Ernest Blair Experiment

This week, we have started to reduce our book collection.

I had hoped to pick up Peter Wyman’s short story ‘Crossing Thames’. This will have to wait until March 11, when he will be launching the book at the Annapolis Royal Library (11am – 2pm).

Today, I made a book swap with Sandra Barry. Heather had two copies of Robie Tufts’ ‘Birds of Nova Scotia‘. Sandra had Colm Toibin’s essays ‘A Guest at the Feast’.

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Saturday, we met with Rick and Cathy Ketcheson at the Green Elephant Cafe in Kingston. Unfortunately, the cafe was closed for the staff winter holiday. We headed to Middleton to Bistro 300. Again closed. We ended up at the Capitol Pub.

Later, that evening, I met with John Wightman. One of the many topics, was Walter Morrison, Cartographer Emeritus. Walter donated his historical map collection to the COGS library.

This raised the question of retired COGS faculty who continue to make a contribution to geographic sciences, and the community. This seems normal within the university culture. Not so much, at the Nova Scotia Community College. From CORAH , I noticed that Trish LeBlanc will be speaking on historic maps in Nova Scotia at COGS. (see below)

Organizing the bookshelves, within the framework of a future house move, is a harrowing task. Many of the texts have a context from earlier research, in Canada, as well as overseas.

Acknowledgements

Heather joined me in the challenge of reducing the number of text books from different disciplines and different geographies. Sandra Barry engaged in the book swap. John Wightman continues to exemplify Major Church’s dictum ‘Never retire’. Edward contributed the graphics and links.

References

Robie Tufts, 1986, Birds of Nova Scotia, Third Edition, Nimbus, Nova Scotia Museum.

Colm Toibin, 2023, A Guest at the Feast: Essays, McClelland and Stewart.

The Blomidon Field Naturalist Society, 1992, A Natural History of Kings County, Acadia University.

Trish LeBlanc, Antique Maps of Nova Scotia, March 14 1-2 pm, NSCC COGS campus.

I dropped into the Bridgetown Library. Heather had a dental appointment. I noticed a well-designed book, The Road Home: Stories from Senior Women in Rural Nova Scotia, edited and photographed by Rachel Brighton and published by the Western Area Women’s Coalition in Bridgetown in 2008. The book was printed and bound by Gaspereau Press. It traces the journeys of twenty one women living in rural Nova Scotia, in Digby and Annapolis Counties. The contributions are divided into four parts: Journey, Work, Community and Culture.

In the words of Brighton:

“ I would like to thank each of the women you meet in this book. One of them Frances Mills Clements who established a bursary for women pursuing a post-secondary education. The Women’s Place Resource Centre in Bridgetown is providing the proceeds of this book to that bursary – so the stories here are doubly inspiring.”

My response to this 2008 publication is “The Road FROM Here?“

It is fifteen years later. What has happened since 2008? Where are we going, in terms of Journey, Work, Community, Culture?

It would be wonderful, if Rachel was able to revisit these topics.

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This afternoon, I had to take the CRV into Kings County Honda. While waiting, I read: “Honda: the Boy Who Dreamt of Cars.”

Acknowledgements

Heather enjoyed reading The Road Here. Edward added his magic touch.

References

Rachel Brighton, 2008, The Road Here: Stories from Senior Women in Rural Nova Scotia, The Western Area Women’s Coalition, Bridgetown, Nova Scotia.

Mark Weston, 2008, Honda: The Boy who dreamt of Cars, Lee and Low Books, New York.

This week, I met with Sandra Barry at Bistro300. She wanted to return a couple of books by Peter Wyman. In return, she gave me Tim Marshall’s The Power of Geography:Ten maps that reveal the future of our world.

From Lotz:

‘What I have called the Lichen Factor is elusive and mysterious. It offers a way of restructuring human relationships, providing a basis for mutual aid and co-operation, indicating the potential for generating harmony among diverse peoples.’ p.17.

‘Lichens are not intellectual constructs, theories, concepts, hypotheses, paradigms. They do not exists to teach or preach about better ways of surviving or thriving in harsh environments. They simply are, integral parts of nature. Their symbiotic form, break through the entrenched ‘either/or’ mindset that divides people and communities’. p.18.

Perhaps now is the time to translate the Hope of Geography into the Power of Geography, with a little help from the lichens.

‘The Canadian North harbours over a thousand separate species of lichen. They are symbioses between two different forms of life, algae and fungi. One cannot live without the other.’ p.15.

We have a number of unique lichens in Southwest Nova Scotia.

Postscript

Sandra and I discussed access to information in Annapolis County. We agree that The Bridgetown Reader, published every Thursday is a wonderful resource. Lewes deserves special recognition.

Finally, I see that the End of the Line pub in Bridgetown has changed its name. Junction Sixteen, Kitchen and Bar is opening soon, under new ownership.

Acknowledgements

Sandra Barry shared the books. Edward added the graphics.

References

Tim Marshall, 2021, The Power of Geography, Scrivener.

Jim Lotz, 1998, The Lichen Factor, UCCB Press.

My first approach was through Andrew Hannam at the COGS library. No luck! My second was to check again at the Halifax Public Library under Community Development. Again, no luck! However, I did find two titles of interest, “City Making in Paradise: Nine decisions that saved Vancouver’s Livability” by Mike Harcourt, and “Hollow City: the Siege of San Francisco and the Crisis of American Urbanism” by Rebecca Solnit.

The reference to Paradise had instant appeal; the writing of Solnit is always a find.

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This morning, we walked along the boardwalk to Historic Properties, and across the ped-way to Scotia Square. We skirted Citadel Hill, before enjoying the late morning sunshine, sitting on a park bench in the Halifax Public Gardens. Afterward, we joined Frank Fox for lunch at Le Bistro by Liz on South Park. Our return trip was all downhill, behind the Library, and Province House, returning home to Lower Water Street.

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Earlier this morning, I received a link from my brother, Peter’s blog www.petermaher.ca (see entry January 24, 2023)

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Acknowledgments

Heather Stewart, Frank Fox, Peter Maher, and Andrew Hannam for the connections. Edward for adding the graphics.

References

Mike Harcourt, et al, 2007, City Making in Paradise, Douglas and McIntyre.
Rebecca Solnit, 2000, Hollow City, Verso London.
Sanjay Gupta, 2021, Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age, Simon and Schuster.