Ernest Blair Experiment

After our recent visit to Tatamagouche, I wanted to return to Lunenburg to check out the bookstore ‘Lunenburg Bound’ (see also Heading to the South Shore and Lunenburg Bound). I wanted to try to answer the question. The Geography of Local Writing? Does it reflect the activities or landscape of a particular place?

In response to my blog, Sandra Barry had referenced Mary Rose Donnelly’s ‘Great Village’. I am also aware that Sandra is a resident too of Middleton, and has written extensively on the life and times of Elizabeth Bishop (see Eccentrics in Paradise and One, Two, Three).

First and foremost, Tatamagouche and Lunenburg are very different communities. One is a university town; the other is a historic, sailing and tourism community.

Yesterday morning, we took Highway #10 across to the South Shore. The road was empty. The landscape is forested with evidence of fires and tree harvesting. Through New Germany to Bridgewater; on Highway #102 to Blockhouse and Lunenburg, our destination was Lunenburg Bound, the bookstore and the bakery/coffee shop next door.

The bookstore is excellent, both new and used books are well catalogued.

What did we find?

For Heather, Lorne Fitch ‘Conservation Confidential’. ‘A biologist investigates the clash between progress and nature’. Praise from Sid Marty(back cover)

My pick? George Orwell ‘Can Socialists be Happy ?’ A Penguin since 1940.

The Orwell book was irresistible. Part of the ‘ernestblairexperiment’ blog takes Eric ‘Blair’ from George Orwell.

After coffee and treats next door at the bakery, we retraced our route back to Middleton.

References

Lorne Fitch, 2025, Conservation Confidential, Rocky Mountain Books.

George Orwell, 2025, Can Socialists be Happy?, Penguin Archive Classics.

Postscript

I shall continue my research on ‘The Geography of Local Writing’.

This week, Heather and I spent a few days in Pictou County. It included walks in Trenton Park and along Melmerby Beach (see also A Tale of Two Geographies).

At the Highland Mall in New Glasgow, I found a copy of Donald Savoie’s biography of John Bragg, The Rural Entrepreneur. It details his efforts with Oxford Frozen Foods and EastLink. Savoie provides an excellent description of the creative rural economy in Nova Scotia.

While in Pictou, we stopped at the deCoste Arts Centre and the accompanying library. I signed out Edward MacDonald’s, The Geography of Home: Poems for a Lost Time. A different example of the creative rural economy; in this case, the setting is rural PEI.

Today, I received online, the March newsletter of Atlantic Books entitled ‘Defend Nova Scotia Books’.

“One of the biggest clouds on the horizon this month has been the looming threat of planned cuts to Arts, Culture and Tourism funding by the government of Nova Scotia”.

References

Donald J. Savoie, 2022, The Rural Entrepreneur, John Bragg: The Force behind Oxford Frozen Foods and EastLink, Nimbus Publishing.

Edward MacDonald, 2025, The Geography of Home: Poems for a Lost Time, Island Studies Press at UPEI.

POSTSCRIPT

Acknowledgements

Edward added the graphics and suggestions to the blog. He is back home in Nova Scotia.

Yesterday, we were at the grocery store in Kingston. At the checkout, I noticed a special edition of Time magazine: The Science of Memory. The Story of our Lives. Building a Sharper Mind, Erase Bad Memories. A New Understanding.

I decided it was time to go down ‘Memory Lane’. First stop was the COGS Library. Even though it was March Break, Andrew Hannam was on duty. He allowed me to preview recent additions to the collection. I signed out.

Charles Novak. 2018. Home is Everywhere.

Ingeborg Niesler / Angela Niebel- Lohmann. 2021. Atlas of Flowering Plants.

Afterwards, we determined that it was time to go down ‘memory lane’. We parked on the Hwy #201 at the Lawrencetown Tree Nursery, opposite Peter Redden’ property. We walked through the Nursery to the Annapolis River. Down stream towards Bridgetown. At the property line of Andrew’s property (now owned by Rob and Sinead) we headed, back to Hwy #201. Checking my watch back at the car,the total loop took an hour.

