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John Rae gains recognition in London
John Rae has a gained a plaque in London, England. Friends of the Scottish-Orcadian explorer, who lived in that city from 1869 to 1893, recently mounted an historical plaque on the wall of his long-time home in Addison Gardens. I visited that site while researching Fatal Passage, and I remember feeling outraged that Rae —…
Read MoreRobbie Burns returns to New Brunswick
Great news out of New Brunswick. The Scots in those parts are set to unveil a gloriously refurbished Robbie Burns Statue on September 10. Guests will include J.K. and Jean Irving and the lieutenant-governor of the province. There will be a reception and a dinner. There will be singing and sundry pipe bands. Would you…
Read MoreCoetzee meets Auster in Kingston, Ontario . . .
J.M. Coetzee meets Paul Auster at the Kingston WritersFest. Wowsers! When a two-time Booker Prize winner originally from South Africa chats on stage with an eminent American fabulist, well, you know have a capital-E Event. Make that an all-caps occasion: an EVENT. This “international marquee” extravaganza kicks off the Kingston festival on September 24. And…
Read MoreMount McGoogan Conquered!!!
The deed is done, the mission accomplished. Mount McGoogan is conquered. The date: June 15, 2011. Those who have read How the Scots Invented Canada will know that my last expedition was thwarted by my Canadian deference to a sign warning that unauthorized persons should proceed no farther. Yes, I attempted a different route and…
Read MoreBirthday poem sparks controversy at Writers’ Union AGM
Controversy erupted Saturday at the annual general meeting of The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) when members were urged to seek the attention of book clubs and reading groups with a bad poem. The motion that sparked a spirited debate was the second of two involving Canada’s Public Lending Right Program (PLR), which reimburses authors…
Read MoreThe 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…
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