: Beth Powning, Jacob Berkowitz, Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer and Kay Stone. (Biographies follow)

For more information contact: Rayanne Brennan, VP, Professional Writers Association of Canada, Moncton Chapter at rayanneb@rogers.com or visit www.monctonwriters.ca.

Media Contact:

Rayanne Brennan

Vice President, PWAC Moncton Chapter

(506) 961-3633

rayanneb@rogers.com

About the Authors

The following Frye Festival authors have confirmed their participation in Reveille:

Beth Powning
Beth Powning's bestselling novel The Hatbox Letters was long-listed for the IMPAC Dublin Award, and her memoir, Edge Seasons was a Globe and Mail Best Book. Shadow Child and Seeds of Another Summer were published in the US and Canada. Her latest novel is The Sea Captain’s Wife (Random House). She lives in New Brunswick.

Jacob Berkowitz
Jacob Berkowitz is an author and performer who loves turning science into stories. He’s written books about fossil poop and aliens. He’s working on a book about how to smell better. He lives with wife Rosemary, and kids Max and Francesca in the Ottawa-Valley town of Almonte, ON.

Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer
Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer is the author most recently of the novel Perfecting (Goose Lane Editions). She also wrote The Nettle Spinner (Amazon.ca/Book in Canada First Novel Award finalist) and Way Up (Danuta Gleed 3rd, ReLit finalist). She is formerly the magazine editor for Bookninja.com. She teaches creative writing at the University of Toronto and online through The New York Times.

Kay Stone
Kay Stone, a folklorist specializing in folk tales, has 30 years of experience as a storyteller. She has given performances and workshops in Canadian and U.S. schools, libraries, and universities; in art galleries and museums; and at storytelling festivals. Kay has written three academic books that include her original stories.

Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame April Newsletter

2010-04-13T21:12:00.003-03:00

MARITIME MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME INC.

5 HOOPER LANE, PETITCODIAC, NB, E4Z 0B4

TELEPHONE 506-756-2110, E-MAIL maritimemotorsports@gmail.com

APRIL NEWSLETTER
By: Winona McLean

APRIL – EASTER – SPRING

Are we ready for this? It means all the Car Clubs have to get to work for the summers’ schedules.
We can’t complain about the winter weather. It was a busy winter for us here at the Hall Of Fame. We had the Conference room rented several times. Had a Valentines Dance, and on April 3rd there was a wedding and reception.
The 4-wheeler draw was March 26; this was our 5th and our most successful to date. Kellie Cromwell from Quispamsis was the winner. Thank you each and everyone for selling tickets and buying tickets.

There are many things planned for the upcoming months.

The next big thing is April 10th at 7:30pm; it’s the Basement Players Inc. putting on a comedy play “Aunt Tillie Goes To Sea”. Admission for this is Adults $10.00 and Children 12 and under $5.00. Come and bring a friend.

May 8 is our Annual Meeting at 3:00pm.in Conference room B at the Hall Of Fame. It is very important that all members attend this meeting. This is also the election of officers. If you know anyone that can be elected to the Presidents position, please be thinking about it.

On May 22 the Hartland Band has booked for a dance. Tickets will be sold at the door and are $8.00 per person. They play Classic Country.

The Municipal Visitors Information Centre is to be open by June 1st. Any of the Motor Sports Clubs and Race Tracks may put their information here for the public and tourist to have access to. In order to have the Information Centre Question Mark we have to give up our small meeting room. We could also use some volunteers to help with this. We need volunteers to help with other areas. Anyone that can give us a few hours now and then please get in touch with us.

June 5th is our 5th Annual Petty AutoFest Motor Sports Exhibition, this year being held at the Maritime Motorsports Hall Of Fame. Vehicles will be displayed outside. The starting time is 9:00am. The admission charge is $5.00 per person. The Border Town Band is playing in the afternoon again this year. There is an added attraction this year, a Pig Roast. The pork will be served on a bun starting at 11:00am. The proceeds go to the Petitcodiac & District Figure Skating Club. All Motor Sport Vehicles are welcome. Bring your friends and vote for the Vehicle that you like the best; a plaque will be given to the one with the most votes in each division. A live auction is also planned. The winning ticket for the toolbox will be drawn as well.

November 6 is our 5th Annual Induction Ceremony being held at the New Brunswick Casino at Magnetic Hill. The ticket price is $80.00 per person. A block of room has been set-aside for anyone wishing to register at that Hotel. Rooms are $149.00 plus tax. These rooms need to be booked by October 6 for this rate. Inductees will be announced in September. Derek Oland, Executive Chairman for Moosehead Breweries Limited is scheduled to be Guest Speaker.

MEMBERSHIP notices were sent out in the December newsletter, thank you to the people that have already replied. However, there are still some that have not renewed at this time. Your support is very much needed to keep the building functioning.

They are starting to take out some vehicles and will bring in others. There have been a number of people through touring the Museum. We are looking forward to the summer. The picnic tables are already built, ready to be installed. Looking forward to having the landscaping done.

If any of you have any fund raising ideas PLEASE pass them on to us, and oh yes, help us make them work. We do need your help with your Maritime Motorsports Hall Of Fame.

If any one has knowledge of past involvement in motorsports, such as drivers and tracks, owners of tracks, wearing apparel, pictures and programs or anything else that we may use, please contact us. These are all things we need to present the history of Motor Sports.

Items that we still need: Projector screen to be mounted on the wall, a flip chart, mannequins, racks for information centre, another computer, printer, stands to display info at displays, scanner to do large articles and filing cabinets.

Have a great summer and you all come to visit the Hall Of Fame, tell your friends. Your support is very much needed.

Notes From A Small Place

2010-04-11T17:46:00.000-03:00

Just a reminder to anyone planning on attending the Dinner for Laubach Literacy, please purchase your tickets in advance so the cooks know how much to prepare.

Hope to see you there.

Grace Morris

The Greenwood Lodge
and
Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick
in support of
Laubach Literacy New Brunswick
is pleased to present

Mill Write: Notes From A Small Place
An evening of dinner, music and stories

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Guest speakers:

Lee Thompson

Peter Sawyer
Doug Underhill
David Weale

Following the guest speakers, there will be an open mic segment for members of the audience.
We ask that each presentation be no more that 5 minutes in duration.
Presenter’s name must be added to MC’s list.
Participants may make more than one submission.

Agenda:

Doors open at 4:00pm
Dinner served from 5:00pm to 6:00pm
Music by Voni Mann and Roy Gould
6:00pm: Lee Thompson, Peter Sawyer, Doug Underhill
Break: 6:30
6:45: David Weale followed by an open mic.
Break
More open mic if there is interest

Donations to:

Laubach Literacy New Brunswick appreciated.

Artists Workshops Available

2010-04-06T15:08:00.002-03:00

Michael Chesley Johnson is an oil and pastel painter working in the American Southwest, coastal Maine and the Canadian Maritimes. He also specialises in teaching small-size plein air workshops in oil and pastel. Elected a Master Pastellist by Pastel Artists Canada in 2008, he is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America and a juried member of Oil Painters of America.

Michael is the author of Backpacker Painting: Outdoors with Oil & Pastel and Through a Painter's Brush: A Year on Campobello Island. He writes regularly for The Pastel Journal and The Artist's Magazine. Michael lives and paints on Campobello Island, New Brunswick, and in Sedona, Arizona. He has a studio gallery on Campobello Island, Friar's Bay Studio Gallery, and is represented in the Southwest by Windrush Gallery

SPRING LETTERS FROM MICHAEL CHESLEY JOHNSON

27 March 2010 From Sedona, Arizona

Sad to say, but our last Paint Sedona students departed this weekend. It was a great winter with everyone turning out some really good work. Trina and I enjoyed making new friends and renewing ties with old ones.

But now it's time to move on. Once we close up the house, we will head up to Utah for two weeks to teach a workshop, and then on to more workshops in Illinois, Indiana and Vermont. We expect to reach Campobello Island around mid-May. We'll follow spring the whole way east, and by the time we reach Campobello, we'll need to mow the lawn for the first time. As much as I enjoyed painting the high desert, I can't wait to get back to the ocean again!

By the way, I'll be delivering some more work to my gallery in Sedona, Windrush Gallery before I leave. I'll post the images of the inventory on my website so you can see them, and if you are interested in purchasing them, you can contact the gallery directly: 800-323-0115 or info@windrushgallery.net. John and Linda will be happy to send you images, too.

I still have room in my summer Campobello Island workshops, but things are starting to heat up. Maybe it's the improved economy, but students are signing up early, so I urge you to not delay. Please go to my workshop page to learn more about Campobello and other upcoming workshops. For Campobello, if you bring a friend, I'll give you $50 off the $300 tuition fee. Following this letter is a complete list of my 2010 workshops.

Finally, don't forget that I have several publications out now. Two books, two DVDS, a portfolio and a calendar. You can find out more about these at my website at http://www.michaelchesleyjohnson.com/html/book.htm.

Michael Chesley Johnson MPAC PSA

www.MichaelChesleyJohnson.com

http://mchesleyjohnson.blogspot.com

Prepare for Plein Air: Not sure how to go about painting outside? Check out my online course! Great for beginners. Visit www.PrepareForPleinAir.com

2010 Workshops

April 29-May 1: ILLINOIS, Springfield - Pastel only. Join Michael for a three-day outdoor painting workshop in Abe Lincoln's hometown with the Illinois Prairie Pastel Society. Scenery includes the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. Price: $250 IPPS members, $300 non-members. Contact: George King, 217-483-9030, geezer222@comcast.net FULL - Waiting List

May 3-5: INDIANA, Valparaiso - Oil & Pastel. Join Michael for a three-day workshop at The Art Barn School of Art. Price: $275, includes lunch. Contact: ArtBarnIN@AOL.com, 219-462-9009, www.artbarnin.com

May 8-9: VERMONT, Montpelier - Pastel only. Sponsored by the Vermont Pastel Society. Price: $150. Contact: Michael Chesley Johnson, 575-267-2450, mcj@sff.net

June 23-25: Saint John, New Brunswick Oil & Pastel. Sponsored by the Saint John Arts Centre. Price: CA$180. Contact: Saint John Arts Centre, 506- 633-4870, www.saintjohnartscentre.com, info@saintjohnartscentre.com

June-mid-September: CAMPOBELLO ISLAND, New Brunswick, Canada - All media. Weeklong, half-day plein air workshops for all levels (students need some prior painting experience.) Paint half the day, explore the island the rest! $300/week. (Deal! Bring a friend, and get $50 off your tuition.) Contact: Michael Chesley Johnson, 575-267-2450, mcj@sff.net. See website for full list of weeks available - www.MichaelChesleyJohnson.com.

August 9-13: NEW BRUNSWICK, St Andrews - Oil & Pastel. Sponsored by Sunbury Shores Arts & Nature Centre. Price: TBA. Contact: Sunbury Shores Art & Nature Centre, www.sunburyshores.org, 506-529-3386, info@sunburyshores.org

September 22-25: NEW HAMPSHIRE, Goffstown - Oil or pastel. NOTE: This is a Wednesday-Saturday, 4-day workshop. Price: $290 members. Contact: New Hampshire Plein Air, Sharon Allen at msjallen@comcast.net.

September 27-October 1: MAINE, Acadia National Park. Oil or pastel. Michael's sixth year teaching in Acadia for the Acadia Workshop Center! Price: $550. Contact: Gail Ribas, 207-460-4119, info@acadiaworkshopcenter.com.

October 18--20: TEXAS, Waxahachie. Oil only. Join Michael for three days of autumn in northern Texas. Price: $225 ECAA members, $275 non-members. Includes lunch.. Contact: Ellis County Art Association, 972-937-3414, ecaa@sbcglobal.net, www.elliscountyart.net

November 29-December 3: TEXAS, New Braunfels. Oil or pastel. Join Michael for a week of painting in beautiful Texas "Hill Country." Price: $345. Contact: Mary McIntosh, 1863farmroad@sbcglobal.net, 830-625-0132

Upcoming Writers Workshop

2010-04-06T14:34:00.001-03:00

Celebrate Spring...Get Creative.

Have you tried journaling, but don't know what to write? Or maybe you've been journaling, but want to breathe new life into your entries ... Then this workshop's for you!

You don’t want to miss the Nature of Journaling workshop to be held at the beautiful Governor's Mansion on the Miramichi River.