We lived at #6326, Highway #201 from 2000-2024. During those years, we had a number of different dogs, inherited from our sons: Bodhi, Ukaliq and Siqsiq.

It was a pleasure to recall the flower species along the trail: orchids as well as various mosses and lichens. Not surprisingly, we were able to find the trail, even without the remnant flagging tape.

Acknowledgements

To Rob and Sinead for maintaining the land and the orchard. Andrew Hannam for maintaining the book and map collection. Edward is away in Ontario without access to the EBE site. No graphics or links this week.

References

Special Issue of Time magazine. The Science of Memory. Spring 2026

Postscript

This morning, the large hay field down on the flood plain had turned into a lake. The ducks and geese entertained us, swimmingly !

This morning, I attended a workshop at CORAH, Middleton. It combined asset mapping, community and student learning. Topics included environmental stewardship, life-long learning, economic and business opportunities.

There were six stations. At each station, participants were encouraged by Ed Symons’ students to update the community map using their expertise and local knowledge. The feedback will result in a revised set of community maps.

I arrived with my iPad and a hard copy set of my blog posts over the last ten years (see my post Applying AI to Geography Mapping). Quickly, I recognised that my interest in combining two technologies (AI and GIS) was irrelevant to the workshop task at hand. Check out my blog theme in that post Community Mapping with Purpose:  Identifying local resources and challenges through the lens of a geographer.

Thanks to Ed, Jennifer and Jaime for hosting the event. I look forward to seeing the revised maps in the weeks ahead.

The ultimate objective of Maker Geography is the construction of a resilient human network where technology and social infrastructure overlap. Technology alone cannot solve the vulnerability of rural life; it requires a “human network” to provide context and support. When technical expertise at COGS is paired with the physical hubs of community halls, the digital divide is bridged, and regional social capital is strengthened.

“Community Mapping with Purpose” focuses on identifying local resources to build a stronger human network and address rural challenges.

Examples of local resources that communities might map include:

Participant Networks: As seen in the CORAH-NSCC collaboration, maps may also track the distribution of community participants across a region to better understand engagement and needs.

Community Halls: These are described as the “heartbeat of rural life” and essential for fostering a sense of community,. Specific examples include the halls in Centrelea, Granville Ferry, Lower Granville, Paradise, and Inglisville,.

Gathering Places and Cafes: Local social hubs such as the Bees Knees in Lawrencetown, Aroma Mocha Café in Bridgetown, The Green Elephant in Kingston, and the ArtCan Kitchen and Studios Cafe in Canning,.

Educational and Technical Institutions: The Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS) and NSCC campuses, which provide geomatics technology and human resources to the region,.

Public Libraries: Specifically mentioned is the Merritt Gibson Memorial Library in Canning.

Recreational Areas and Trails: Local parks and trails like Middleton Riverside Park, the rails-to-trails loop, and Kejimkujik National Park (specifically the Peter Point trail),.

Local Businesses and Specialized Services: Small businesses that support the community, such as Stoney Beach Computers, Bridgetown Watch and Clock Repair, and Valley Flaxflour Ltd.,,.

Postscript

Edward is away in Ontario, checking out AI adventures in the Niagara area.Thank you, Edward, for adding the Maker Geography graphics.

Edward has been helping me understand the potential of AI in the conversion of my blogs into geographic topics and locations.

Below, he has used AI tools to identify common themes from over our ten years of blog posts. Based on a quick “digital flyover” of the ErnestBlairExperiment, ten preliminary themes were found. The AI explainer video, below, takes up, for example, the “Maker Geography” theme.

