Category: biographical sketch

Tuesday night, we attended the Valley Credit Union meeting at the Bridgetown Fire Hall.

I wanted to hear the Community needs for banking in Annapolis County, in response to the closure of the ScotiaBank branches in Bridgetown and Annapolis Royal (see post Financial Desert). It was a very-well attended meeting. The Credit Union explained the philosophy and services available. There was a lengthy question and answer session.

My take away. Should I stay with ScotiaBank because it would mean simply transferring my finances to Greenwood? Or, should I support the Credit Union which has genuine concern for citizens who chose to live in rural Nova Scotia?

On Monday, we walked into Lawrencetown then stopped for a coffee at Bee’s Knees before returning home.

While sipping coffee, I was struck by the ambience and and the quality of the goods for sale, They reflected an adherence to a set of rural values.

This week, I finished reading Ghost Breezes by Daniel Lillford. While several of the short stories are set in our local geography, it painted a different set of rural values. My preferences are more aligned to the stories of Bob Bent (see post Finding Stories).

Postscript

Today, at COGS, I attended Dave MacLean’s FunGIS lecture. I also confirmed my status as “Geographer Emeritus at COGS”. I hope to be able to be resident at the College on Wednesday mornings.

This morning, Heather went to the Annapolis County Senior Safety Program at the Lawrencetown Firehall for ‘Stay Scam Free’. We appreciate the efforts of co-ordinator, Sharon Elliott; our neighbour, years ago, in Clarence.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Edward for adding the graphics and links.

Years ago, I had called my blog Ernest Blair Experiment. Ernest for Ernest Buckler. Blair for Eric Blair aka George Orwell. Now I am conducting an experiment (see also an early post We Are All Geographers).

In order to understand the changes in GIS technology, I asked David Maclean if I could sit in on his Fundamentals of GIS (FunGIS) class, offered at 8:30 am on Wednesday mornings — not to become proficient in the latest technology but rather to appreciate the learning environment. The session this morning introduced me to some of the new materials from ESRI. For example, Briefings – how – to – info.

My plan is to attend every Wednesday morning class. Today, there were eighteen students; each working with two computer screens.

My intention is not to disturb the learning process. Instead to understand the technology, and how it can be applied to current geographic problems in society.

My hope is to attend COGS on a regular basis, on Wednesdays, attend the FunGIS class and watch the learning process with my new cohorts.

In my mind, this is an experiment. Can a retired faculty member/educator still make a contribution across the generations?

From the Reader, Community Spaghetti Dinner at COGS Thursday, October 26 5-6:30 pm. Adults $10.

Acknowledgements

Thank you, David Maclean for facilitating my experiment / learning opportunity. From Jennifer at the COGS Bookstore, I learned that there is a knitting session at the cafeteria on Wednesday at 11:30 am. Heather has gone to check it out today.

Reference

Briefings in ArcGIS StoryMaps.

POSTSCRIPT

Here is an entertaining read of COGS’ First Semester Overview Fundamentals of GIS for non-Geomatics Grads by Liam Gowan, as posted with ESRI Canada Centres of Excellence.

Saturday night, we attended the screening of ‘In the Quiet and the Dark, Saving the Eastern Hemlock’ at Kings Theatre in Annapolis Royal,

“ The documentary by local film maker (Tupperville), Nance Ackerman follows the passionate people to save Eastern Hemlock from an invasive tree-dwelling insect (Hemlock Woolly Adelgid) in hopes of preventing ecological catastrophe. Film-goers were also treated to a screening of Tim Wilson’s short documentary Old Growth, before the main feature and to a Panel Discussion featuring Nance Ackerman, Donna Crossland, Sally Steele, Lorne Julien and Nina Newington. “

Both documentaries were beautiful works of art, featuring local concerned , environmental citizens. The screening raised a number of questions.

As a Geographer, I had questions on the distribution of Eastern Hemlock in Nova Scotia and beyond. I wanted to see maps of existing stands, the distribution of both healthy and damaged stands. What is the forest matrix within which the Hemlock stands exist? I recognize that this information on the forest matrix raises many additional concerns.

It was an excellent artistic, community event. With high attendance, and many salient questions from the audience.

