On the Trail of Ella McLean
As a child growing up in Smoky Lake, I remember my dad, newspaper editor Lorne Taylor, taking me up to the graveyard off Victoria Trail. We pushed through the bushes…
history
what i’m reading: the nickel boys by colson whitehead
By now wmtc readers, at least those who read my “what i’m reading” posts, know that Colson Whitehead is one of my favourite authors. I was so happy that he…
weekend trip with mom: a few days in the comox valley
I thought it would be fun for my mom to see a different part of Vancouver Island. I didn’t want her going home thinking the whole island is a sparsely…
island day trip with mom: sointula
This week’s day trip with my Mom was the town of Sointula. One of my libraries is located in Sointula, so I’ve been there a couple of times, but had…
frederick douglass, susan b. anthony, and the ridiculous (and dangerous) quest for moral purity
Reading David Blight’s monumental Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, I learned some facts about both Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony that were very unpleasant and, at least in Douglass’…
what i’m reading: frederick douglass, prophet of freedom
My biography reading continues: I finally finished Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by the historian and Douglass scholar David Blight. It is a monumental work, not an easy read, but…
indigenous canada: online course from university of alberta
This is a detail from artwork thatwas used throughout the course. Earlier this year, I studied and completed “Indigenous Canada“, a 12-week MOOC offered by the University of Alberta. It’s…
11 things I loved about "rolling thunder revue: a bob dylan story"
Allan and I have been greatly anticipating “Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story”, the new film by Martin Scorsese released this week on Netflix. When “The Last Waltz” opened…
five things you probably don’t know about frederick douglass (and u.s. history)
Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, David W. Blight’s monumental biography of that greatest of Americans, is a long, challenging, and utterly fascinating read. After waiting for months to borrow it…
Primitive vs Civilized Societies
As someone born in 1950 and raised and educated in a Eurocentric culture I learned early that civilized societies are intellectually, socially, and technologically superior to primitive societies. This despite…
what i’m reading: jackie robinson: a biography
I finished reading this fine biography a while ago, but I’ve been having trouble writing about it. It was very good. If some parts were a bit too detailed for…
what i’m reading: solitary raven: the essential writings of bill reid
I’m supposed to be writing about the Jackie Robinson biography, which I finished weeks ago, but so far I haven’t been motivated to do so. I finished another Wallander mystery…
walking the walk: if canada is serious about reconciliation, the senate must pass bill c-262
Canadians, contact the Senate. Urge them to work together to pass Private Member’s Bill C-262, “An Act to ensure that the laws of Canada are in harmony with the United…
jackie robinson: "i owe more to canadians than they’ll ever know."
Let me set the scene. The year is 1946. The United States is deeply segregated. The birth of the civil rights movement that would begin as African-American soldiers returned home…
Stub History
I’ve been getting rid of some accumulated paper. I found a receipt for a full year of university tuition in 1978-79: $740. I also found a paystub for my minimum…
Reflections on reading a book about Richard the Lionheart
Whenever I read a book, I try to spend a bit of time reflecting on it. I try to choose the most important details of it to retell to myself,…
Searching for Justice and Equality in Ancient Times
One of the classes I’m teaching these days is a secular Bible study class. I treat the Bible like a work of literature. We discuss the different historical periods and…
Our Collective Memory Lasts Thousands of Years
When European explorers made first contact with peoples around the world both cultures changed. Unfortunately for those being contacted they were changed by a lot of diseases and exploitation (sadly…
first nations public library week
Yesterday was Orange Shirt Day. October 1 through 7 is First Nations Public Library Week in Canada. I’ll write more about this soon. For now, a book review from a…
Bolsheviki by David Fennario
Read this play last night – brilliant, classic Fennario. Having grown up in the Verdun/Point area his characters tend to send shivers down my spine in their uncanny familiarity and…