I often write about aviation history these days and am invariably asked if I’m a pilot. Back in university when I was focused mostly on First Nations history and missionaries, people also made assumptions about my religious background (although interestingly few wondered if I was FN, even though I fit right in at Kahnawake andContinue reading “Murder in Life and on the Page”
Author Archives: dmcadmin
Margaret Atwood and Me
The last few days a bad cold meant I could barely hold my head up, let alone sit at my desk. But I could read, and luckily I was in the middle of Rosemary Sulivan’s fascinating biography on Margaret Atwood’s early years: The Red Shoes (1998). I have always been ambivalent about Atwood and IContinue reading “Margaret Atwood and Me”
We don’t need no education
I’ve had education on the brain quite a bit recently. After all, I was just involved with the Young Readers’ Conference at a local Junior High last Friday, and really impressed with the innovative teaching happening there. Although, a couple of weeks ago I chatted with a disillusioned friend (M.Ed) trying to teach critical thinkingContinue reading “We don’t need no education”
Passing the Conch
Last Friday I spent the morning as one of the speakers at a Young Readers Conference in Edmonton. During each of the two 40-minutes sessions, I worked with 25-odd students ranging in age from 10 to 15, talking about aviation history. It was terrifying. Exhilerating. Fascinating. I got an email about this “gig” out ofContinue reading “Passing the Conch”
Up-Ending the Pile
Blogging has unfortunately dropped to the bottom of the writing pile. Before it comes tweeting, facebook status-updating, grocery-list writing, emailing, powerpoint slides, website copy, grant applications, and magazine articles. But this blog entry still comes before poetry and my book projects, which sit in boxes on the highest shelf, just out of my reach. SnippetsContinue reading “Up-Ending the Pile”
Expanding Horizons
I’ve been a little quiet on the blogging front since my return from the Yukon, which I blame mostly on all the shovelling I had to do last month. According to my Edmontonian friends and colleagues, it is definitely one of the snowiest winters in living history. Now that the storms have moved off andContinue reading “Expanding Horizons”
Snowpocalypse 2: Return of the Blizzard
This week has seen a steady stream of cold temps (by southern Canadian standards, my Yukon friends keep reminding me) and snow. For the most part it’s just been a few centimetre here and there, then yesterday it decided to dump on us. Again. This morning I woke up to at least another 10 cmContinue reading “Snowpocalypse 2: Return of the Blizzard”
Snowpocalypse 2011: Edmonton Edition
On Friday afternoon the snow started falling… and falling… and falling… By Saturday morning there was a good 20 cm of fresh powder. Even though motorists were advised to stay off the roads, they didn’t look that bad in our area yet and so we piled the dog into the Honda Element (with snow tires)Continue reading “Snowpocalypse 2011: Edmonton Edition”
Berton House Top Ten
It’s that time of year. The time of year when magazines, tv shows, internet sites, and everyone else make top ten lists. So I will too. About my time up north (although it’s very hard to pick just ten!). Here they are in no particular order: 1. Working, reading, watching tv, chatting, and napping atContinue reading “Berton House Top Ten”
A Season of Goodbyes
A season of goodbyesOf memoriesFalling like snowSettlingOn Me. So many promisesHopes tied togetherFinger in the middleHolding placeMaking sureWishes wrapped up tightAs arms around waists.