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Nature of Journaling,
Miramichi, NB

Date: Saturday, April 24, 2010

Deadline for Registration: April 10

ONLY 4 DAYS TO REGISTER!

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Maybe you’re aching for a spa day for your beleaguered writing soul. In the relaxed and tranquil setting of An Artist’s Garden on the Bay of Fundy, you'll learn to let go and let the words flow.

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just getting started, Write from the Soul is a day of spontaneous creativity that you’ll always remember.

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Write from the Soul,
New Horton, NB
Date: Saturday, May 1, 2010
Deadline for Registration: April 17

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But Wait! That’s not all…there are more workshops coming…

June 19, 2010 Nature of Story, Florentine Manor, Harvey, Albert Co., NB
July 10, 2010 Write in Nature, Hearst Lodge, St. Martins, NB

For more information on any of these workshops, or to register, visit: http://www.natureofwords.ca/

Experience the power of place while exploring your creativity.

Deborah Carr
Writing Coach

506.734.2367
www.natureofwords.ca
www.deborahcarr.ca

Blog: http://deborahcarr.blogspot.com

Getting Published

2010-03-22T14:43:00.002-03:00

Get ready to get published!

Moncton seminar will help writers become authors

Moncton (NB) March 20, 2010 - Have you ever dreamed of becoming a published author? Then plan to attend the “How to Get Published” seminar on Friday, April 23 in Moncton during the Frye Festival. The seminar will cover everything from getting started to getting an agent, from getting your short pieces published to finding a book publisher, from writing a query letter to writing what the publishers want.

Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He teachers creative writing at Ryerson University and George Brown College and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo. But his proudest boast is that he’s helped many of his students to get their first book published and to launch their careers as authors.

As a special option, participants are invited to bring a draft of a query letter they might use to interest an agent or publisher in their book.

The seminar will run from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and will be held at the City Grill, 2nd floor, 130 Westmorland Street.The fee is $55 for the general public, or $50 for Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) members. Participants are asked to register online for the seminar, and all Frye Festival events, through the Moncton Coliseum box office at tickets.moncton.ca.

The seminar is sponsored by Enterprise Greater Moncton, with the collaboration of PWAC’s Moncton Chapter and the Frye Festival. PWAC’s Moncton Chapter is part of a non-profit support network that represents the interests of 600 writers in Canada’s magazine and newspaper industries. To learn more about the Moncton Chapter, its members and events visit www.monctonwriters.ca.

The Frye Festival brings the best local, national and international authors, poets, playwrights, graphic novelists, spoken word artists and storytellers to Moncton, New Brunswick for a bilingual celebration of words. This year, the festival runs April 19 to 25. Visit www.frye.ca.

Enterprise Greater Moncton is the leading community economic development agency for the cities of Dieppe, Moncton and the Town of Riverview, a point of contact for new and existing businesses. Visit http://www.greatermoncton.org/.

George Hamilton the IV in Salisbury

2009-09-08T10:13:00.011-03:00

Photos compliments of Larry Layton of Salisbury

On Friday, September 4th., the Salisbury Baptist Church was filled to capacity. Church goers and non church goers alike took a step back in time as they listened to George sing old songs like Abaline. George did, however, change a few words in the original song Abaline to suit the nature of his mission. "Women there don't treat you mean in Abaline, my Abaline," to...."Folks there don't treat you mean in Abaline, my Abaline."

The main purpose of George's special tour was to lend support for the Drop Inn Ministries. The founder, James Bell was also at the Salisbury Baptist Church lending in song and testimonial.

The Moncton branch of the Drop Inn Ministries is in the form of a charity shop, a type of thrift store with proceeds going to the cause. The first shop opened in Amhurst, N.S. and the Moncton branch opened this year at 84 Barker Street.

James Bell's motto for his Drop Inn Ministries is "Bringing Hope,Help & Healing to a Hurting Worls."

To learn more about James Bell and his mission go to www.dropinnministries.ca

Blueberries Quite By Accident

2009-08-24T10:51:00.026-03:00

The three generation Steeves family ( Raymond, Terry and Cory )became a Limited company in 2004 becoming the Elgin Hiview Farms Ltd., though they have been commercially harvesting blueberries since 1967.

Raymond Steeves of Midland, Elgin bought another farm in the Mapleton area to expand his existing farm in Midland. Here his plan was to grow more hay crops for his herd of beef cattle. Upon closer examining of the newly bought land he discovered fields of blueberries.

Raymond knew the Elgin area was rich in blueberry crops that at that time were being managed and harvested by Bridges Brothers of St. Stephen, N.B. and the Collin family from Nova Scotia. So knowing the potential Raymond began pruning and expanding his new fields. One of the daunting tasks were to pick the fields clear of rock as you can see in one of the photos here.

In the early years of blueberry production the Steeves family hired 75 to 80 local people to rack the berries. It was a family effort and Terry's wife Shirley looked after the cleaning machine's that were set up near the pickers. These machine had a high powered blower that when berries were dumped infront of them the majority of the leaves were blown away. This made the berries ready for the transport to the Oxford Frozen Foods in Nova Scotia.

As the pickers became older and young people less plentyful the Steeves family purchased, in 1988, their first blueberry harvester. These machines aided in making the industry more cost and time effective, as well as picking the blueberries cleaner. In order for these harvesters to work to their greatest potential fields had to be groomed even more. More stone had to be picked and weeds kept to a minimum.

The harvesters pick close to the ground, at a 90% effeciency rate, the berries are then carried by conveyer belt and dumped into 400 lb. capacity yellow boxes at the back of the harvester. These boxes, when filled, are hydrolicly dropped onto the field where Raymond picks them up and delivers them to the 5 ton transporting truck. The berries do not need to be cleaned in the fields, this is all done at the Oxford Plant. If there are no trucks before them the Elgin Hiview trucks can be in and out and back home in five hours.

At the end of each blueberry season the plants were burned off with oil burners, this made that crop dorment for the next year. Then flail mowers were introduced to cut the plants off after harvest, which was a more environmental and cost effective proceedure.

In order for the blueberry fields to have a good yeild they need good snow cover during the winter months. If there is too much rain in the spring the plants will need to be sprayed for blight and fungus. The young blossoming plants need to be cross pollinated by bees. This is another challenge for there's are not enough wild bees to take care of their 250 acres of blueberry fields.

Terry and Cory tend to their 200 hives both winter and summer. There are 1000's of bees to a hive and they need protected from the winter eliments. In late October the hives are transported; with their doors closed, and at night, closer to home. A little honey is left in each hive enough to feed the bees all winter, then an insulated bag put around each hive.

Very cold winters and very wet springs both effect the health of the hive. When these conditions occure an antibiotic is mixed with icing sugar and fed to the bees to keep them in optimon condition. Terry gets all his bee supplies from "Country Fields" on the Coverdale Road.

In early June the bees, once again with their door closed and at night, are taken back to the blueberry fields to pollonate the blueberry blossoms. Once they are all put in their place an electric fence is erected to assist in keeping bears out of the hives as they love the honey they know is inside.

The health of the bees is everything to the blueberry industry. When more bees are needed worker bees or drones are taken from one hive and placed in a new hive. Here they are introduced to a new queen who comes in her own little cage of honey. Once inside the hive she eats her way out of the cage. After a week Terry and Cory check to see that she has made her way out, and if not, they assist her. There is still a risk that the drones may not accept her. If that happens she is killed and the drones then begin feeding one special larva Royal Jelly to creat their own new queen.

Sometimes a hive may become over crowded. When this happens one queen and a group of drones swarm the hive to set up elsewhere. If they do not go too far and Terry and Cory can find them they place a new hive, with honey in it, beneath the swarm and they eventually go in. There is little danger of getting stung during this process because the drones are so intent on protecting their queen.

The threats to the health of blueberry fields are bears, not so much for how much they eat, rather their rolling around amoung the berry plants. Weather, too hot and too wet play havic with fruit bearing. During a hot dry summerthe Steeves boys irrigate the fields from a man made pond on their Mapleton Rd. fields. Snowmobiles and ATV's that go off the trails kill many plants. At one time they had a problem with birds eating the berries, this occured during the spraying for the Spruce Bug Worm. The spraying killed the birds natural food and they resorted to ripe blueberries, but once this spray program ended nature went back to normal and the birds once again fed on the worms.

Elgin Hiview Farms ownes blueberry fields on Gowland Mountain, Collier Mountain, Mapleton and in Elgin.

35th. Reunion of The First North River Gospel Singers

2009-08-21T01:02:00.010-03:00

Photo

Back Row: (L to R)

Phillip Thorne, Brent Bleakney, Darryl Duncan, Vernon Lounsbury, Gary Goddard, Stephen Eagles, Ron Eagles, Judy Wilson, Shirley (McKinnon) Wilson, Lynn (Goddard) Mosse (pianist)

Front Row: (L to R)

Joanne (Layton) Solomon, Krista (Lewis) Good, Ruth Lewis, Susan (Plume) Goddard, Brenda Wilson, Sandra (Lounsbury) Eagels, Sharon A. Layton-Pollock

In the forfront are the Reverend Larry and Lena Meade

Sunday, August 9th, 2009, a special day. It was a trip back through the paths of time, a reunion.

In 1974 the little country churches that belonged to The First North River Pastorate welcomed a new minister. The United Baptist churches within this pastorate were Lewis Mountain, Wheaton Settlement, Steeves Settlement, Kinnear Settlement and First North River.

The Reverend Larry Meade was new to his calling and new to his job as Pastor, and his choice of a wife, Lena, was suberb. The two of them landed on their pastorate running. Larry's carasmatic personallity and Lena's sweetness was a natural magnet to both young and old.

It wasn't long before Lena had gathered the young people and a few married ladies together and formed The Fists North River Gospel Singers. We were up and singing in time for evangelistic meetings, music tours to various churches in the Maritimes, a record making, church growth and many many good times.

So, needless to say, when we learned Larry and Lena were going to be back on the field for a special occassion many answered the call to re-unite in song. It was as though the years between 1974 and 2009 fadded away as we sang as Lena directed us and smiled at us just like it was yesterday.

Westmorland County Agricultural Fair 2009

2009-08-20T22:47:00.041-03:00

President Lee J. Burgess was glad to welcome all fair goers to the 2009 Fair. The theme of the fair and parade this year was "Back to Our Roots."

The theme was chosen to honour the man who had a dream for local people and farmers to show their summer's work from their gardens and fields. In 1967 Willian (Bill) Balzer went to Frederiction to obtain a Centennial Grant to begin a Petitcodiac Fair Exhibit Hall.

In 1971 Fred McKillop, who was then Mayor of Petitcodiac, Hilda MacPherson and Marjorie Dickie joined Bill and his dream. Another trip to Frederiction, this time to have the Fair incorporated as the Westmorland County Agric. Fair. This year to honour Bill and his dream, a sign was unveiled at the Exhibit Hall.

One of the first Directors, Herb Keirstead was chosen to be the Parade Marshall. Herb grew up in Havelock, N.B. and has lived in the Village of Petitcodiac since 1954. He and his wife Shirley raised three sons and one daughter, and their family has now grown to include five grandchildren. Herb is retired from Canada Cement Lafarge and throughout his life has always been very involved in his community. Herb was on the committee that started the first Westmorland County Agricultural Fair in 1967. He organized the light horse show for several years. He himself has been involved with horses and horse shows as a competitor, organizer, ringmaster, judge and inspector for the Canadian Sport Horse.

Keeping with the theme the queen of the 1971 Fair Cathy McQuinn, her two princesses Ruth Alward and Terri Sanford took front row and center in the parade.

Youth from the farming communities are important to the life and continuance of any Agricultural Fair. Rob Tait, of Salisbury, organized the Westmorland 4H Club and the Salisbury 4H Club in their efforts of displaying 4H projects they've been involved with throughout the year.

The Fair got off to a musical start on August 2nd. in the Village Arena. Here the crowd was treated to gospel music songs by a southern gospel male quartet who call themselves "From The Cross." The quartet consists of Bruce Johnson, Terry MacKinnon, Don Chapman and Ron Kammermann, all are from the Moncton area.

A fun night was the kids Pig Scramble, and all the little pigs were donated by the Metz Farm in Cannan.

Arbing Equipment from Sussex was a great help to the fair as they donated the use of some of their equipment in various venues.

Also, Bremner Farms of Lutes Mountain brought equipment to assist in many ways.

To end the fair was the show of fireworks. The Westmorland County Agricultural Fair partnered with Hinchey's Rides and Amusements, from Sydney, Nova Scotia, to make the night a memorable one.