Before the showing, we had decided to take a road trip to Peterborough, Ontario to visit family. Hence, on early Sunday morning, it was time to ‘get out of Dodge’. We spent a good twelve hours on the highway. And made it to Levis, PQ, just east of Quebec City. Our objectives were simple:

a) can we still make long-distance drives across the country?
b) how will the ‘new-to-us’ Honda HRV perform ?

The answers: Yes and Well.

The next day, we arrived in Peterborough. The weather and the forest colours were stunning. As usual, we were shocked by the road traffic on Highway 20 West and Highway 401. Montreal proved challenging, even on Monday morning.

Acknowledgements

John Wightman joined us for the Kings Theatre screening. We were thankful for the welcome in Peterborough from Patrick, Emily, Fraser and Logan. We plan to return home, next weekend.

Reference

SOOF Newsletter, Sunday, October 15, 2023 (see post SOOF presentation)

This blog post complements ‘ Hidden Treasures’. Neither Heather or myself are very confident taking and sharing photographs with our cell phone. Viram provided us with photos from his visit.

1. Old Meadonians and wives
2. Heather and Mira
3. Annapolis Valley
4. Enjoying
5. Selfie at Ashram
6. The Ashram

On Wednesday, we attended Deb McBean’s presentation on cellphones at CORAH (Centre of Rural Aging and Health), NSCC Middleton (see earlier CORAH post). There were about thirty attendees, mainly retired citizens. The presentation covered the language of cell phones. There are a series of smaller, hands-on working groups scheduled for both Apple and Android phones.

Jennifer Westman announced that there will be new CORAH programs at the NSCC campuses in Port Hawkesbury and Shelburne (https://nscc.ca/corah).

On Thursday, we went to Kejimkujik National Park to walk the Peter Point trail. When we returned home, we discovered no Bell Aliant service. For two days, we were without telephone (land line), TV or Internet. There was a technical problem in the Bridgetown- Lawrencetown geographic area.

This serves to illustrate a problem in rural Nova Scotia. Not only do we need reliable infrastructure, we also need access to the technology for an aging population, and access to practical, hands-on problem solving. If we do not address this inter-generational issue, then we lose access to a significant community human resource. CORAH is but one small step towards inter-generational education.

Acknowledgements

Viram provided the photographs. Edward brought his graphics skills to the table. Heather walked the same trail.

References

CORAH at NSCC. https://nscc.ca/corah

One of the delights, when you have visitors from afar, is to discover hidden treasures in your home landscape. This week, with Viram’s visit, I discovered two treasures.

First, Dhiren was interested in golf. This resulted in a visit to Eden Golf and Country Club in Paradise. I had driven by, many times, but never stopped to enquire about the facilities, green fees etc. A delightful spot that can be appreciated, even by a non- golfer.

The second treasure was the Arunachala Ashrama in Clarence. Again, many times, I have driven by, on my way to Bridgetown. This time, I stopped; the door was open. We returned with Viram, Mira, Dhiren and Bharti later in the afternoon.

From the brochure:

Nova Scotia Ashrama. Amidst the gently rolling hills and quiet rural surroundings of the Annapolis Valley, an intense life of prayer and meditation is practiced by a few residents of the Nova Scotia Canada Arunachala Ashrama. A temple ‘Sri Arunachala Ramana Mandiram’ was inaugurated in 1975.”

” Happiness is inherent in human beings and is not due to external causes. You must realize your SELF in order to open the store of unalloyed happiness.”

During Viram’s group visit, besides enjoying vegan meals at the Air B & B in Cottage Cove, we had the opportunity to enjoy Germanic food at both the Edelweiss Inn, on the Mount Hanley road, and the German Bakery in Annapolis Royal.

Postscript

The best view of the Valley is from the lookout in Valley View Park. You can look down on the mosaic of fields, pick out the Annapolis River, and Hwy #101 going up over South Mountain to Annapolis Royal. Awesome !

Edward was away this week.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Viram, Mira, Dhiren and Bharti for opening our eyes to the hidden treasures. Darlene for information on the Ashrama. Heather for companionship and support.

