Was so pleased to read a review of my latest book, Polar Winds, in Arctic, the Journal of the Arctic Institute of North America, by esteemed colleague Shirlee Smith Matheson: “As a reviewer and avid reader and writer of aviation history, I take my hat off to Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail for her work in containing this massiveContinue reading “Glowing Review of Polar Winds in Arctic!”
Author Archives: dmcadmin
Your help is needed!
A woman from Cambridge Bay, NU (Cathy Aitok) has contacted me through my Ghosts of Camsell site looking for help tracking down what happened to her grandfather. He was sent to the Charles Camsell Indian Hospital for prosthetics for his feet in May 1960: “He was sent out from Perry River/Island – Cambridge Bay area. My mom saidContinue reading “Your help is needed!”
Some news stories about Camsell project
If you’ve never heard of Indian hospitals, you’re not the only one. This is one particular dark issue in Canada’s past that isn’t often spoken about, even though the story comes right into St. Albert’s backyard. The issue is so little-known, in fact, that Edmonton historian Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail had never heard of them until sheContinue reading “Some news stories about Camsell project”
Edmonton Examiner asks me 20 Questions!
Ghosts of Camsell – Updates & Video Trailer!
The blog series is done for now, but the search for answers will continue for a long time, I’m sure. In the meantime, I have been talking on the radio about the project and my partner on this project, Nicole Beart of Memory Catcher, has completed a video trailer. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FlhNM-JWkQ] Also, on Tuesday, May 19th from 5-8pmContinue reading “Ghosts of Camsell – Updates & Video Trailer!”
Ghosts of Camsell
One of the most interesting – and heartbreaking – parts of the research for my last book were the X-ray tours, evacuations, and treatments of northern indigenous people in the Charles Camsell Indian Hospital in Edmonton. I could only cover it briefly in the book, but vowed I would spend more time investigating this era,Continue reading “Ghosts of Camsell”
Diversity in Aviation: Air Cadet 699 Squadron
I was invited to speak at a fundraising dinner for 699 Squadron last month in Edmonton, and I was so impressed. These air cadets are leading the charge in diversity – ahead of the RCAF and airlines at this point – and are some of the nicest, most engaged citizens I’ve come across. And they areContinue reading “Diversity in Aviation: Air Cadet 699 Squadron”
Elinor Florence brings her WWII story to Edmonton
Wrestling with writing history and fiction
I’ve resisted imaginative leaps just as I resisted making anything up when I was writing my thesis. Except, I remind myself, you’re allowed to make stuff up in fiction. That’s the whole point. Thanks so much to colleague Gail Anderson-Dargatz for giving me the chance to think a bit about my anxieties as IContinue reading “Wrestling with writing history and fiction”
Old YEG Café: Historic Neighbourhoods and the Mature Neighbourhood Overlay
Are you interested in heritage preservation in Edmonton? Are you interested in learning more about the factors involved? The role of the City of Edmonton, developers, and citizens at large? Heritage Forward! is pleased to announce the second in a series of public events designed to raise awareness of built heritage issues in the CityContinue reading “Old YEG Café: Historic Neighbourhoods and the Mature Neighbourhood Overlay”