Elgin Day Well Attended

2009-08-19T16:29:00.024-03:00

Starting from the top:
Photo 1. The flower arrangement that greeted you as you entered the Elgin Women's Institute Hall where the Elgin Eco Association had many displays.

Photo 2. Music just outside the WI Hall

Photo 3. Florence Crandall attends the door at the WI Hall.

Photo 4. Just some of the flower exhibits for all to enjoy.

Photo 5. Enviromental Farm display.

Photo 6. Petitcodiac River Keeper's display.

Photo 7. Fundy Model Forest display.

Photo 8. Just some of the many who partook of the afternoon BBQ.

Photo 9. Many families came together to enjoy the day and a good visit with each other. The Seely Family L to R Betty Lou Goutreau from Havelock, Shirley Steeves from Elgin, Ernest and Myra Seely, Haley and Cheryl Broad from Perth Andover.

Photo 10. Mona Carter proudly showing the quilt the Elgin Seniors are selling tickets on. The draw will take place later this fall.

Photo 11. Idella Lazer in the forground showing off some of the many scrap books depicting the rich history of Elgin.

Photo 12. Nancy Pollock invited anyone who wished to take a few stitches in the Elgin Seniors quilt.

ELGIN DAY, Saturday, August 8th was a community celebration that picked up on the timing and spirit of the former Elgin Blueberry Maplefest . . .

ELGIN DAY 2009 was truly a co-operative effort involving the Elgin Eco Association and Women’s Institute, the Elgin Volunteer Fire Department and Elgin Seniors Club. ELGIN DAY was centred at the Women’s Institute Hall, the historic hub of the community, located at 32 Gowland Mountain Road. There was activities at the ball field, Laurie Bishop Senior Centre, and round and about our lovely rural churches. Also the vanGeest Dairy Farm was open for touring. Visitors began their farm and church tour by picking up a map at the Senior Centre Open House.

All proceeds from ELGIN DAY go towards the Community Endowment Fund.

ELGIN DAY began at 10 a.m. Everyone enjoyed a variety of judged exhibits in the WI Hall and displays featuring a GREEN theme with emphasis on local nature photography, recycling, organic gardening and farming, eco groups such as Fundy Model Forest

NEW THIS YEAR! Photo Contest.
Bring your digital camera and take pictures of anything that strikes your fancy on ELGIN DAY. For $2, we’ll download the submitted pictures, run ’em on a loop for all to see then get everyone to vote for their favourites. Prize for fan favourite!

There was fun for everyone, from children’s activities, afternoon music, chain saw sculpture demo, kettle boil, old-fashioned races and contests, and restored antique tractors. A washers area was set up for anyone who wanted to play, plus outdoor vendors and produce market, noon hour barbecue, and those famous WI blueberry sundaes.

New this year was the Women’s Institute Roast Beef Supper and Old Time Music at The Hall.

Be Watching For Elgin's Upcoming Events

Elgin W.I. Fall Supper on Saturday, September 26th. Every year the Elgin Women’s Institute serves 300-400 delicious turkey suppers at its annual gathering. Long an Elgin tradition, the supper benefits from the efforts of many local volunteers under the experienced guidance of the W.I. People come from far and wide to enjoy the fall foliage and to catch up with friends, old and new.

6th Annual “Tour of Elgin” Mountain Bike Race on Saturday, October 3rd. Again meticulously planned by an experienced local committee (and sanctioned by Velo NB), this marquee event draws cyclists from around the Maritimes. The Eco Association believes the “Tour of Elgin” showcases what’s best about our area: its recreational potential and its friendly people!

Check out VeloNB’s home page and calendar of events: http://www.velo.nb.ca

Maritime Showers of Blessings?

2009-08-07T23:21:00.009-03:00

I know we have had allot of rain this summer, so I'd like to share a few photos a friend from Coquihalla, on Highway 5 near Larson's Hill British Columbia sent me, just to give you a different point of view.

Writer Carla Gunn Coming To Moncton

2009-06-16T16:38:00.002-03:00

June 18th.

Author Carla Gunn will be coming to Moncton, as part of the Attic Owl
Reading Series, to launch her debut novel Amphibian on Thursday, June
18. Gunn is a Fredericton writer, and while her book is a work of
fiction, its themes and plot address very real and timely
environmental concerns.

The child narrator of the book, Phineas Walsh, has an encyclopedic
knowledge of the natural world. He knows that if you wet a dog's food
with your saliva and he refuses to eat it then he's top dog, and he
knows that dolphins sleep half a brain at a time. And he's worried
sick about what humans are doing to the planet, and his mother is
worried sick about him. But shouldn't everyone be losing sleep over
the fact that a quarter of all earth's mammals are on the Red List of
Threatened Species? So, when a White's tree frog ends up in an
aquarium in his fourth-grade classroom, it's the last straw, and Phin
and his best friend, Bird, are spurred to action.

Check out this recent National Post interview with Carla Gunn to hear
more about what inspired her to write this book:
http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/story.html?id=1660394

Carla will be visiting Moncton on June 18th to launch the novel at La
Teraz (154 Church Street). Her reading will be followed by an open
mic of readings and music.

Carla Gunn at the Attic Owl Reading Series
reading followed by open mic
Thursday, June 18, 2009
La Teraz, 154 Church Street
Moncton, NB
8 p.m.
Free

Bay of Fundy...Second Chance To Be Added to 'New 7 Wonders of Nature' Contest

2009-06-16T14:41:00.012-03:00

Photos By: Sharon A. Layton-Pollock

The Bay of Fundy is back on the international stage in the New7Wonders of Nature contest. In an unprecedented turn of events the Bay of Fundy, which placed 2nd in the first phase of the contest that concluded January 7, 2009 is now representing Canada!

The New7Wonders of Nature organization, based in Brussels, reinstated the Bay of Fundy this week. "We can confirm that Dinosaur Provincial Park did not meet the Phase II participation requirements" said Tia Viering of the New7Wonders. "Therefore, it is with great pleasure that we announce that the Bay of Fundy is now officially Canada's national representative.”

“As 2008 came to a close, we knew we were in an extremely close race to represent Canada in this phase of the contest,” said Terri McCulloch, Manager Bay of Fundy Tourism.

“We were honored by the incredible number of votes the Bay of Fundy received in the first round of the contest. We are very passionate about the Bay of Fundy and believe it is truly a beautiful wonder of nature. We are privileged to represent Canada and we hope everyone will be as enthusiastic again and vote for the Bay of Fundy.

We only have until July 7th to get as many votes as we can for this next stage of the contest.”

The Bay of Fundy is best known for the highest tides in the world and has been compared, in marine biodiversity, to the Amazon Rainforest.

The Bay is the summer feeding area for half the world's population of endangered North Atlantic Right whales and 12 other whale species.

It is home to the world's most complete fossil record of the "Coal Age” (300 million years ago) as well as the world’s oldest reptiles and Canada’s oldest dinosaurs. UNESCO recently recognized the upper Bay of Fundy as a Biosphere Reserve and Joggins Fossil Cliffs as a World Heritage Site.

Canadians from coast to coast are encouraged to go online to votemyfundy.com to place their vote before July 7, 2009, when the top 77 international sites will be short listed. Between July 7 and 21, an independent committee will select the top 21 to continue into the fourth and final stage of the campaign.

These top 21 sites will also be part of a 2010 New7Wonders world tour bringing tremendous international attention to the selected sites. Phase four is the last voting component of the New7Wonders of Nature campaign until the final announcement is made on who has been selected the New7Wonders of Nature.

“We only have a few weeks left in this phase of the contest so every vote is important and interested voters can go to Votemyfundy.com. We are really excited to be back in the running and we hope we can succeed in getting Canada’s Bay of Fundy into the next international phase of the campaign,” said Terri McCulloch.

Terri McCulloch
Manager, Bay of Fundy Tourism Partnership

VOTE HERE

http://www.Votemyfundy.com

Smoke Fills the Skies of Elgin

2009-05-29T00:14:00.006-03:00

May 28, 2009

Tonight at approximately 8:00 p.m. fire began it's path of destruction through the building that once housed Judy and Roger Steeves maple blend production on Gowland Mountain, Elgin.

Fire trucks from Elgin, Salisbury, Petitcodiac and Havelock answered the call. Fire trucks came and went as they refilled many times at the Pollett River pumping station on the Mapleton Road near by.

Many smaller buildings close by were saved by the expert efforts of the fire fighters from all departments. Roger and Judy's lovely huge home, which sat near by, too was untouched by the fire.

At midnight dossers could still be heard moving about the smoldering debris. At this early stage a cause is not yet known.

Words Spring

2009-05-20T23:43:00.000-03:00

Words Spring
May 8th. 9th. & 10, 2009 Saint John, NB.

Writers Federation of New Brunswick

Written By: Sharon A. Layton – Pollock

I set time aside, rescheduled my commitments and organized others to stand in for my obligations so I could attend Words Spring. I did so for a few reasons, one to get a much-needed break from all the above, one to just say hello to fellow writes, but mostly to attend Deborah Carr’s workshop.
Upon arriving home I received an e-mail from Lee Thompson asking if I’d write about Words Spring for the WFNB’s Newsletter. I e-mailed back saying that I would be delighted and honoured. The next day I thought, “gee, I never took any notes or photos, this article is going to have to come from memory.” Scary!
I attended the Annual General Meeting and workshops that followed. It was held in the Saint John Art Centre on Hazen Ave. President of the WFNB, Marilyn Lerch, welcomed everyone in attendance. Attention was drawn to the new logo for the WFNB designed by Branch Design of Moncton, N.B. New payment structure for membership was discussed and recorded.
Gerry Beirne gave a report on his ‘Three Year Plan’ for the WFNB. He discussed the need to maintain zeal and enthusiasm that new programs and ideas receive in their beginning stages. At a later date he will have finished his plan and will inform the membership to that end.
Beth Powning gave her report on the WFNB sponsored project ‘Literacy – 21.’ This project paired 21 writers with 21 adults who desired to learn the skill of reading. At the end of the project the new readers compiled their experience and a book of their stories will soon be published. Also, Beth spoke passionately about a program she is involved with where young people, within our high school system, are exposed to the thrill of writing.
Anne Simpson, an accomplished poet from Antigonish N.S. gave a workshop on writing poetry. She asked us to write a poem repeating a verse or phrase. Then asked us to listen to its ebb and flow and think outside the box when writing poetry.
Author Donna Morrissey of Newfoundland gave a reading from one of her latest novels. She was so entertaining. Donna was so at ease sharing parts of her book and her life, it made the listening easy. Her unique talent, joyous expressions, and body language that danced and her apparel of youthfulness caused me to near misbelieve when she told us she was a grandmother. I am going to buy and read her books.
Deborah Carr, from Hopewell Cape, N.B., took command of centre stage. Deborah’s generous sharing of her knowledge, experience and suggestions was even more than what I had expected. Assisted by her power point presentation drove her tips home even farther, and her willingness to e-mail them to all who wished to have them, to me, showed her sincerity for the profession of writing.
Later that evening, I shared with many, a scrupuious buffet put on by the cooking staff at the Hilton. Seated next to me was Mrs. Neilson, mother of the first prizewinner in non-fiction, Shane Neilson of Guelph Ontario. Mrs. Neilson was going to read from his book, ‘Standing In The ICU.’ It was uplifting to not only hear in her voice the pride she had for her son, but wonderful to see the glisten in her eyes as we shared our conversation.
But, that’s where my time ended. My sister, who graciously drove me too and fro the events, was an early to bed type of soul, and I had been to these events before and did not want to call her late into the evening. I excused myself and gave her a call. On our drive home Gloria asked how my day went, I told her I had gained many tips and encouragement and sure looked forward to attending many more!

Elgin Fire Department Open House

2007-10-15T19:42:00.000-03:00

The Elgin Volunteer Fire Department is hold an open house in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week on October 18th., 2007 at 7:00 p.m..

All residents of the community are welcome to the Fire Hall. There will be a video on 'Fire Escape In Your Home' and also a video for the children on 'Burn Prevention.'

The firefighters want to make this a family evening to inspect their Fire Hall and to meet the firefighters and to ask any questions you might have.

There will be coffee and donuts served.

