Category: biographical sketch

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Thursday evening, I had a meeting with Monica Lloyd, Academic Chair at COGS and John Wightman. To celebrate the Tomlinson award, Monica arrived with two books:

Jennifer Gidley’s, The Future: a very short introduction.
Kim Stanley Robinson’s, The Ministry for the Future: a novel.

Our conversation centred on possible new programs at the NSCC Annapolis Valley campus. There was talk about both Forestry Technician and Agricultural Technician programs. My position is very clear.

COGS is an education centre for the application of geographic technology. Geography underlies the landscape and our relationship to that landscape. Therefore, in the future, human land(ocean)-use should be based on current digital geographic information and the modelling of different scenarios.

Or to restate Zita Cobb, ’Geography is how we are going to reinvent the world.’ (also see this earlier post)

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Friday, Heather and I had to go to Halifax for a medical appointment. It was the first time in the City for over a year.

(“Rainy Day on Queen Street, Halifax”, watercolour by Edward)

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Anne, Edward, Klaus and Monica for sharing words, and thus creating community. Heather shared the ritual of urban driving.

References

Suzanne Simard, 2021, Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest, PenguinRandomHouse

I noticed today that it was a year ago since I posted A Sense of Place to a GoGeomatics blog (November 26, 2020).

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This week, I realized too, under COVID conditions, I am losing my technical skills. Fortunately, Kyle from Bridgetown Computers was able to reset the network password for my printer.

Following the recent assessment of our Honda CRV, we are investigating electric cars. This includes a charging station at home. In turn, this could lead to additional solar panels on the garage roof. Right now, we have been unable to find an electric car to test drive.

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David Maclean at COGS forwarded information about GIS Day, November 17th. You can register for the digital celebration.

Topics include Climate Change; Sustainable Prosperity; Racial Equity and Social Justice; Lifelong Learning. Watch the short video by Jack Dangermond, Esri.

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Acknowledgements

Kyle at Bridgetown Computers for his technical expertise. Neil Stanton for his knowledge of solar panels. David MacLean for the GIS Day link. Edward for his graphics talent. Heather for companionship in these COVID times.

Reference

GIS Day November 17, 2021.

On Friday, we drove up to New Glasgow. En route, we stopped in Berwick for COVID tests.

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Saturday morning, we received emails from NS Health; COVID results were negative. We returned home in the afternoon. Enjoying the changing colours of the larch, and the red leaves of the blueberries on Mount Thom. We turned at Truro to go through Old Barns. We noticed the cyclists and walkers using the old rail line. We rejoined Highway #101 at exit 5 and then continued to exit #19 Lawrencetown.

Tired from the drive, it was time for ’Brit night’ on PBS Maine.

As Time Goes By. Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer
Open All Hours. David Jason
Doc Martin. Martin Clunes

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From Heather McCormick, I received a video link on Tai Chi for beginners. This will be helpful for my class on Tuesday afternoon.

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Tomorrow, Heather has her second cataract eye surgery. Left eye. It comes with a busy schedule of eye drops.

Postscript
This rose is ‘Elsie May’. We bought them because my Mother was Elsie May Maher.

Acknowledgments

Edward for the AR video link. Heather for the Tai Chi video link. Heather shared the trip to New Glasgow.

References

Rebecca Solnit, 2021, Orwell’s Roses, PenguinRandomHouse Canada.

On the weekend, we took the time to visit Streets Ridge, Cumberland County.

On our return, we noticed that the Sweet Chestnut had started to drop seed. Today, we had the opportunity ’to roast chestnuts over an open fire’. Since it was the first year, the nuts were small. But it was symbolic.

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Frank Fox forwarded a link to a story maps web site that shows the distribution of private wells in Nova Scotia.

It is an excellent example of the use of maps to convey public information about arsenic, uranium and manganese in well water. With climate change, private wells will be at risk.

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Or rediscovering the writing of Alan Drengson. His book, Wild Way Home, was purchased at Munro’s book Store in Victoria, Vancouver Island.

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Postscript

In the current issue of Atlantic Books Today, I noted that Goose Lane is advertising both Waterfalls of Cape Breton Island , and Waterfalls of New Brunswick.

Acknowledgements

Frank Fox for the private wells link. Roger Mosher for the Sweet Chestnut tree. Max and Philip Stewart for the Streets Ridge news. Edward for adding the graphics and links. Heather for roasting the chestnuts.

References

Tassilo at Tassilomusic.com

Alan Drengson, 2010, Wild Way Home: Spiritual Life in the third Millenium, LightStar Press.

Dave and Paulette Whitman, 2016, The Valley Chronicles, Bailey Chase Books.

This week, I had to get my car serviced at Kings County Honda in Kentville. Apparently, there is a demand for second hand 2014 Honda CRV.

I also heard that there is plan to close the Scotiabank in Middleton.

From AIRO, I received the link to the YouTube video Rural Renaissance, How Canada’s oldest town reinvented itself. Kudos to Jane Nicholson, Andrew Tolson and Wilfred Allan for this inspirational, one hour documentary. It shows the way forward.

This week too, I have made significant progress reading Beyond the Map (see earlier blog post) where Bonnett describes thirty nine places. I am on #26, Magical London.