1. Maker Geography: 
   The shift from passive observation to active “making” (art, maps, and community projects).
2. The COGS Legacy: 
   Reflections on the Centre of Geographic Sciences and the evolution of Geomatics education.
3. Plein Air & Extended Memory: 
   Your journey with art as a way of imprinting landscape onto the soul.
4. Connecting the Dots: 
   How disparate ideas—like a walk in Kejimkujik and a technological shift in GIS—are linked.
5. Community Mapping with Purpose: 
   Identifying local resources and challenges through the lens of a geographer.
6. The “Ernest Blair” Philosophy: 
   Exploring the interplay between George Orwell (Eric Blair) and the local literary spirit of Ernest Buckler.
7. The Rural Creative Economy: 
   How hidden gems in Nova Scotia (and beyond) sustain culture and economy.
8. Technology vs. Ground Truthing: 
   The balance between high-tech (AI, Lidar, Drones) and the “boots on the ground” reality.
9. Environmental Stewardship: 
   Reflections on climate change, the Acadian forest, and “walking the talk.”
10. A Shared Journey: 
    The story of a 50-year collaboration between two geographers/artists.

The next step would be to map the post locations and perhaps add interactivity. We hope that this can be achieved in collaboration with the students in David MacLean’s GIS program at COGS.

When we interrogate the COGS LEGACY over all these posts, several defining characteristics emerge.

• Technological Evolution:
  • The curriculum at the Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS) has continuously adapted, now heavily integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), GIS, and Geospatial Data Analytics to enhance the analysis of complex geographic information.
• Industry Leadership:
  • A core component of the legacy is its Industry Expo, an annual event that connects students with major organizations like Esri Canada to address the shifting needs of the geomatics sector.
• Community Integration:
  • The legacy is not confined to the lab; it extends into the “human network” of the Annapolis Valley. This is exemplified by initiatives like “community mapping with purpose,” where instructors and students help rural residents map local resources and identify community challenges.
• Academic Stewardship:
  • The author’s personal connection to this history is cemented by his role as Geographer Emeritus at COGS, where he continues to document the institution’s impact on the “creative rural economy”.

By putting the AI results in the ErnestBlairExperiment blog, we hope to demonstrate the potential of combining these technologies. As usual, both Edward and I would appreciate any comments and feedback.

Time flies. Next week, Ed Symons hosts ‘ Love where you live’ . A seminar on Community Mapping with his students at CORAH.

This week, there was a rally at the Kings Theatre, Annapolis Royal on ‘Nova Scotia’s Arts, Heritage and Culture’ under threat. I was running late, but did enjoy the videos produced by MapAnnapolis.

The question for our MLA, David Bowlby, centres on the ‘creative rural economy’. In the Annapolis Valley, we are fortunate to attract artists, writers, musicians. This stems from our long history and culture. This, in turn, attracts tourists to the region.

The other unique institutional feature is the Center of Geographic Sciences in Lawrencetown. This provides access to the latest technology in both AI and the Geographic Information Sciences. This should be recognized and promoted at the international level.

Last week, I stopped in at COGS in Lawrencetown. I found two items of interest.

1. Frequently asked Questions on the Joint NSCC/Acadia University M.Sc in Applied Geomatics. Contact: Stephen Edwards
2. Esri Inc. Spring visit, February 24 and 25. Because of weather, scheduled to be delivered on Teams.

I remember well, establishing the joint M.Sc between NSCC (myself) and Acadia University (Ian Spooner). I also remember, each year Esri Redlands would send their recruiting staff to interview students in the graduating class.

As usual, I visited the COGS Library to check out new publications.

This time, I signed out Peter Stark’s The Last Empty Places. A Journey through the blank spots on the American Map. Part1 is ‘Where the Acadians disappeared in North Maine’.

This time, I signed out Peter Stark’s The Last Empty Places. A Journey through the blank spots on the American Map. Part1 is ‘Where the Acadians disappeared in North Maine’.

After COGS, we stopped at Bees Knees. There, I bumped into Larry Powell, retired reporter and writer for the Annapolis Valley Register. I asked him ‘what are you doing in retirement ?’. He mentioned that he had been writing blogs for MapAnnapolis. Thus I contacted Heather Leblanc. She forwarded the web site and the link to Larry’s blog ‘Mapping Matters’.