Mark your calendar, shine up your dancing shoes, McBale will be playing at the Elgin Community Center adjacent to the Fire Hall on Saturday night November 3, 2007 . Get your tickets early by calling Gary at 756-2609 or Colleen at 756-8063

2007 Petitcodiac Kiwanis Annual Auction

2007-10-15T09:47:00.000-03:00

The Petitcodiac Kiwanis Club has selected Thursday, October 18, 2007 for their annual community auction night. The auction will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion on Kay Street, Petitcodiac. Doors will open to the public at 6:00 p.m., admittance plus door prize is free.

The Petitcodiac Kiwanis Club has been providing service to the community and surrounding areas for over 59 years. All funds raised by members have been used to support youth programs, senior services and other programs to the residents of this area.

Some examples are the community center, minor hockey, youth travel, Christmas Daddy's, the ambulance building, the Elgin and Petitcodiac Fire Departments, figure skating, plus university and community college scholarships. The auction is the clubs major fund raising event each year.

The Petitcodiac Kiwanis Club is very grateful for the continued support by the people of the area, which make it possible for the club to be involvement in these programs.

If you would like more information concerning the Annual Auction or about the Petitcodiac Kiwanis Club you may call President Dan Pollock at (506)756-1084 or by e-mail: pollockd@nb.sympatico.ca

Good News For Petitcodiac and Area

2007-10-12T11:52:00.000-03:00

Photo L-R Premier Shawn Graham, MLA Wally Stiles, Winona McLean, Ernie McLean (president of the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame), Mayor Peter Saunders of the Village of Petitcodiac and MP Rob Moore.

At a press conference on Thursday, October 11, 2007 people gathered to hear MP Rob Moore make an announcement. Mr. Moore informed those gathered that ACOA was supporting the construction of The Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame Museum at a value of $550,000.00. On the part of the Provincial Government, Premier Shawn Graham added the Province was sharing the expense to the value of $250,000.00

The Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame museum will be built on a piece of land owned by the Village of Petitcodiac. This project has been in the making for over three years and was welcome news for all.

Mayor Peter Saunders said that this news was a breath of fresh air for the Village of Petitcodiac which has been hard hit by the closure of Fawcett's Lumber Mill.

Through the winter months the preliminary work will be done in preparation for the sod turning in the spring.

Pumpkin Carving Ideas

2007-10-09T15:46:00.000-03:00

Progress Photos of the Bridge at Salmon River

2007-08-17T14:35:00.000-03:00

Here are a few pictures taken on August 7, 2007 at the site of bridge being built to cross the Salmon River. With the completion of this bridge will also be the completion of the Fundy Trail Parkway, which will add to New Brunswick's top attractions!

Photo # 1 New approach roadway to bridge from St. Martins side of the river where a retaining wall has to go. (this is now being question)

Photo # 2 Building approach road to bridge from St. Martins side of river.

Photo # 3 Looking across river from St. Martins side of temporary bailey bridge in place so men and machinery can work on new bridge.

Photo # 4 Looking at new road across river to up over the hill leading to future road.

Photo # 5 On left of picture you can see the base beside the bailey bridge for new abutment for new the new bridge.

Photo # 6 Roadway on Albert County side at top of hill from the bridge, future lookout site.

Photo # 7 Shows trucks hauling rock that has to be cut out for road across the river.

Photo # 8 This picture shows the depth of the rock cut for new bridge on the Albert County side.

Photo # 9 Just a glimpse of the size of the trucks being used.

Photo # 10 A small portion of crushed rock that has been cut away for the new bridge.

Photo # 11 Truck dumping rock on the crushed rock stock pile. To date there is enough crushed rock to complete 20km of road.

Stacy Bleakney and Jamie Goddard's Wedding

2007-07-30T02:06:00.001-03:00

The sun shone through for Stacy and Jamie on July 7, 2007 for their very special day.

Family and friends gathered at the First North River Baptist Church to witness the sharing of vows between Stacy and Jamie as they entered into marriage.

During the signing of the register, Stacy's Aunt Susan Layton sang acappella "I Love You Truly."

After the wedding the bridal party gathered in the beautiful yard of Claude and Pat Steeves in Havelock, N.B. for photos. Earlier, when Stacy had visited Claude and Pat to ask permission to use their grounds, their reply was yes, and that Stacy and Jamie would be the 50th. bride and groom to have pictures taken there.

The wedding reception followed at the Havelock Legion and the ladies of the Legion catered and served a great meal. After all the formalities that go with a wedding were over, tables were cleared, ties removed, and the music began. What a great time was held by all, from ages 5 to 90.

The bride and groom gathered their things together the next day and went to Newfoundland for a weeks honeymoon.

Stacy and Jamie reside in the country near Killams Mills.

Best wishes to you both.

PHOTOS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

1. Stacy and her brides maid Missy Surette

2. Stacy and her mother, Debby

3. Stacy with her flower girl, neice Halley Will and
nephew Cody Bleakney

4. Proud mother and father, Alan and Debby with their daughter

5. Groom Jamie, his best man brother Larry, ushers brother
Randy and soon to be brother-in-law Douglas Bleakney

6. Singer Susan Layton, brides Aunt

7. And away they go

8. Bridal party at Claude and Pat Steeves' beautiful grounds

9. Proud grandparents, Emma Colpitts, groom, Norma Bleakney, bride and Royden (Brud) Bleakney

10. Proud parents, Alan and Debby Bleakney, bride and groom, and Ann Goddard

11. The happy bride and groom

12. More shots taken at Claude and Pat's yard

13. Father and daughter

14. Mother and son

Tentative Schedule of Events for Elgin Day...........August 11, 2007

2007-07-10T22:06:00.000-03:00

10:00am-11:30am Hiking Trail Tour
-volunteers needed: Matt Steeves and Kim (tentative)

11:45am-12:45pm BBQ lunch (done by the firemen)

1:00pm-2:00pm “Do you Know Your Grandparent?” game
-location: Firehall

-volunteers needed: Sarah Steeves (tentative) asking questions, Tracy White as Score Keeper, Carol Martin on the door

-materials needed: markers, paper, chairs, tape, roll of tickets, clip boards

-door prize: Wrigley’s gum and candy basket, maple syrups

-prize for winning: ?

-cost to watch/enter the game: no cost to enter the game, donations accepted at the door

2:00pm-3:30pm Hiking Trail Tour & Picture /History Presentation
-location of presentation: Firehall

-volunteers needed for hiking tour: Matt Steeves and Kim (tentative)

-volunteers needed for presentation: Alyssa Martin

3:45pm-5:15pm Jeopardy Style History Game
-location: WI Hall

-volunteers needed: Tracy White asking the questions, Trevor Dow keeping score, Karen Davidson on the door

-materials needed: tape, paper, markers, five light buzzers, roll of tickets

-door prize: Elgin Revisited Book, maple syrups

-prize for winning: ?

-cost to watch/enter the game: no cost to enter the game, donations accepted at the door

5:00pm-6:30pm BBQ Chicken Supper
-location: WI Hall

-volunteers needed:

-cost:

-materials needed: Chicken, Pasta Salad

7:00pm-10 or 11:00pm Evening Concert
-location: Firehall

-volunteers needed: Sharon Layton on the door

-cost:

-door prize: Susan Layton’s CD

-materials needed: roll of tickets, stamp

Entertainers Confirmed: Susan Layton, Shelby Bannister, and Donna & Frank Carty

Stormy Manitoba Skies

2007-07-04T22:56:00.001-03:00

These photos were sent to me by Pat Wolfe of Winnipeg. The pictures were taken in southern Manitoba on June 23, 2007.

Salisbury Elementary Grade 3 Hike The Mapleton Acadian Forest Trail

2007-06-26T20:13:00.000-03:00

At the beginning of June my grandson, Austin, asked if I would come and join his class on a field trip. I have attended most all his class trips and thought, 'sure, why not.' So on June 15, 2007 to celebrate the end of the school year, Mrs. Pykes's grade three students and Ms. Carty's grade three students, along with a few parents and one fat granny rode the bus to the Mapleton Road just outside of Elgin. Here the fresh young students clamoured out of the bus ready to do the Mapleton Acadian Forest Trail.

Off the bus I came last, complete with my sun hat, hiking boots, walking stick and a bottle of water. I was ready, or so I thought. It would not have been too bad had I been able to pace myself and go at my own speed, but, I at least had to make an effort to keep up with the young students from the Salisbury Elementary School. But it is wise to have someone come up at the rear and as I'm sure you have guessed, I, the fat granny, pulled up at the rear, like way back.

To say the least, the trail was wonderful and all the students enjoyed reading the interpretive signs along the well marked trail. The plant life was vast and the trees majestic and labeled to add to the students learning experience.

The Mapleton Acadain Forest Trail is an interpretive nature trail near Elgin. It was constructed and is maintained by the Elgin Eco Association. The trail provided an opportunity to learn about the Acadian Forest and how it responds to a variety of human disturbances. The trail features nine interpretive signs and two footbridges. It crosses a wide variety of forest types and conditions.

Along the trail you will see a recent clear-cut section, a dark spruce forest, old abandon fields, old forests, white birch and Jack Pine stands, shady streams with rocks covered in moss, if your lucky you may spot flying overhead a Northern Flying Squirrel, and you will visit the spot where once Manganese was mined.

I learned allot and took some great pictures, that added to why I pulled up at the rear too. I will do the trail again, but will take along some older fat folk that will be able to keep up with me.

In closing, I would like to say what a fine group of well behaved young students these children are. Their teachers are to be commended for doing such a fine job of teaching not only reading, writing and arithmetic, but a healthy curiosity and respect for the nature around them.

To learn more about The Mapleton Acadian Forest Trail, check out the Elgin Eco Association's web site: www.elgineco.com

Skies Over Elgin

2007-06-24T20:41:00.000-03:00

Since I moved up on Gowland Mountain, December 2006, the skies over Elgin have offered up spectacular photo opportunities.

Elgin, New Brunswick, Canada is a quaint little village. It is encompassed about by mountains, lush productive farm lands in the southeastern part of one of Canada's most picturesque provinces.

As the winds of our quickly changing weather systems shows off over Elgin I will snap what I see and continuously update this blog, so check back often, and let me know what you think of what you see.

New Restaurant In Havelock

2007-05-22T22:33:00.000-03:00

April 28, 2007 Patti's Country Cafe opened on Main Street Havelock, N.B. Owners (Photo) Left Carla Steeves and Diane Mills were going out straight and loving every minute of it.

Several years ago if one were to drive into Havelock there were two convenient Stores to serve you. One was Charlie's Store, which has been around for as long as I can remember Havelock. Anything you want is there and if it wasn't there you probably didn't need it anyway. Then there was a bright new shiny store on the block called Leaman's Convenience Store. It was nice too, you could sit down and have a coffee with friends and catch up with the news. But Havelock is just so big and the new store ceased to be. It sat dormant for a long while, while life went on.

On many occasions people would stop Diane or Carla and say to them, "Why don't you put a restaurant in the old Leaman's store?" One of those people was Dave Keirstead, the owner of the local funeral. He said that those visiting would surely enjoy a place to get a cup of coffee and lunch while in the village. The seed was planted, and Diane and Carla asked each other,"Why not?"

As Diane and Carla discussed the possibility they soon realized they had many to cater to, the Havelock Cement Plant, Havelock Lime, Eagle Trucking, Havelock School, Ridgebrook Lumber, Hydro and Pipe Line crews in the area and the local people themselves.

Both girls are working, Diane is the Editor and Chief of the Havelock Boys and Girls Club local newspaper, the Tid Bits, as well as being the manager of the Access Centre. Carla works at UPS in Moncton. But the seed was growing.

Both Diane and Carla's husbands, Fred Mills and Dennis Steeves, were behind the girls 100%. They put in many long hours to get the work done that was necessary to turn the store into a very nice restaurant.

On my way home from Sussex one day I stopped in for supper. It was the second day of operation for Pattie's Country Cafe.

There were five staff members plus Diane and Carla. The dining room seats 42 and has a full menu. The design is an open concept kitchen. While you are waiting for your meal you can watch the cooks preparing it. The dishwasher (Fred) is out in full view steadily washing dishes. Waitresses scurry about taking orders, serving up orders and Carla fast behind clearing and setting up tables.

There were no clocks on the wall to check how long your meal takes to get to you, but one must remember this is a brand new venture for these two entrepreneurial girls. As with any business there are glitches to work out, and already one fryer is down and the need for more ventilation is realized. But as I talked to those around me, they expressed how glad they were to have a restaurant in their small community, and patients were long. Besides, it is a great time to catch up on the news, they added. I overheard two farmers discussing new farming strategies as they waited for supper.

