Posts by Ken McGoogan
The Tribe Invites You to Party at the Toronto Public Library
It did not officially launch the annual general meeting of The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC). But last night’s Toronto event, a literary cabaret mounted by the Creative Nonfiction Collective, drew a star-studded, standing-room-only crowd to Harbord House. This preliminary event left no doubt whatsoever: The Tribe is gathering in force at the Centre of…
Read MoreThe Tribe gathers to celebrate PLR
That’s how Margaret Laurence would have described it — as a gathering of The Tribe. Scores of Canadian authors are heading to Toronto from across the country for the annual general meeting and conference of the Writers’ Union of Canada. The May 26 kick-off event, which is open to the public, celebrates the 25th anniversary…
Read MoreExpedition to Mount McGoogan
A couple of years back, Our Hero led a two-person expedition in an attempt to climb Mount McGoogan (Cruach Mhic Gougain) in Kintyre, Scotland. On that occasion, he failed — a story he tells in the epilogue to How the Scots Invented Canada. Late next month, after voyaging around Scotland with Adventure Canada, Ken will…
Read MoreThe Wicked Need No Rest . . .
OK, here we go. On May 4, Our Hero addresses the Canadian Celtic Arts Association in downtown Toronto. It’s a public event co-sponsored by Celtic Studies, St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, and Ken will talk about his book How the Scots Invented Canada. Details: please click here. On May 25, Ken will read from…
Read MoreHappy 25th anniversary PLR . . .
From Barrie to Harbord House . . .
Turns out that, before he talks to the Canadian Celtic Arts Association in Toronto (see below), Our Hero will head out to Barrie for the L3 Writers’ Conference, where he will perform with Romeo Dallaire, George Elliott Clarke, and Nino Ricci. That’s April 14, an evening event at Barrie North Collegiate (click on the headline…
Read MoreOur Hero visits Canadian Celtic Arts Association
It’s being billed as a talk, but of course it will be a full-blown presentation complete with slides. The invitation comes from the Canadian Celtic Arts Association and Celtic Studies at University of Toronto. The venue is the Alumni Hall, St. Michael’s College, U of T, 121 St. Joseph Street (just south of Museum Station).…
Read MoreMeanwhile, across the pond in Scotland . . .
Kenny MacAskill (left), minister of justice in the Scottish government, and Graeme Murdoch, an Edinburgh-based force of nature who is driving Tartan Day celebrations here in Canada, strike a winning pose with a favourite book. MacAskill has written or co-authored at least three books, and has had much to say about the need for Scots…
Read MoreMaple Leaf tartan made official . . .
Why is this man grinning? Perhaps because he senses that the Maple Leaf Tartan, which he is sporting, is about to be made official. Also, Margaret has just given him a bag containing a box containing a bottle. A bag in the blessed official tartan, to match his vest and tie. Would you believe 16-year-old…
Read MoreMajor shout-out to Manitoba history buffs and Scottish Country Dancers
Whew! Talk about a crazy couple of weeks. How the Scots is like a tail grown far too fond of swinging around an old dog. Of course, I love it. But I want to do a double shout-out. Huge thanks, first to Harry Duckworth and friends at the Manitoba Historical Society. They flew me to…
Read More