Byline Volume 30 Number 4 Summer 2013
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Vol 32:3 ISSN 1929-6193 IN THIS ISSUE President's Message – Dr. Qais Ghanem Well, it is a New Year once again! And like everyone else I know, I am wondering where and how the weeks sailed past. ... More ... Member News Qais Ghanem honoured with Martin Luther Citation; Sanjeer Gallery now open... More … Sussing out the story - by L. D. Cross I write articles and books about unique or little-known aspects of Canadian history. But where to find the information to spin these stories? … More .... Just get to it! – By Kelly Buell The page stares back at me. Daunting. Its blank demand is difficult to escape. .... More .... A short story for your reading pleasure – by Christina Crowe “I’m sorry, Jonathan, I just don’t think it’s right. I knew your mother, God rest her soul. .... More ... What You Missed: – by Louise Rachlis Author Charlotte Gray tells packed CAA-NCR meeting about 'murder’ she wrote ... More .... 28th CAA-NCR Writing Contest - Guidelines for 2015 NCWC - By Sherrill Wark Open to members of CAA–NCR and/or residents of the National Capital Region ... More... 27th CAA-NCR Writing Contest - Second Place – Poetry Category - By Joan McKay I love you as certain dark things are loved I don't love you as if you were the salt-rose, topaz or arrow of carnation that propagates fire: ... More... CAA-NCR Program Information – 2014–2015 February Meeting: “Getting Published without Getting Burned”; March Meeting: “Blogging Pros & Cons”; April Meeting: “Marketing in the Digital/Social Media World” … More ... CAA-NCR Program Information – Workshop - 2014–2015 April Workshop “Writing as a Spiritual Practice” More ... Byline January-February 2015 Page 1 Vol 32:3 President's Message – January 2015 Well, it is a New Year once again! And like everyone else I know, I am wondering where and how the weeks sailed past. But we are not going to let the Ottawa winter dampen, or rather cool our enthusiasm. Our Programs volunteer, Debbie Rose, is quickly assigning events and speakers to the different months of the year, and the program looks promising. Thus we have our monthly programs more or less organized, the venue being the McNabb Community Centre, where you should find ample parking. You’ll find program details following in Byline. We had a small Christmas potluck party which my wife and I hosted, with a dozen attendees each bringing something different to eat or drink. Each of us, fortified with a bit or Christmas cheer was asked to speak about herself or himself, and about their books and poetry, while I videotaped them for between two and three minutes. By the time we went round the room, one hour was gone. If you are on Face Book (and who isn’t these days!) you can watch these short presentations by Christine Beelen, Sharyn Heagle, Betty Kearsley, Francois Mai, Kathy Bose, Nerys Parry, Gill Foss, Debbie Rose, Bob Abell and myself on our FB page: Canadian Authors Association NCR. The link is https://www.facebook.com/groups/CanadianAuthorsNCR/ In addition you will find a few photos taken of the group. Hopefully there will be more people next year, but the weather often influences our numbers. But our new FB page should also be consulted for such events and other announcements. It is always a challenge to keep a web page including a FB page interesting, and you are encouraged to post on the FB page, or send me the info for posting. As some of you know, Dorothee Komingapik has “retired” from her longstanding task of sending out notices of event and contests. Carol Stephen is still compiling all that useful data, and I have taken over distribution. If you have any comments or suggestions about that, please let me know. We in the executive are seeking a volunteer to act as our recording secretary during our regular meetings, which tend to occur six times a year. It is an opportunity to get to know CAA-NCR from inside without shouldering too much responsibility for running the show. You can always try it for one or two meetings before you commit to it. I hope to see many of you next week on Tuesday, February 10th at 7 pm, when Tudor Robins will be our speaker. Dr. Qais Ghanem Back to top Byline January-February 2015 Page 2 Vol 32:3 MEMBER NEWS CAA-NCR Branch President, Dr. Qais Ghanem, received the DreamKEEPERS 2015 Citation for Outstanding Leadership at the eleventh annual celebration of Martin Luther King Day at Ottawa City Hall on Monday, January 19th, 2015. The Citation award honours an individual who, in her or his life, has emulated and exemplified the high values that motivated the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is a celebration of black pride, racial harmony and the non-violent resolution of social and racial injustice. The event was held in Jean Pigott Place in Ottawa City Hall where attendees gathered for poetry, prayer and keynote