There was an anxious few moments over in the kitchen as one cook exclaimed, "The Fryers out!" As Diane quickly moved in to check out the situation another cook discovered it had only come unplugged. Diane turned on a dime and went about what she was doing. She was making a quick call asking if someone had any extra dishtowels, the place was packed and dishes needed drying. A quick explanation to Carla that she would be right back, Daine was out the door. I didn't even see her come back in she was that quick and no one missed a beat.

The staff at Patti's Country Cafe are Kathy McCully of near by Petitcodiac, Lynn Wood of Coles Island, Janet Nowland of Havelock, Kelly Cosman of Havelock, Jon Stevens of Havelock, and two part time staff, Kelly Kaye and Challis Kaye both from Prosser Brook.

Patti's Country Cafe in the heart of Havelock is opened from seven in the morning til eight at night. Carla who has worked in the food industry for many years loves the pace and loves the people. Diane and Carla have many plans for their new venture, and one is to work at it full time when the time is right.

As the evening wained and the crowds moved on, Diane and Carla gave me the grand tour. The layaout was very well thought out, and plans for the future already being put in place. One of their ear lies plans are to decorate the interior of their restaurant with memorabilia of the local history.

It was a pleasure talking with both Diane and Carla, to hear the excitement in their voices as they spoke of their accomplishments so far, and for their future plans. Oh, and on a closing note my supper was delicious, I never even noticed how long it took to get it. I look forward to returned visits and I'll bring friends along with me.

2007 Pollett River Run

2007-04-28T19:34:00.000-03:00

Just a few shots of some of the worthy and not-so-worthy river faring crafts on the 2007 Pollett River Run, and a few mudders at the end of the run.

A Timely Christmas Poem (Author Unknown)

2006-12-01T10:51:00.000-04:00

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic, it was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn’t loud, and it wasn’t too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn’t quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps out in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, my wife and my child.

“What are you doing?” I asked without fear,
“Come in this moment, it’s freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home this cold Christmas Eve!”

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.
To the window that danced with a warm fire’s light,
Then he sighed and he said, “It’s really all right,
I’m out here by choice. I’m here every night,

It’s my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkness of time.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I’m proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died in ‘Pearl on a day in December,”
Then he sighed, “That’s a Christmas Gram always remembers.
My Dad stood his watch in the jungles of Nam,
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I’ve not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he’s sure got her smile.”
Then be bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red and the white Canadian flag.

“I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a fox hole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother,
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.”

“So go back inside,” he said, “Harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I’ll be alright.”
“But isn’t there something I can do, at the least,
Give you money,” I asked, “or prepare you a feast?

It seems all to little for all you’ve done,
For being away from your wife and your son.”
Then his eyes welled a tear that held no regret,
“Just tell us you love us, and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we’re gone,
To stand your own watch no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.”

Moncton's Fresh Farmers Market

2006-11-21T16:15:00.000-04:00

Someone You’ll Meet At The Farmers Market

Written by: Sharon A. Layton-Pollock

Hi, let me introduce you to one of the many vendors at The Westmorland Street Farmers Market. Her name is Kim Norden and she has fresh products just for you. Kim and her partner, Stephen Taylor, from Mannhurst Rd., near Petitcodiac operate Stephen Taylor’s Farm.

Kim and Stephen supply meat for six restaurants from Rothesay to Shediac and for the Salisbury and Havelock Legions. Kim is interim president for the Sussex Farmers Market Ltd. and the New Brunswick representative for N.B. Farmers Markets Canada.

Before getting into the Farmers Market business Stephen made his living as a cattle dealer. He shipped cattle across the border into Pennsylvania, USA. When the borders were closed to Canadian cattle and the prices had gone very low, Kim and Stephen knew they had to shift gears and find another venue to sell their product.

In 2003 the Kingston Farmers Market Co-operative Ltd. on the Kingston Peninsula contacted Kim and Stephen, asking them if they would join their market and bring their product to sell. The clientele who bought at this farmers market came from Saint John, Quispamsis, Rothesay and the summer cottage dwellers. So, with one freezer and some frozen hamburger, they entered the Farmers Market culture. They were surprised and pleased at how quickly their product was purchased and were asked for more. It was at this time that they realized this would be a venue worth pursuing.

It was a natural progression to keep adding different product line to their existing one. They added fresh hamburger as well as frozen, roasts and steak from the cattle they raised. During market hours Kim and Stephen set up a BBQ that too went over very well.

After a time, the 1 ½ hour drive, one way, began to get very tiring and a closer market was considered. They moved to the Farmer’s Market Co-op Ltd. at 210 John Street, Moncton. After working 2 ½ years Kim and Stephen have built up their business and enjoy a returning clientele. Change is still in the air and this market spot is making way for a telemarketing business. With these new developments the John Street Market, as of November 18th, 2006 is joining with the Marche Moncton Farmers Market on 120 Westmorland Street.

Here Kim and Stephen will settle in and sell their complete line which includes; beef, pork, chicken, turkey, eggs, smoked ham and vegetables when in season. Kim says that their customers like the fact that their products are all natural grown. She says she enjoys being at her booth where she can answer the many questions her customers ask her. Some of the questions are; what did the animals eat, how old it was, its living conditions?

Their turkeys are raised on their farm and are free range, being fed feed and vegetable tops and peelings. The feed they buy for all their animals is from the Sussex Co-op and some from Havelock. Both mixes their feed on site with no preservatives or animal by products added, and is free of growth hormones. Kim also added that there are no antibiotics in their animals at time of processing, and their processing facilities are government inspected.

Kim and Stephen raise black and red Angus cattle, white hens, brown hens and a specialty hen called Silkys that lay green eggs and are a favorite of many of their customers. To fill their orders for meat kings they purchase them from David Constantine of Lewis Mountain. David is a licensed butcher of fowl. David prepares the birds for market on Friday afternoon for market on Saturday to ensure the freshest product as possible. David also prepares Kim and Stephen’s turkeys for market.

Sometimes Kim and Stephen raise their own hogs, but when they don’t they get them from their neighbor who also has a government inspected operation. They take their ham to K&B Meats in Sussex who ‘Maple Smoke their ham. K&B Meats is also a licensed establishment. Often Kim is asked if her smoked ham is cooked and she informs them that it is not, and proceeds to tell them the best way to cook or fry it. Customers come back and thank Kim and inform her on how delicious their meals were. From her booth, Kim answers many cooking related questions, and offers a print out of her complete product line and prices for their convenience, as well as specials of the month. Customers may place orders with Kim during morning hours at the market which are 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or by calling Kim at home (756-8914) prior to the next market date.

There are between 10,000 to 15,000 people who relax, enjoy and shop at the over 130 vendors at the Westmorland Street Farmers Market every week. There is something for everyone, whether you’re looking for baking items, local produce, fresh meat, cheese and eggs, arts and crafts, holiday items, or just a chance to browse with a good cup of coffee, the market has it all. So why not come out and join the crowd and buy all naturally grown products for the good of your whole family.

Bouctouche One of Canada's Prettiest Towns

2006-11-21T16:13:00.000-04:00

Written by: Sharon A. Layton-Pollock

The popular Canadian magazine ‘Harrowsmith Country living’ chose the unique Town of Bouctouche as one of Canada’s top 10 prettiest towns. One reason being the Bouctouche River. It flows and meanders around and through the sand dunes that are shaped by the wafting breezes. Other reasons for Bouctouche being chosen is it’s intense Acadian heritage, and the fact that it is the birthplace of the founding father of one of Canada’s largest diversified corporations, Kenneth Colin Irving.

Bouctouche is located in the eastern region of New Brunswick, 40 kilometers north of the City of Moncton, and goes to where the Bouctouche River empties into the Northumberland Strait. The population of Bouctouche is 2426 and the landmass is 18.34 square kilometers.

As of 2006 the Municipal Council members are: Mayor Aldio Saulnier, Deputy Mayor Roland Fougere, and councilors Donald Cormier, Normand Voutour, Chantal Duplessis, and the Public Relations Officer is Marc Landry. See more information at www.ville.bouctouche.nb.ca

The Mayor, Aldio Saulnier has said that in the past two decades, especially during the past few years, the town of Bouctouche has witnessed significant growth. This is due to the regions active involvement in economic and tourism development, and creating the proper climate for investments and playing a leadership role in community economic development. A bold new vision was developed in 1995 and it resulted in Bouctouche becoming the ecotourism destination of Atlantic Canada. The municipality is also recognized as the service centre whereby the close by communities comes for their services. It is the nucleus of the Kent Region, especially for Kent South.

The Mayor also added that the efforts invested in tourism have enabled Bouctouche to become a model community. Noting that the help of the Irving family who have invested millions of dollars in various projects have add to the quality of products and services offered to visitors and residents. The Mayor welcomes all to come visit and experience the model community of Bouctouche.

The largest population base for the Town of Bouctouche is people between the ages of 25 and 44 years of age. The first language is French. The majority of the population settled and stays in Bouctouche and most residence are Canadian born. The main religion is Catholic. The average earnings of those with full time employment is $31,053.00. The largest industry is manufacturing and construction, second being the health and education fields followed by wholesale and retail trade. For more complete statistics go to www.12.statcan.ca

The original name of Bouctouche was Chebooktoosh, which in Micmac means ‘Big Little Harbour.’ On June 19, 1785 two brothers, Francois and Charlittle LeBlanc set out from Memramcook in search of land to settle. June 24, 1785 they came upon the fertile shore of the Chebooktoosh River, carved a cross in a hugh pine tree to signify taking possession and soon renamed it Bouctouch.

The LeBlanc brothers saw the little harbour as a safe place for the recently deported Acadians. The river was abundant with fish, the land populated with many trees, and the waterway for travel made Bouctouche a great place to begin a new colony. As families grew and new ones added so too did Bouctouche grow and thrive as one of the largest small ports in New Brunswick.

The first baby born into this new colony was Laurent, parents were Charlotte LeBlanc and Madeline Girouard in 1787. (A more in-depth history can be found on the pages of Pierre Cormier’s book ‘Bouctouche Of The Past,’ available at the Town Hall at 211 Irving Boulevard.)

Paul LeBlanc, general manager of the popular tourist attraction ‘Le Pays de la Sagouine’ had this to say about tourism in and around Bouctouche.

“I have been asked for my comments on the tourism industry in and around my village of Bouctouche. I would like to start by saying that I was born and raised in Bouctouche, more than a half a century ago, and I have been the general manager at Le Pays de la Sagouine for the past 10 years. Le Pays opened back in 1992.

At that time, we had long been identified as a drive through province, with not much as far as major attractions. Then Le Pays opened and from that point, Bouctouche started to develop into what we have now, which I call a destination. There is a big difference between destination and an attraction. You come to an attraction for a day where you can stay for a week or more in a destination. A destination has to have something for everyone, different things, and Bouctouche has that.

Bouctouche didn’t always have that. But after the opening of Le Pays, other things started to take shape. Bed and Breakfasts were opening everywhere, the Dune project opened around the end of the 90’s, la Savonnerie, the Irving Arboretum, the Marina, the Trail System and more. Bouctouche being strategically situated became a destination. We have Kouchibouguac National Park a half-hour’s drive to the north and Fundy National Park an hour’s drive to the south. We are an hour’s drive to Confederation Bridge to Prince Edward Island, and beautiful beaches surround us. We are a destination.

All of this did not happen over night. For starters, we are very lucky to have had famous and influential people originating from Bouctouche. Antonine Maillet and the Irving family have contributed immensely to the tourism development in the area.

Le Pays played a very important role back then and still does, it being an anchor attraction. Over the years, Le Pays has become more of a cultural center also, and not just a tourist attraction. We still are that, but for the past two years, the majority of our 80,000 visitors per year come from this province. It use to be that the most important market were tourists from the province of Quebec; they are now second. This is a result of us becoming more active in the off seasons, doing this during the Christmas holidays for example. Le Pays will continue to be an anchor attraction, luring tourists to this very unique concept, and I believe that the area will continue to be a wonderful destination.”

Bouctouche also has an Arts and Cultural population, complete with mid summer festival. These festivals held along Irving Boulevard, are called ‘Le festival de la folie des arts.’ In 2007 August 4th. & 5th will be their 7th Anniversary. This year over 25 artists gathered from New Brunswick, Quebec and as far away as Australia. Here they showed off their craft under a giant canopy.