Looking forward to his Epilogue:

”Geography is getting harder to read; the map is breaking up. It is an extraordinary, even magical sight, but its also bewildering and often frightening. I used to think that this kind of glittering spectacle could be described as ’enchanting’ and that what I was doing, as I captured and catalogued escapees from the map, was offering a ’re-enchanted’ geography. But now I am not so sure.’ p.284.

Whether its Annapolis Royal, Spa Springs or one of Bonnett’s thirty nine places, behind each one there is a story and a real ‘sense of place’.

Acknowledgements

Edward added the graphics and links. Rocky Hebb provided the local updates. Heather, the encouragement.

References

Gary Leeson, 2021, The Secret of the Spring, Moosehouse Press.

Alastair Bonnett, 2018, Beyond the Map, University of Chicago Press.

On Saturday, we went to the Annapolis Royal Farmers Market.

MareGold bookstore had a stall, with an interesting selection of books. I was intrigued by Alastair Bonnett’s, “Beyond the Map“. Bonnett is Professor of Social Geography at Newcastle University. The book is divided into five sections: Unruly Islands, Enclaves and Uncertain Nations, Utopian Places, Ghostly Places and Hidden Places (to be reviewed in a later blog post).

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Rebanks talks about ’rewilding’, ’living quietly’ and the landscape as a poem. Certainly, food for reflection on the state of agriculture in Annapolis County, and in the Annapolis Valley, in general.

With the spectacular Fall weather, we try to find a walk in the woods in the morning. Once the dew has burnt off, it is time to work in the garden: weeding, mulching, harvesting the remaining vegetables.

Acknowledgements

MareGold is a Retreat Centre located in the village of Victoria Beach. Edward added the graphics and links. Heather shares the waterfall walks. We have completed three; ninety seven to go.

References

Alastair Bonnett, 2018, Beyond the Map, University of Chicago Press.

James Rebanks, 2021, Pastoral Song: A Farmer’s Journey, Harper Collins

Benoit Lalonde, 2018, Waterfalls of Nova Scotia, Goose Lane.

Here we are, it’s 2021 in a COVID pandemic. We can read the Visions of the Future from over forty voices (from 2009). Many of the voices have passed on.

Later in the weekend, back in Pictou, I found Choyce’s Nova Scotia: Shaped by the Sea, A Living History and, in the same store, Dave Gunning’s Two-bit World recorded at Riverside Studios in New Glasgow.

Over the weekend, from Brian Arnott, a question: ‘Did I know of a map of farms in Annapolis County?’

At that point, I tried to ‘join the dots’. What will Annapolis County look like in 2040?

Certainly, I am noticing changes in agriculture, forestry and the fisheries.

Lesley Choyce had his wish list in 2009.

1. Clean, renewable, non-nuclear energy for all our needs.
2. Enlightened, long-term management of all our resources.
3. Public and institutional enthusiasm for all of our unique cultural endeavours.
4. An enlightened and generous policy towards immigrants including refugees.
5. Preservation of our natural wonders.
6. A cultivated openness to new ideas, alternatives, beliefs and enriching technologies.
7. Access to education for everyone in the province, and
8. The fostering of the spirit of cooperation as professed by Father Moses Coady and the Antigonish movement.

It is a moving target. I expect Choyce would have to update his list today.

Acknowledgements

Brian Arnott for his question. Edward, Paul, Frank and others at COGS on the answer. Heather shared family time with the grandchildren at Pictou Lodge. It is their future that is under discussion.

References

Lesley Choyce.(Ed.) 2009, Nova Scotia: Visions of the Future, Pottersfield Press.

Lesley Choyce, 2007, Nova Scotia: Shaped by the Sea, A Living History, New Revised Edition. Pottersfield Press.

Dave Gunning, 2004, Two-bit World, CD.

On Saturday, we hope to attend the Musique Royale concert by the Harpaflojt Trio at the Dawn Oman Art Gallery in Bridgetown.

It will be the third performance weekend in a row. Last weekend, it was Lisa Huyer and ‘Lief Forever’. Supporting musicians included Shelly Wallace, Mike Donnelly, Michael Robertson, Ray Devries and Patrick O’Brien.

From the Lisa Huyer collection of songs, I was impressed by the way each told a story about living in a place, within a community, in these challenging times.

Afterwards, we headed to New Glasgow. Returning home, the sun was deep orange because of the smoke from the fires in the West. We took our usual route. Turning off Highway #102 at exit #10, passed Mill Village, MacPhees Corner, Cheese Factory Corner, Rawdon Gold Mines, Brooklyn before joining Highway #101 at exit 5, Windsor. On this route, there are long stretches of road where you can see the hills ahead of you, as you pass through the rural landscape.

Unlike the politicians who want to twin the #100 series highways, I like it the way it is.

Postscript

From Brain Pickings, July 28, 2021, Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature, by Linda Lear.

Acknowledgements

Dawn and Scott for bringing live music to Bridgetown. The talented local musicians. Heather shared the spectacular drive. Edward added the graphics. Peter and Frank for the gifts.

References

Dawn Oman Art Gallery, Bridgetown.

Up Here magazine, www.up here.ca

Jay Appleton, 1975, The Experience of Landscape, John Wiley.

BBC Radio 4, Open Country Windsor Great Park (aired July 29, 2021).