address, followed by a musical presentation. This honour follows an earlier November event where Dr. Ghanem was one of 15 who received the Order of Ottawa Medal from Mayor Jim Watson. MEMBER NEWS CAA-NCR member Sanjeev Sivarulrasa has launched his own art gallery and studio in Almonte, about a half-hour west of Ottawa. Sivarulrasa Studio & Gallery (Thoburn Mill, 83 Little Bridge Street, Unit 102, Almonte) held its Grand Opening on Saturday November 22nd, 2014. Sanjeev describes Almonte as a hip town with energized people who are very artist/writer-friendly. They are also eager to preserve and re-purpose old buildings, like the woollen mill that now houses his gallery & studio. By Spring, in addition to his own studio work and work on his next book, Sanjeev will begin curating a series of special exhibition by collaborating with other artists. Space is available to the public for book readings and launches etc. Contact Sanjeev for details. Special rates offered to CAA-NCR members. NOTICE TO THE READER Byline is looking for people to review CAA-NCR meetings and workshops, and write brief articles for publication in the magazine. If you plan to attend one of our upcoming workshops or meetings, and would like to see your name in print, contact the Byline editor. Also, contact us if you're excited about a particular book you've just read, and would like to review it for publication in Byline. Byline January-February 2015 Page 3 Vol 32:3 Sussing out the story - by L. D. Cross I write articles and books about unique or little-known aspects of Canadian history. But where to find the information to spin these stories? The aim of researching an article or a book is to approach it systematically and methodically. What has already been written on the topic by authoritative sources? Check out the local library and Amazon sites. How will your version be fresh and different from what is already out there? What do you already know about your topic? Then identify your knowledge gaps and fill them in. The more specific your questions, the more accurate your findings. Whenever possible, visit the places you will write about, observe the locale and talk with the people. Or, visit in your imagination and create the places you need. The choice is yours. Luckily I live in the national capital with ready access to government departments, agencies, universities, museums and archives containing a wealth of historical, statistical and anecdotal information. And much of this treasure trove has been paid for by taxpayers across the country. For example, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is the repository for Canadian documents including genealogy and photos. Its archives can be accessed in person by registering at 395 Wellington Street or by researching online from the comfort of home at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac/search/arch. While not everything is online, much is. Sourcing old photos in the public domain to illustrate your work is faster and cheaper than negotiating with private copyright owners. LAC’s reproductions are currently processed for a fee under contract to Brechin Imaging Services. More data can be found in provincial archives. For instance, the Archives of Ontario in Toronto (http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/index.aspx) at 134 Ian MacDonald Blvd has holdings in off-site storage but records are brought to their Reading Room or reels delivered to a library near you. Hopefully CDs or more online access are in their near future. Don’t overlook regional museums. I searched the BC Archives (http://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/search-archives/) collection online for information I needed for High Peaks Engineering: Rocky Mountain marvels and ordered photos from the Glenbow Museum in Calgary (http://www.glenbow.org/) for Flying on Instinct: Canada’s bush pilot pioneers. Byline January-February 2015 Page 4 Vol 32:3 Museums by their very nature are storehouses of culture and context. Interviews with curators, conservators and scientists, experts in their fields, can refocus your research on new areas to investigate and provide introductions to people with first- hand experience. Writing about geology, birds, mammals or the world of water? Try the Canadian Museum of Nature (http://nature.ca/en/home). Working on an essay about immigration? Talk with researchers at the Canadian Museum of History (http://www.historymuseum.ca/home) Special exhibitions, often scheduled during the summer to attract tourists, can highlight unique themes. Small community heritage museums and galleries run by volunteers contain often-overlooked data. The City of Ottawa Archives (http://ottawa.ca/en/liveculture/archives) at 100 Tallwood Drive preserves community documents including millions of photos as well as family papers of early settlers like the Billings, Lett, and Ogilvy clans.