“Le galerie des artistes’ is a more permanent gallery at 5 Irving Boulevard. It is open during July and August, and this year they are going to be open in December. The Town of Bouctouche sponsors this gallery, along with La Societe Culturel Kent Sud, which is a non profit organization. The gallery is open to all artists who are willing to sell their paintings for a 15% commission.

Native-born artists, Geneva Hebert works in oils and acrylics. Her work is displayed in locations such as; Le musee de Kent, the National Bank in Richibucto, the Provincial Art Fair, La Galerie d’ Arts d’ Orleans (1896) inc. Parrain des Artistes in Quebec, Festival des Arts de Shediac, the olie de Arts in Bouctouche, The Light House Gallery, Moncton Art Society and the Kent County Agricultural Fair and Exposition. Geneva’s work has been sold around the world, the Maritime Provinces, Quebec, Ottawa, Boston and in Europe. In 2003, Geneva was honored with the ‘Racines 2003’ award from the Art Society of New Brunswick in recognition of her dedication to teaching art.

An intricate part to any up and coming community is their Chamber of Commerce. Since 1947 Bouctouche’s Chamber has been a working force, and was incorporated in 1973. It’s objective is to promote the well being of the commercial, industrial, tourism and civic portions of Bouctouche. Its implication in the economic development is felt to be their primary role. The Chamber is very proud of the role it played in the early 1990’s spearheading the development of The Dune project. Today, the Irving Eco Center, la dune de Bouctouche,’ is world-renowned.

On the leading edge of communication technology, the Town of Bouctouche is serviced by ‘Aernet Wireless’, Atlantic Canada’s first wireless high speed internet provider. Aernet is 100% New Brunswick owned and is the first and only internet provider focused on the truly rural customer.

The Town of Bouctouche is a thriving place to live, to do business and to enjoy the best nature has to offer.

Homeward Bound...Our Cross Canada Trip...West to East

2006-10-15T23:45:00.000-03:00

Heading Home

Here is Richard planning our route home to New Brunswick.

When we got back on the main land we traveled through the Okanagan Valley,Revelstoke Glacier National Park, Rogers Pass and Kicking Horse Pass. The scenery was awesome...360 degrees of WOW!!

Our destination was Banff National Park. It was here where the glorious Canadian Rockies shone! We parked our RV in Tunnel Mountain Campground for two nights. Every half hour a bus passed right by the gate of the park to take up to the Town of Banff.

A town like no other, people everywhere and nobody in a hurry, it was a shoppers paradise. We made our way to the VIC in the middle of town to plan our days. We were directed to 'Discover Banff Tours'.

Lake Louise, at last I've seen it for myself, the real thing, not on a calendar. We just sat there on the many benches supplied and marveled at it's beauty. Lake Louise is surrounded by the peaks of Mt. Victoria. There were kayakers paddling leisurely and hikers heading for the many trails around the lake. Not us, we just looked and looked and looked.

Later that day we made our way up to the world famous Banff Springs Hotel. I just stood in the center of their receiving area and turned around and around shooting pictures. The Hotel went on and on and on.

The next day we got up early and joined many others as we boarded a tour bus that took us over the Icefield Parkway. This roadway is one of the most scenic roadways in Canada, one of the most spectacular mountain highways in the world. The terrain that this highway took us through showed us one of the few places in the world where features of the ice age still exists. The Icefield Parkway joins Jasper and Banff National Park and parallels the Continental Divide.

Once we arrive at our destination we board 'The Ice Explorer,' an all-terrain 6-wheeled vehicle. Richard and I stood beside one of the wheels to get our picture taken, the wheel was far higher than we are.

This trip onto the Columbia Icefield lasted 90 minutes. We traveled over ice that was 365 meters (1,200 feet) thick. The icefield covers an area five times bigger than Manhattan, more than twice the size of Vancouver. The icefield reaches into two Canadian National Parks and two provinces. It surrounds eight separate rivers of ice called glaciers, including the easily accessible Athabasca Glacier. The meltwater from the icefield feeds three oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic. We brought home a bottle of this meltwater.

We have charted out a different route to get us back to where we came from. When we got to Ottawa we stop in for a visit with Richard's sister Eva and her family. Her two grandsons, Michael and Curtis took us on a night tour of Ottawa, how nice that was.

On the road again seeing different places and different scenes all just as memorable as on the way out, but with one difference, we were homeward bound and our stops became fewer and fewer.

It was good to see the 'Welcome to New Brunswick' signs. The grandchildren were waiting and our kids were anxious to hear about our trip. As we near the turn to take us into Salisbury we contemplate what the trip has meant to us.

We feel we have a better connection with our fellow Canadians, and a great respect for each Province. We have done a fair amount of traveling in the past, but none has yet to compare to our own wonderful country we call home...Canada!

Day 26...Our Cross Canada Tour...East To West

2006-10-15T23:28:00.000-03:00

Day 26

What would a trip to Vancouver Island be without a visit Victoria and the all the splendor of The Butchart Gardens. As we passed through the gates all I could think about was that I wished my daughter Lois, who has a budding greenhouse business, were here with us.

This National Historical site was celebrating it's 100 birthday, and what a treat it was all 100 acres of it. My camera was never turned off all the while we walked through. We had our lunch in one of it's many dining areas, and of course we were encompassed about by flowers and greenery.

It was a real treat for both of us and it was great to be able to recognize and name most of the flowers within the garden. The fountains and waterfalls enhanced everything and everyone around them. The place was teaming with young and old alike, and all in the same picture taking mode that I was.

For your own delight go to their site at www.butchartgardens.com

Day 21,22,23,24,and 25...Our Cross Canada Trip..East to West

2006-10-02T22:23:00.000-03:00

Day 21,22,23,24,25.

The first night on Vancouver Island we stayed at a great campground called Living Forest Oceanside Campground & RV Park. www.campingbc.com The next morning Ivan and Mary arrived bright and early, we followed them home, parked our RV in their driveway and stayed the rest of our visit in their home, where we were treated royally.

On our first full day on Vancouver Island, Ivan and Mary took up to the magnificent Cathedral Grove. Cathedral Grove, in MacMillan Park, in the centre of the island, is one of the last accessible forests of giant trees remaining in B.C.

It was a marvelous walk through, not only to see these great trees, but to listen to Ivan's stories. Ivan is a retired West Coast Logger (Faller), and the very trees we were seeing were just like the ones Ivan cut down during his working years.

Ivan left his home in Weldon, Albert County, New Brunswick in 1949 at the tender age of 15. His mother packed him a lunch, waved goodbye as he boarded the train heading west. The trip was eventful to say the least. Before arriving at his destination he had to find a job along the way in order to finish it. When he arrived in Nanaimo he had two cents in his pocket and a bag of pears. There along the waterfront he spent his first night under a bridge by a big tree. At that time the population was 3,500 and today the population of Nanaimo is 80,000.

Later in 1953, Ivan's brother Ralph made his way west to join Ivan, and in 1960 the youngest brother, Leon arrived. So the Parker brothers, from the little community in Weldon, N.B., helped to get the logs to the mill that were used in the expansion and growth of Vancouver Island.

In the Cathedral Grove there are 800 year old Douglas firs that survived the great forest fire that swept through the area 300 years ago. The greatest Douglas Fir tree in the park measures 3 meters in diameter, and stands 75 meters high. Six adults holding hands could encircle this tree. Other trees in the Cathedral Grove are Western Red Cedar, Western Hemlock, Grand Fir or Balsam Fir and the beautiful Broadleaf Maple. To learn more about this Grove go to www.BritishColumbia.com

The next day Ralph and Joan took Richard and I to the town of Chemainus, world famous for it's murals. In the early years Chemainus was a thriving logging town, but when the industry died so also seemed the fate of the town. In 1982 the people of Chemainus invited internationally known artists to use the town as a canvas. Today, more than 37 murals and 12 sculptures depict the town's history. Soon the tourists came, gift shops sprang up, restaurants, tour operators began businesses, art galleries, theatre festivals, antique malls and hotels. The future of the little town that wouldn't give up is now a destination for all who arrive on Vancouver Island.

Our last night on the island my three cousins and our spouses enjoyed dinner out and a leisurely walk on the waterfront enjoying our reaqainting time together. Ivan drew my attention to a big tree and the nearby bridge and said,
"Hay Sharon, see that bridge, that's the bridge I slept under back in 1949 when I landed on Vancouver Island."

I'm going to go back to visit Ivan and Mary, Ralph and Joan, Leon and Mary, only sooner then I got there this time, but the next time I'll fly.

Day 19 and 20...Our Cross Canada Tour ..East to West

2006-10-02T20:59:00.000-03:00

Day 19

It was time to come down off our mountain, as much as we hated to. As we made our decent early in the morning, the fog was still tangled among the tree tops in the valley below us.

We took highway 24, a beautiful drive. The road climbed to 1311 meters above sea level. I thought about the color of the water. Below the lakes and rivers were a milky green from glacier run offs and above they were emerald green.

Richard and I made mention of the deer fences and soon after seen four deer. We came upon a mother and her fawn. We had to come to a complete stop as the mother tried to make up her mind which way to go. It was cute to watch the fawn follow it's mothers indecisive path.

At 11:30a.m. we came upon a giant flea market. We stopped and bought some home cooking and a couple of Alberta Beef hamburgers. We had a great chat with the vendors, who too planned a trip like ours for next year. The lady was originally from Sherwater, outside of Halifax, N.S. As I browsed around I stopped at one particular table of interest and felt a little soul brush up against my leg. I looked down and there was a dear little child about the same age as my granddaughter Sophia. I had the greatest urge to kneel down and hug her, of course I didn't, but that was my first pang of lonesomeness for my grandchildren, then it spread to missing my kids. Boy wait till we get our cell phone bill.

It wasn't long before we entered Clinton County along highway 97. How unique! It was like entering a different world. You were in desert like hills and oasis like valleys. The valley floors were the most lush green color I have ever seen. My first thought was that they were golf courses. There were cattle, horses and sheep. The valley floors were irrigated from one side to the other.

Just a half a day farther another world! The area was called Frazer Cove. It was as thought a giant had come along and scrapped the tops off the mountains leaving deep valleys below. The tops were so flat and so green and again irrigated from one side to the other. Later as we set up camp in Lillooet, along the Frazer River, I learned that on those mountain tops are grown the worlds best ginseng.

Day 20

The little town of Lillooet, one of the oldest communities in British Columbia, is carved right out of the side of the mountain. Many people have compared Lillooet to that of Switzerland.

We fill up with gas and head west on highway 99 toward Whistler. What and where we traveled next is almost undisribable, and no photo could ever do it justice...The Frazer River Valley Drive.

The height and depth and magnitude of this area literally makes you dizzy. We found a spot along the windy road to stop so I could take a few pictures. Before looking up I had to make sure I stepped well back from where I was just looking down.

The road is winding, narrow, no guard rails nor cement imbotments and Richard is on the outer edge. I keep an eye on him just to make sure he's not gocking around. Next I'm on the outer edge. This is no route for the faint of heart.

I can't help but smile at these signs, 'Slow Down' well, who wouldn't. One says 'Fasten Your Seat Belt' I think to myself, 'what for.' If you ever went over the edge a seat belt wouldn't be of any account. There were signs that gave directions to 'Run Away Trails', just encase your breaks give out, now what does that tell ya?

The road is still winding upward, now we're heading down hill. At last we're on the valley floor again. It feels good.
"Ohhh shit, we're climbing again. Oh good not so high this time." The valley floor is so deep, lush and green and there are parts I'm sure the sun never shines.

We breeze through Whistler, we're both anxious to get to Vancouver Island. At about 4:00p.m. we board the ferry at Horseshoe Bay. Just lay back and chill out after our days adventure.

We found a campground, made a call to my cousin, Ivan Parker and his wife Mary. Ivan comes on the line and the first thing he asks me is,
"When are you coming out for a visit?" and I answer him,
"How about tomorrow." Well now let me tell you was he surprised or not. We made plans for them to come and get us in the morning.

Day 17 and 18...Our Cross Canada Tour....East to West

2006-09-20T21:15:00.000-03:00

Day 17

We left the Wapiti Campground in Jasper National Park, still heading west. The morning was delightful and sunny, but I still needed to wear my long pants.

The mountains stayed with us all day. At 11:00a.m. we entered British Columbia. As we traveled along you could see the trees getting bigger and the valley floor began to expand. It wasn't long before the valley floor gave way to fields contained by fences. We were coming into cattle country.