Notable articles by Powell on the site include:
Standing stones gather moss… (about Garrison Graveyard)
Uncovering the Past (about gravestone conservation)
And then what happened? (about Black Loyalist descendants)

From the perspective of the ernestblairexperiment, this connection highlighted the need to go through my ten volumes of blogs, and identify the location of the resources in our regional geography. This could prove to be an excellent student project.

Final point, it is wonderful to see Bees Knees acting as a community hub for citizens in the Lawrencetown area. It also provides a close link to the people and resources at COGS.

References

Peter Stark, 2010, The Last Empty Places: A Journey through the blank spots on the American Map, Part1, Mountaineers Books.

Link to MapAnnapolis and Larry Powell’s Mapping Matters and MapAnnapolis Blog.

“Most of his writing is on Facebook which is posted about three times per week. Not sure if this will open if you are not on Facebook. To date we have 6,785 followers and an average of over 225,000 views per month.” : Project Designer, Heather Leblanc.

Postscript

In walking the COGS corridor, I noted a new map by David MacLean. It is a map of the world, with pins indicating the location of known COGS graduates. Good work!

Acknowledgement

Thank you to Edward for persisting with the graphics and links. Sometimes, a bit of a thankless task.

On Wednesday, February 18th, Heather and I attended a community workshop titled ‘Avoiding Scams and Phishing’ at Granville Ferry hall at 2 pm.

It was hosted by Stoney Beach Computers from Annapolis Royal. Three employees attended the Social Engineering workshop. There were ten attendees, likely, mostly ‘seniors’.

Heather and I made the drive from Middleton. We arrived early, around 1:30 pm. Based on our experience at other events at the Lower Granville hall, this seemed reasonable. As we waited in the parking lot, by about 1:50 pm, we wondered whether the event was a scam. Fortunately not, Stoney Beach Computers arrived to set up the projector by 2 pm..

Living in rural Nova Scotia, having worked and lived with computers for decades. Today, without access to technical support staff , there is a sense of vulnerability. We did pick up a couple of useful handouts.

Interestingly, today in the Bridgetown Reader (February 20, p.14) there is a full page article on ‘Protect yourself from Online and Phone fraud’.

Next month, Stoney Beach Computers is offering a workshop on ‘Understanding your Smart Phone and Tablet’ same location : Granville Ferry Hall on Wednesday, March 18 at 1:30 pm.

Looking a the big picture, the solution to vulnerability in rural Nova Scotia is an increased sense of community.

This happens through community halls through the Annapolis Valley: Centrelea, Granville Ferry, Lower Granville.

The technology is one component. The other component is the human network. At the Scam workshop it would seem useful for the organizers to request names, email addresses of attendees. This would have helped build that network. The same would be true of the presenters from Stoney Beach Computers.

This week, through Edward, I have been investigating the services of Gemini AI.

Here is the challenge. I have been writing the blog ernestblairexperiment for over ten years. Thus, I have over ten years recording our activities in the landscape. In fact, we have lived on and off in the Annapolis Valley since 1980. Now, I want to summarize my thoughts into book form, rather than online blog format. A blog is a chronological stream, but a book is a thematic journey.

The strategy is to classify each blog into a series of ten (or more) themes.To date, Edward has been my interface with Gemini AI.

The idea of using AI was suggested by my son, Andrew. As I make this journey, there will be occasional reports.

AI suggested the following themes :

1. Maker Geography
2. COGS legacy
3. Plein Air art
4. Connecting the dots
5. Community Mapping with Purpose
6. Ernest Blair philosophy
7. Creative Rural Economy
8. Technology and Ground Truthing
9. Reflection on Climate Change
10. A Shared Journey

I can go through all the blogs and see how they fit the ten themes. Not a small task. And I will likely find additional themes.

Meanwhile yesterday, Heather and I were entertained by our wildlife friends: the squirrels in the oak trees; the blue jays at the neighbour’s feeder ; the deer foraging in the lower field along the Annapolis River.

This morning, we went to Bridgetown Watch and Clock Repair. My watch had stopped on my birthday (ominous). David Beckner replaced the battery. Ready for the next round.