References

Arunachala Ashrama. Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi Center

Nova-Scotia@ashramana.org

Eden Golf and Country Club edengolf.ca

This weekend, Viram Jasani is coming to Paradise. Viram and I shared the common experience of Chiswick Grammar School for Boys (1956-63).

Viram describes the experience in his memoir (Independence to Freedom, Chapter 6). Our paths have crossed a few times in the subsequent sixty years.

Both of us have shared a common interest in Geography. Both of us were influenced by Hank Williams, the geography teacher at Chiswick. Besides visiting ‘East of Eden’ what has rural Nova Scotia to offer?

Here is my top-of-mind list. We enjoy the landscape and will enjoy the ability to step from the Valley, go over the mountain ( North or South) to arrive on the shores of the Bay of Fundy. Viram and family have found an Air B & B in Cottage Cove. Our first stop will likely be the Edelweiss Inn on the Mount Hanley road.

Given Viram’s cultural background, I thought it would be fun (for me) to check out the local Indian restaurants. I found that there is an Indian Take-Out in Bridgetown — The Indian Masala House. I noticed too that The Brown Dog Kitchen in Annapolis Royal offers Indian Take-Out too. For more Nova Scotian fare, there is The Crow’s Nest in Hillsburn, or we could head up the Valley, to check out the wineries. In the few days available, we may not get beyond the borders of Annapolis County.

Postscript

In preparation for Winter, we had a delivery of two cords of firewood from M & M Firewood in Bridgetown. This will be back-up for the residual in the woodshed from last year.

I have managed to finish Frederic Gros’ A Philosophy of Walking.

”We do not belong to those who have ideas only among books, when stimulated by books. It is our habit to think outdoors – walking, leaping, climbing, dancing, preferably on lonely mountains or near the sea where even the trails become thoughtful.”

On another book, Friedrich Nietzsche’s The Gay Science —
Besides Nietzsche, the book introduces the thoughts of Rimbaud, Rousseau, Nerval, Thoreau, Gandhi, Kierkegaard, Kant and Holderlin.

Acknowledgements

Heather shares our home and the walking in Paradise. Edward has a talent for online graphics. Viram will make us see the landscape through fresh eyes.

References

Viram Jasani, 2023, Independence to Freedom, Austin Macauley Publishers.
Frederic Gros, 2023, A Philosophy of Walking, 2nd edition, Verso.

We went into Halifax (5 pm Thursday) to attend the opening reception of Footsteps East at the Teichert Gallery.

Anne and Edward gave a talk on their experience: the logistics, the impact of Summer storms, their understanding of the geology (landscape) and the changes in travel since the Group of Seven days ( from railroad to highways).

Before the opening, we stopped at the Bookmark on Spring Garden road. Here, I found Frederic Gros, A Philosophy of Walking.

With hindsight, the book was appropriate. We parked underground at the Muir hotel. Only to discover that the electric system had failed on our Honda CRV. This led to an overnight stay at the Muir.

” Welcome to the Muir, and to refined, distinctly Nova Scotian hospitality on the Halifax Waterfront. “ Born of this Place, “Muir (Scottish Gaelic for sea) takes inspiration from the forces that have shaped Nova Scotia and its people.”

After contacting CAA, we eventually managed to book a tow truck for the next morning. This took us to Kings Honda in Kentville. After some deliberation, we decide to trade in our Honda CRV (2014) with 350,000 km for a Honda HRV (2021) with 35,000 km..

What was to be a quick visit to the city to hear Edward/ Anne’s talk, turned into a confrontation with the changes in technology in urban Halifax, in terms of our overnight stay but also the need for reliable transportation between city and the country.

Acknowledgements

The presentation by Anne and Edward served to illustrate the level of preparedness necessary to undertake a six week road trip, including the artistic equipment. Heather and Sandy Stewart shared the harrowing experience of vehicle breakdown in the city.

References

Frederic Gros, 2023, A Philosophy of Walking, 2nd edition, VersoPress.

The Beacon, Issue 1, A Muir Halifax publication.

Footsteps East en plein air: Nova Scotia to Lake Superior. Exhibition from 1st-30th September 2023. Teichert Gallery. 1723 Hollis Street, Halifax.