We were looking for a VIC to gather information and sure enough we seen the signs and followed them on in. In order to get to this particular VIC we had to take a road that took a big swing backward. When we did this I saw it first. I took in an extra big gasp of air, scared Richard, who quickly inquired disgustingly,
"What's the matter?" No sooner had he got the words out of his mouth when he saw it, and gasped,
"Oh my word, oh my word!" It was Mount Robson, the highest peek in the Rockies. To add to it's luster it was covered with snow. As you can well imagine I fumbled with my camera to get it turned on as quickly as possible.

Mount Robson is 3954 m (1297 ft.) high. It is located in the Frazer River Valley, 4km. south of Berh Lake. Mount Robson Park is the major headwater for the Frazer River.

"Oh what a glorious sight he was that day we first saw him. There, buttressed across the whole valley and more, with his high flung crest mantled with a thousand ages of snow, Mount Robson shouldered his way into the eternal solitudes thousands of feet higher than the surrounding mountains." These were the words written by George Kinney when he first saw Mount Robson. Mr. Kinney was born in New Brunswick, Canada and was the founding member of the Alpine Club of Canada. Kinney joined fellow climbers Quincy and Arthur Coleman on an expedition to be the first to climb Mount Robson. To learn more of this adventure go to www.peakfinder.com

When our eyes could take in no more we made our way into the Mount Robson Visitor Information Centre. There the lady who helped us was most informative, and we soon learned she was originally from Fredericton, N.B. She told us of where the campsites were and of the attractions we didn't want to miss in Clearwater 250 kilometers up the road. Off again we went still taking pictures as we left.

We stopped by a brook that flowed through a reststop area for a little lunch. As we prepared our lunch I noticed a guy walking around our RV. He came to the door and hollered in,
"How many days on the road?" From there the conversation took off. The man and his family sat at a picnic table across from us. We learned that he and his wife were retired beef farmers from nearby Edson, Alberta, close to Jasper.

They had done a lot of traveling since they retired. They shared fond memories of their trip to the east coast. Such places like the Confederation Bridge, Peggy's Cove, and The Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick.

At this point Richard went back to the RV and brought out a brochure (we just happened to have some, about 200) of the Hopewell Rocks Motel. After we retired from this tourism business, Richard's son Brian bought it, but we still promote it every chance we get.

As soon as he saw the pictures of the Rocks, he said with great enthusiasm,
"I remember them, we were there, they were just something else!" He said on their east coast trip his favorite province was Prince Edward Island, but his wife's was New Brunswick.

As we made our way back to our RV to resume our journey, the guy drew our attention to his fifth wheel. He explained that he bought it new in 1997 and have worn out two sets of tires. We made our exit wishing each other a safe journey, and you know we never caught each others names.

We got into Clearwater, what a beautiful little town with the river running through it. The girl at the VIC called and booked a campsite for us. We headed off the beaten trail, wound our way up, up and up some more on a 37 kilometer winding road to Wells Gray Golf Resort, Lodge and RV Park. The site was just super! We registered in for two nights. {www.wellsgraygolf.bcresort.com}

After a short rest we headed 15 km. back down the mountain in search of the sigh we seen on our way up. There it was, Trophy Mountain Buffalo Ranch. The sigh told us they had a BBQ every night, and the menu said buffalo steak. We were ready.

The setting was so peaceful, as you drove down the drive, to your right was a pasture full of horses, to your left a herd of buffalo. We parked and followed the stone walkway, lined with flowers, to a fenced in open air dining room. The floor was made of stone, metal patio furnishings complete with umbrellas, the blue sky as our canopy and the Rocky Mountains as the back drop. We ordered a Buffalo Rib Eye, a bottle of red wine, how perfect a way to end the day.

Day 18

We went back into town the next day for supplies and sightseeing. The Town of Clearwater was aptly named and hints at the pristine surroundings and the many opportunities for adventure. The Wells Gray Provincial Park encompasses 515,301 ha; established in 1939, and named after Wellesley Gray, a prominent Minister of Lands.

We hiked through an old growth cedar and hemlock forest, along the canyons edge to find Spahats Falls. We were thrilled at the 47 meter high falls. Our next excurshion was a trail that lead us along Myrtle River to the top of Helmcken Falls. Richard and I were spell bound. These falls plunged 141 meter down into Helmcken Canyon. The falls arcs cleanly over the edge and roars down into the pool below. The local people say that this pool is as deep as the falls are high. The falls leap and drop one more time, 15 meters as the Murtle River made hast passed the canyon walls to meet the Clearwater River a kilometer down river. The Helmcken Falls are considered the fourth largest waterfalls in Canada, and are three times higher than Niagara Falls. And I might add here they are 100% pure nature, no motels or gift shops are found anywhere, just majestic forests, and well worn paths to lookout platforms. I got some great shots.

Day 15 & 16...Our Cross Canada Trip....East to West

2006-09-17T16:19:00.000-03:00

Day 15 & 16

We got an early start, the countryside is beautiful, farmland for as far you can see. At 10:00a.m. I could see blue form off in the distance. We kept driving, closer and closer, Oh My God! We are in the 'Rockies'. I can't put my camera down!

It was still early when we arrived in Jasper National Park. We sure weren't the only ones with Jasper for a destination. It was hard to find a campsite, but we did. It was in an overflow parking lot with only hydro, but we didn't care. We filled out the necessary paper work and paid for two days and off we went back to the town of Jasper.

A four lane divided highway right through the center of town, the traffic is slow and laid back, good job, for people were milled about without a concern. On one side of the highway was a railway line with trains continuously running and on the other side shops and restaurants and a bank.

We had to go to the far end of town to find a place to park the RV. There were crosswalks everywhere for pedestrians ruled. We made our way to the Visitor Information Centre, booked a wildlife tour for later that day.

Our tour guides name was Fred. He loaded us all into the small van and away we went in search of the wildlife in Jasper National Park. Fred was very pleasant and informative. He took up one roads we never would have found for ourselves. We did see elk, deer, big horned sheep, and squirrels. We didn't see any bear. As we were hiking to a picturesque lake we came across a squirrels nest in the ground under a tree. Fred stopped the group and began telling us all about the squirrels habitat and habits of survival. Richard gave me a poke, and mumbled in my ear,
"Yeah, like we don't know about squirrels, he's just trying to kill time to justify the cost of the tour."

We clamored back into the van in search of more wild animals. All along the highway were signs telling tourists not get out of their cars to view or take pictures of wild animals. They went on to say it's especially dangerous when the males are in rutting season and when cows have young calves.

As we made a turn in the road we could see up ahead many cars stopped. Fred said that was a good sign, and that there must be something to look at. Sure enough, right along side of the road was a magnificent male elk sporting a hugh rack still covered with fuss.

Fred whipped the van into a safe position, came to a stop and jumped out. We followed close behind and why not, everyone else was out of their cars snapping pictures.

The elk was oblivious to we humans and just kept grazing and slowly moving along in our direction. Then, all of a sudden we heard this great roar coming from behind us. We snapped around and saw this man, in hiking gear carrying a tripod and camera with a very powerful looking telescopic lens. He was roaring in our direction,
"Do you have a guide in this group?" Not one of us answered, especially Fred. Well, he asked two more times getting louder and angrier each time. Finally Fred stepped from among us, and spoke up,
"Yes, I am, what seems to be your problem?"
By no the elk was no more than five feet from us. The angry guy asked why Fred allowed us to get so close to this animal. Then he angrily went on telling us that just a few minutes before a park Ranger had ordered him to get back at least 40 feet.
"What right do you have getting so close?" he asked.

Fred was quick, he replied that the elk had gotten close to us. That answer only ticked this guy off even more and he stomped off in discussed. Later on we came across the camera guy again and he was still looking for that perfect picture of something or anything. Fred slowed down to check out his license plate, he was from Texas.

We then made our way back to the town of Jasper to end our tour, but before doing so, we agreed the highlight of our tour was the guy from Texas.

Day 16

Our plan for this day was to take a tram ride up into Jasper National Parks alpine tundra area. The Jasper Tramway is the longest and highest guided tram ride in Canada, and is the only guided aerial ropeway in the Canadian Rockies. The view from the tram all the way up was spectacular to say the least. We could see three mountain ranges, glacial fed lakes, Alberta's longest river, the Athabasca River, as well as the entire town-site of Jasper.

The building where we purchased our tickets was already 1304 metres (4279 ft.) above sea level. The tram cabin holds 30 people and takes 7 minutes to reach the upper station on top of Whistlers Mountain which is 2277 metres (7472 ft.)above sea level.

Once we reached the top Richard and I took a stroll along the boardwalk, took some great pictures and just huddled and relaxed as we watched people leave the confines of the station to hike to the summit of the mountain. The wind was brisk and I'm glad I put on three layers of clothes, but it was not unbearable at all.

When we arrived back in Jasper we discovered a back street that was just as busy and had as much to offer as the front street. We heard music and smelled food and followed our nose to an upper level Italian restaurant. We sat out on the balcony encompassed about by pots of herbs, tomatoes and flowers. Our waiter was of Italian decent and was a delight. He told us they used the tomatoes from their pots in many of their recipes. Of course we ordered pizza, and I have to say it was the best pizza we had ever eaten. The crust was so light and crisp and the spices and toppings were in perfect proportions.

We got a chuckle when a girl was busily watering the many potted plants and made a mistake and put too much on one. There was a splash and a laughing scream rise up from below. Everyone was of good cheer.

We did a lot of shopping, for the grandchildren back home, for the rest of the afternoon, then retired to our campground for some R&R.

I was restless, I was not happy with my shots I had taken of elk, so decided to go for a walk. It was around 3:00p.m. and there was lots of light left for more pictures. I walked out the campground road to the main highway. There on the side of the road just in the woods a ways was the elks pathway. It looked just like the pathway cows in a pasture make. So I decided to take this path. I walked for a ways and the pathway veered deeper into the wooded area. The highway was still in plain sight and I could see the cars passing by.

I heard a noise off to my left, there no more than 15 feet from me was mother elk and her calf, oh shit. I stopped dead in my tracks, she stopped grazing and watched me. It seemed like we stood staring each other down for a long while. Now what do I do, well means I'm in this predicament I might as well get that good shot came after. Now I had the attention of both calf and mother, and they weren't moving away. I knew I had to get out of their sight. Close by was a young 10 foot high spruce tree, I buried myself in it. I couldn't see them and they couldn't see me. O.K. now maybe they'll move along. The calf kept blatting, yeah, it's probably calling it's father to come see this implant in the tree.

Just then a car had to come to a complete stop to let another elk cross over to my side. Great, this one is probably the calf's aunt. As the elk made it's way across the road and down in the ditch coming my way, the darn little calf came over to greet it. They met, touched noses, yes, I got a shot of that too. She was so close her eyes lit up from my flash. She sauntered out of sight, but the calf hung around where I was.

I could come from out of the tree and walk up to the road out of her territory, but by doing so I would be coming out in plain sight again and the calf was closer than ever to me. I could go back the same way I came, but I would have to pass close by the calf, bad idea. Just then a car stopped, seeing me close to the elk, they rolled down their window and began asking me questions. O.K. it's now or never. I nonchalantly strolled up toward the car, all the while checking out the back seat. Good, the door was unlocked and only one person was in it, if I had too I would jump in.

As I was walking toward the car I kept glancing over my shoulder at the reaction of the mother elk. I answered the questions the people in the car were asking, just like I knew what I was talking about. They moved on, and now I was on the road and out of her territory, she went back to grazing. I was happy with my pictures and hurried back to the campsite. You know what, that little calf walked in the woods beside me right into the campsite. Once in the campsite there were many other people walking around, I felt safer, but the most safe when I got inside my RV.

Day 14...Our Cross Canada Trip....East to West

2006-09-17T15:34:00.000-03:00

(More pictures of the West Edmonton Mall in day 11, 12, & 13 story.)

Day 14

On the road again, traveling east on 16 to get back to the West Edmonton Mall. Ho Lay! a shoppers delight.

Richard and I entered at the Sears entrance at 9:00 a.m.. The first thing we did was find an information booth and a map of the mall. We both had cell phones incase we got separated. Not very likely, we stuck to each other like glue.

We walked on down the isles just window shopping. The mall had all the brand name stores that we are use to and more. We commented on how there were not many people around. Some of the amusement sections were not open yet. Look, oh my god, there's a skating rink, and look at all the seniors out skating!

