EBLES Meeting

Saturday, May 19, 2023, Anne Crossman called a meeting of the Ernest Buckler Literary Event Society (EBLES) committee for 10 am at the West Dalhousie Community Hall. In attendance, besides Anne and myself, were Jane Borecky, John Montgomerie, and Heather Stewart (see also previous post “In Praise of Libraries“)

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the budget, program, and hall facilities/ catering with Julie Hannam, for the event scheduled for Saturday, July 15, 2023, 4- 8 pm at the Community Hall.

For Heather and me, it was an opportunity to travel down memory lane. In 1980, I accepted a teaching position at the Nova Scotia Land Survey Institute in Lawrencetown (now COGS). Heather was a stay-at-home Mum with two young boys. We rented a house from Bill O’Neill (#4557), known as the Buckler house in West Dalhousie. I commuted to Lawrencetown.

Before the EBLES meeting Heather and I went for a drive to Gibsons Lake Cemetery. In the graveyard, we found Buckler’s grave.

For those not familiar with the geography, West Dalhousie T-junction is 15.5 km up Morse Road on South Mountain, from the turn-off on Hwy #201, just east of Bridgetown. At the T-junction, turn right (towards Annapolis Royal) on the old military road; a distance of 6.6 km. Heading East, the graveyard is on the right, Gibsons Lake on the left.

If you turn left at the T, the community hall is 1.5 km on the right-hand side. If you continue on this road, eventually you will hit Highway #10, south of Middleton.

On July 15, we will be celebrating the relationship between place (or geography) and writing. The objective of EBLES is to encourage ‘reading where we live’ and celebrate local writing.

We look forward to seeing you in West Dalhousie this July. The event will feature the writing of Whit Fraser, Elizabeth Hay, Alan Syliboy, and Ken Maher reading from Ernest Buckler.

Tickets will be on sale at local bookstores, or by contacting a member of the EBLES committee in June.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to John, and Jane for hosting the lunch. Anne and Jane for bringing this event together. Heather shared the memories. Edward added the graphics. Bob took the photographs.