Summer 2015 Project Bookmark Canada The Letter

Alistair MacLeod’s No Great Mischief UNVEILING OCTOBER 1

On October 1, 2015, Project Bookmark indefatigable Mary Tulle of Destination Canada will unveil one of our most- Cape Breton introduced the initiative requested Bookmarks: Alistair to local communities; municipal and MacLeod’s No Great Mischief on Cape provincial governments joined in; and Breton Island. The Bookmark will have Betty Muggah, Hughena Matheson, its home at the Visitor Sarah Emsley and members of the Centre in Port Hastings, just over the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia Canso Causeway, which the characters provided assistance from publicity cross in the final section of the book. to financial contributions. We also Building this Bookmark has been a fine want to offer a special thanks to the example of east coast goodwill and Waterloo, -based The Good co-operation, as the MacLeod family Foundation Inc. that made a significant gave their consent and advice; Gary grant to make this Bookmark possible. Walsh and Jeanette MacDonald at the Cabot Trail Writers Festival used the ‘All of us are better when we’re loved.’ festival as a platform for presentations and their network to rally support; the

#RaiseaGlass4Alistair Calls for a Bookmark for Alistair MacLeod’s No Great Mischief have come from across the country, so we’re inviting all Canadian readers to the party. On the evening of October 1, 2015 we hope you’ll turn out in your own towns and cities to raise a glass for Alistair MacLeod. Shelagh Rogers, host of CBC Radio’s The Next Chapter, will be our Twitter toastmaster, conducting a cross-country celebration from Newfoundland to and collecting comments and pictures as they happen at #RaiseaGlass4Alistair. The event will be a fundraiser for theNo Great Mischief Bookmark—and if our highball runneth over, proceeds will go to bringing you more Bookmarks on your CanLit trail. For many, the drink of choice will be scotch, but if apple juice is your style, pour that instead. As Alexander MacLeod reminds us, his dad wasn’t concerned about what was being served—he just wanted everyone to have a good time. Want to join the #RaiseaGlass4Alistair party? You can host a gathering (in your home or local watering hole) or attend one. Events can be what you wish to make them—kitchen party, or sit-down tasting. Just tell us your plans, and we will link you in.

projectbookmarkcanada.ca 1 BOOKMARK PREPS for Canada’s 150th Birthday In May, Miranda Hill of Project Bookmark Canada was invited to present at the Calgary gathering of the 150 Alliance, a group that assembles and connects organizations and individuals preparing for Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017.

What an opportunity! Among the Avid readers Jim Harper, Bookmark President Don Oravec, and other presenters was Deborah Apps, Executive Director Miranda Hill. Photo credit: Ron Davis. President and CEO of the Trans New Leadership for Canada Trail, who became an instant Project Bookmark Canada At our Annual General Meeting in June, Project Bookmark Canada bid farewell to our longtime leader Ben McNally, owner of ’s glorious Ben McNally Books. Ben was one of our original board members, serving since our incorporation in 2007. Thanks Ben for all your encouragement and belief in Bookmark as we grew from concept to reality.

We are delighted to announce that our new President is Bookmark fan and adviser Don Oravec. Don brings a wealth of experience to Bookmark after a fan of Bookmark. Indeed, most of the career spent in the service of non-profit arts organizations, most recently as participants were new to the idea of former Executive Director of the Writers’ Trust of Canada, and we are excited Bookmark—and we collected many to see what we can do under his leadership. Don heads a board of talented supporters and future champions. In and motivated individuals, including new Secretary of the board, Linda addition to the presentations, the day Hughes. Welcome to Don and Linda, and thanks to all our board members included sessions for collaboration and for your ideas, time and enthusiasm. conversation. The energy and activity in the room was astounding. In fact, we BOARD OF DIRECTORS: found the meeting so valuable, that Project Bookmark Canada joined the Don Oravec, President Meg Coles 150 Alliance at the Halifax meeting later Alma Lee in the month. Anna Ling Kaye, Vice President Hughena Matheson Check out the 150 Alliance if you’re Kevin Noel, Treasurer working on an initiative for Canada150. Munju Ravindra Or volunteer to help with ours. Linda Hughes, Secretary Allegra Young Give us a shout.