We went a little farther and came upon the extreme to the rink, there below us was a gigantic simulated sandy beach complete with a wave pool. Then we could hear a rumble of noise throughout the mall. It was the sound of the metal folding doors to the entrances of the amusement parks opening up. Then there was a reaction, like that of a giant vacuum cleaner sucking kids in from every direction. They were coming from everywhere, followed close behind by attentive parents and grandparents. Within a half hour we were making our way through the maze of kids, shoppers, gift bags, strollers. So much for thinking there weren't many people here.

I watched closely at how well behaved the children were, and how the parents were enjoying them. They all were having so much fun at places like World Waterpark, Galaxyland Amusement Park, Deep Sea Adventure and so much more.

We took the escalator to the second level, found a Tim Hortons and a table overlooking the skating rink, enjoyed our coffee while watching the skaters below. It had now been a hour since we first came in and I marveled at the seniors we saw skating then, still going strong.

We were browsing again when I saw flashing lights, heard bells and whistles going, my heart began to skip a few beats, YES, a casino! We hastily made our way toward it, well, maybe not Richard. Guess what was just outside the entrance to the casino, an ATM machine. How thoughful of these people, in we went with $100.00 in hand and great expectations. Well, we sure weren't the only ones who found the casino, the place was full. We made a walk about, dropped a coin or two and found our way out the same way we came in. On second thought, not quite the same way we went in, we were $100.00 poorer.

The only thing we bought in the Mall was a T-Shirt for Sophia, it was so cute. On the front of the T-shirt was a picture of a crown, and the writing under it said,
"I didn't ask to be a Princess, but if the crown fits...."

We headed back to the RV, made a few circles around and around and finally we were back on 16 heading west. We stopped in a little town called Spruce Grove and got a supply of groceries. The campsite we found for tonight is called East of Edson RV Resort. Don't ever let the word 'Resort' fool you into thinking you're getting anything special.

Day 11,12,& 13...Our Cross Canada Trip....East to West

2006-09-12T10:51:00.000-03:00

Day 11, 12 and 12

We arrived in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan's, "City of Bridges." Here we called Richard's nephew Tom and his wife Pat. We checked into Saskatoon 16 West RV Park, where they were camping for the summer, for a few days of rest, relaxation and visiting. This campsite was very very nice, and it's web site is: www.saskatoonrvpark.com

It was a great time to be in Saskatoon, for they were celebrating their 100 birthday. During our stay Tom and Pat took us on a tour of the city. Here we discovered that on May 26, 1906, 4,500 people formed the city and derived it's name from the purple berry the Cree Indians called mis-sask-quah-toomina.

Saskatoon has been named the 2006 Cultural Capital of Canada for communities with a population greater than 125,000 by the department of Canadian Heritage. One of the cities colorful characters from the past was Gabriel Dumont who's statue stands in Friendship Park to honor him. Dumont was one of the men from the North West Rebellion. He escaped capture by going to the United States where he joined Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. To learn more go to www.schoolnet.ca or www.library2usask.ca or just google Gabriel Dumont. The entire history of Saskatoon is worth a look at their web site www.tourismsaskatoon.com

Tom and Pat took us to the residential area where their home is. It is an older part of Saskatoon and the elm trees are majestic, making the area wonderful place to live. The city is battling the Dutch Elm disease among these trees, I do hope they are able to subdue the spread of the disease otherwise it will change the face of this area.

Day 13

We crossed over into Alberta around noon. The lay of the land changed immediately. The land began to roll and roll.

We drove all day and at 4:30p.m. we arrived in Edmonton. We seen an information symbol on a sign and followed it. A map of Albert was the only map we did not have yet. Anyway, we made this turn and that turn according to the ? sign. Then the signs stopped and no VIC Centre. We were lost and it was raining to boot, we stopped at a service station and got directions on how to get back on the highway leading west to Jasper.

But I wanted to see and visit the West Edmonton Mall and we had already passed signs directing us there. We decided to look for a campsite for the night and go back in the morning. We soon found one called SHERKS, oh man what a place, morning won't come quick enough.

Day 9 & 10...Our Cross Canada Trip....East to West

2006-09-12T07:42:00.000-03:00

Day 9 and 10

Today we arrived at the "picture perfect" town of Wasagaming, home to the Riding Mountain National Park's interpretation centre. In this little town we found every amenity one would want or need. In the heart of the town the streets were lined with shops and restaurants complete with outdoor tables and umbrellas. The streets were lined with cars. Families walking everywhere. There were private cottages built in and around every tree, they were neat, painted up and the flower beds were glorious. We stopped to ask a park attendant if they were occupied all year, he said the owners only stayed from May to October. Another interesting facility was the log theatre, the largest of its kind in North America.

The flowers around the interpretation centre we spectacular. We discovered that the grounds and gardens were maintained without toxic chemicals and that the fertilizers used consist of organic materials. I was so intrigued by the way they handled pests, such as; beer traps for slugs, soap and baking soda for fleas and aphids and the flea beetles were treated to radish.

As Richard and I looked over the information at the centre we discovered that Riding National Park consisted of 3000 sq.km. of land. The land consisted of white spruce, hardwood forests and prairie grassland and some of the largest moose, elk and bear live within it's perimeter, not to mention the 900 kg. Bison that roam in an enfenced santuary around Lake Audy. That's where we wanted to go. The interpreter told us that we'd have to get up early in the morning to see them, the heat of the day they went into the forest to stay cool.

It was 3:30 p.m. and away we went on the 36km. Trek over a washboard dirt road. Boy, our motorhome shook and rattled something fearse. Richard slowed the pace to a crawl, at this pace it would take us way too long to get there. We wondered what it would be like if we quickened our pace, Richard put the pedal down, surprisingly it was much better.

Finally we came to the an open air information gazebo with information about the sanctuary in which we were now into. We got out and headed up the ramp to read about the bison. I couldn't figure out why, at the entrance of the walkway there was a swinging metal gate that you had to pull outwards to enter. Oh well, in we went and read the displayed info. As we exited I seen a big pile of bison dung on the pathway nearby, now I know why the gate swung the way it did.

We soon came to the entrance of the campground we were going to say at. There were no attendants to tell us where to go or take our money. A sign told us to go in and pick out one of the thirty sites, then come back and put the exact change into an envelope that was supplied, place it into a metal box, and do enjoy your stay. Wow. There were only eight other campers on the river bank with us. We chose a secluded spot with a nice worn path down to the shore, and there were two chemical outhouses nearby. There was no water hook up and no electricity, boy we figured we were really roughing it.

We enjoyed our supper in this peaceful setting and listened to the water slapping against the shore. The sunset was spectacular, we retired early in preparation of our early rise to find bison.

I awoke at 5:30 a.m. got dressed and went for a short walk. The sunrise was equally as delighful as it's setting the night before. I heard the whistle of an elk crying off in the distance, I near jumped out of my shorts. Richard was up by now and away we went.

We drove along through dense fog, there off to our left were the shadows of bison Shrouded in this fog as they grazed. As we kept driving the sun began to burn through the fog giving us better views of more bison, elk and deer. In all we seen 25 bison, five elk and two deer. I was able to get great shots of the bison and elk, but the deer, by their very nature, didn't cooperate with the lens of my camera.

We returned to our campsite for breakfast. While Richard prepared it I went for another walk farther up the shore. I came across a well worn path that lead through a patch of raspberries and down to the shore. As I walked through, my legs getting wet from the dew, I picked a few berries and wondered if a bear too might enjoy them. I kept on. There, no more than 20 feet in front of me, I stopped dead in my tracks, a lone loon floated off shore. I have been trying, to no avail, to capture in my lens a loon for so long. There she was, and she was not going away. She performed beautifully for me and even sang her haunting call for me. What a way to start a day.

Day 8...Our Cross Canada Trip...East to West

2006-09-04T12:28:00.000-03:00

Day 8

We crossed over into Manitoba about 2:30p.m. and our first stop was to a VIC to get directions to The Royal Canadian Mint. We were off.

Once inside we waited for our turn for a tour, but, in the mean time we discovered gold. There was a young RCMP Officer guarding this brick of solid gold, but he did allow Richard to hold it. This brick of gold weighed 28 pounds and is worth $340,000.00.

The young RCMP Officer said, “When you see those movies with the bandits running off with sacks of gold in each hand, don’t believe it.”

The tour was very informative, but unfortunate for us it was just the time between shifts and we did not see the assembly lines in motion.

We stopped for gas and right across the road was a new establishment called Countryside Fruit Vegetables and More, and it also was a private information center. The lady inside was so friendly and helpful. She directed our path to a campsite nearby called Welcomestop Campground just 13 km west of Winnipeg. The campground was built on the banks of the Assiniboine River, the second largest river in Manitoba.

We had a very enjoyable conversation. She told us that her husband was from Halifax, and that they go east to visit family and friends in Frederiction and Saint John. Another place she said was a must see was Riding Mountain National Park. Just then more customers came who overheard our conversation and showed us on the map the best route to get us in and out of the park.

She asked us if we had brought any fish? Of course she was only kidding and remarked about the wonderful fish from The Bay of Fundy.

We then stepped out onto her front deck while she looked after more customers. When they had left she came out with a bag in her hand. She hadn’t wanted to say anything while the other customers were in her store, she handed me a bag. She had gone to her personal freezer and gave us a bag of frozen fish called Pickering. She informed us that it was delicious. I had no ingredience to garnish the fish, so she went back in and came out with a bag of flour and corn meal mixed together, and also a fresh lemon.

While we were waiting on the front deck we noticed a sign posted on her screen door and inquired about it.
“Yes,” she said, “someone stole my flower planter.”
She went on to explain that she had wished to make her deck cozy for people to come out and enjoy a cup of tea. There she had placed a metal table and chairs, over at the other end were two handmade chairs and a planter made from branches. She then added,
“There’s the flowers that were in the planter, someone took them out, neatly put them on the chair and took the chair.

She then shared the reason for her sadness of loosing the planter.
“You see, it’s not that the planter had monetary value, rather priceless sentimental value. I made the two chairs, while my dying sister lovingly made the planter to match. It was one of the last things she and I had done together before she died.” As her sign read, PLEASE RETURN, NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

She wished us well, gave us a page of recipes, saying she wished she could go to the park with us. I thought to myself, ‘such a nice soul, I hope her planter is returned to her.’

We found the campsite, not one to write home about, and a good lesson learned, don’t get a campsite close to the highway.

Day 7...Our Cross Canada Tour.... East to West

2006-08-18T23:53:00.000-03:00

Day 7

The highlight of this day was visiting the Terry Fox Memorial in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The park setting and lookout was just breathtaking. When reading all the information about Terry, his dreams and his mission, it brought back memories as though it was just yesterday that you saw Terry pass by your door.

We settled in for the night in the Davy Lake R & RV Campground & Resort in Ignace, Ontario. We were so impressed with the grounds, and cleanliness I am putting in their web site in case you’re ever in the area. www.davylakecampground.com

Day 6...Our Cross Canada Tour.... East to West

2006-08-18T23:51:00.000-03:00

Day 6

This was a basic driving day, still in northern Ontario. As we drove around a turn in the road there was an old house that just cried out to have it’s picture taken. Richard drove a little further down the road and turned around. I got right out of the RV, positioned myself to get the best shot. I looked at the shots I had taken and the house just seemed to be saying, “ I’m tired and I’ve had enough!”

We stopped at a Visitor Information at around lunch time in Hearst. It was closed. We knew it was Sunday, but come on, travelers traveled everyday. We couldn’t believe it, for it was a beautiful building with great surrounding. I took some pictures anyway.

We sat at a picnic table to have lunch and struck up a conversation with a family in the table next to us. The conversation got around to campsites near by. They told us there was campsite in McLeod Provincial Park, near Geraldtown on HWY 11 westward bound.

We traveled on to Longlac, Ontario and came upon an Visitor Information Center and stopped to get info on a place to stay and things to do. In side was a nice young man who asked us what he could do for us. I asked him a question, his answer was, “I don’t have a clue.” O.K. I thought, ‘go on to the next question.’ Same answer, “I don’t have a clue.” I asked the young man who hired him and he told me the municipality. “Well then, did they not give you any training?” He said they told him they were going to but never did. I thanked him and picked up some brochures and we headed on our way.

We found the McLeod Provincial Park campground and registered in for the night. It was a very nice place.