2 projectbookmarkcanada.ca BOOKMARK 15: Any Known Blood Alberta by Lawrence Hill Opportunities in Oakville We are pleased to announce that our Your Bookmark team has spent much fifteenth Bookmark will be installed in of the past year developing several Oakville on October 5th, 2015. opportunities in Alberta. Thanks to an Some years ago, Project Bookmark initial gift from Glasswaters Foundation, Canada was invited to present to a Project Bookmark Canada has been book club in Oakville, Ontario that was at work on a cluster of Bookmarks reading Lawrence Hill’s Any Known in Calgary. Assisting us in developing Blood. The members, hosted by avid this project have been representatives reader Cari MacLean, requested that from the Calgary Public Library, and their subsequent donation be used author used to help research the story WordFest Calgary, as well as Calgary towards a Bookmark for one of the of five generations of a black family poet laureate derek beaulieu. novel’s many local settings. moving back and forth across the Our contacts at the city of Calgary And now the patience and vision Canada-US border. include Sarah Iley and her team, who of these readers is finally paying off. Lawrence Hill will be speaking about are in the process of sorting out the On October 5th, Lawrence Hill will his ties to Oakville, and about his new possibilities for land use. We look join local dignitaries in unveiling the novel The Illegal that same evening at forward to telling you more when we Bookmark for Any Known Blood at the Oakville Centre for the Performing learn what can be permitted. the corner of King and Navy Streets, across the road from a house named Arts. Watch our website for more info Project Bookmark Canada has also in the story, and on the grounds of the on both events, or to make a donation been investigating the possibilities Oakville Museum—a resource that the to this Bookmark. for Bookmarks in Banff, Alberta. The enthusiasm for the initiative there is very high, with ideas and connections being offered from the Banff Centre Bookmark: Then andNOW for the Arts, the Whyte Museum of Sometimes it’s hard to believe that Project Bookmark Canada unveiled its first the Canadian Rockies, Banff Heritage Bookmark in April 2009. We’ve come a long way—both in distance travelled and Tourism and Banff-Lake Louise Tourism. in opportunities. As of fall 2015, we will have fifteen Bookmarks in four provinces, Stay tuned for more on our efforts to a board of directors that spans the country, and a small but committed team to bring Canada’s Literary Trail to one of Canada’s iconic spaces. bring new opportunities to fruition.

Miranda Hill was also pleased to But that first Bookmark at the Bloor Street Viaduct in Toronto is still attracting present at the Alberta Library attention and praise. In November, Toronto’s iconic NOW Magazine published its Conference in Jasper, Alberta, annual Reader’s Choice Awards in the Best of T.O. issue, and named the Bookmark opening doors to new partnerships for Michael Ondaatje’s In the Skin of a Lion Runner Up in the category of Best and installations in other parts of Literary Landmark, just behind bpnichol Lane. ThanksNOW readers for the great the province. tribute and for putting Bookmark in such fine CanLit company.

projectbookmarkcanada.ca projectbookmarkcanada.ca 3 Bookmark at Home Are you on In March, Bookmark founder Miranda Hill ran a small salon at her home in Hamilton at which guests the list? met and heard Elisabeth de Mariaffi, author of the highly acclaimed literary thriller The Devil You Know. Adding your name to Participants went home with memories of a lively our mailing list is the discussion and their own copies of one of the most thrilling CanLit titles of the year—and Bookmark took best way to learn about almost $1000 dollars to the bank. Bookmark happenings In May, incoming President Don Oravec dedicated in your area, contests of his 60th birthday party to Bookmark by making a donation himself and inviting all sorts, and events to guests to do the same. The evening included a panel with debut novelist Sabrina build and celebrate our Ramnanan, author of Nothing Like Love and Lynn Henry of Penguin Random House Canada on the editor-author relationship. Proceeds from the event were well over Canadian literary trail. $2000 and have been directed to the No Great Mischief Bookmark in Cape Breton.

Sound like fun? Get in touch with us to talk about opportunities to host your own Join us! CanLit salon in support of Project Bookmark Canada. We may even be able to connect you with authors on tour in your area. What does Bookmark do in summer? Read, of course! On an urban patio, cottage dock or Read along: @BookmarkCanada an ocean beach, many Canadians associate summer and reading. This You can also record your suggestions summer, Miranda Hill will be reading for Bookmark sites and stories/poems in Woody Point, on the west coast via our new online suggestion form, of Newfoundland, and Bookmark which preps your ideas for our great Executive Assistant Kate Burgess will big database. be reading in Kingston, Ontario, as well as on camping trips and at summer If your summer is unplugged, you may festivals (if you see her, you may have to encounter our ads in the summer pry a book from her hands). Read on / Listen in reading issue of The Walrus magazine, Project Bookmark Canada has partnered with While you’re perusing your own or in the summer program guide for the innovative Koffler Centre for the Arts bookshelf or the library stacks this the Hamilton Public Library—our great summer, please share your ideas with to commission a walking tour and podcast partners who also provide Bookmark inspired by the Bookmark for Anne Michaels Project Bookmark Canada. Follow us on Twitter, where we’ll be offering reading staff and volunteers with a place to Fugitive Pieces, in Toronto’s Little Italy. The prompts and handing out prizes for work, meet and store our numerous podcast will be created by Angela Shackel of your ideas and feedback. stacks of books still marked To-be-Read. Lipstick Studios, and is scheduled to debut in Fall 2015. As Anne Michaels herself has said of Project Bookmark Canada, “where we stand, Project Bookmark Canada To make a donation or suggestion, there is a story,” and now people will hear this and to find out more, visit us at: 154 Dalewood Crescent particular story in new ways. projectbookmarkcanada.ca Hamilton, ON L8S 4B7 twitter: @BookmarkCanada 905-975-1797 facebook.com/ProjectBookmarkCanada