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Canadian nonfiction

  • Author:
    Hanbidge, Patricia, Beck, Alison, Peters, Laura
    Summary:

    Well, maybe not 1001 tips, but certainly many hundreds of tips are featured in this collection of handy information all gardeners should keep at their fingertips. Divided into sections, the tips deal with seasonal gardening issues such as getting started in the spring, as well as maintenance, planning and design, soil, critters such as pets and bugs, garden centres, naming, tools and choosing plants. The authors have written or co-written dozens of garden books and are horticultural experts.

  • Author:
    Colombo, John Robert
    Summary:

    What are "snow worms"? Are there more moose than people in the Yukon? What is the meaning of the word "Niagara"? Where will you find the world’s largest perogy? Does Elvis have a street in Ottawa named after him? What was Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s favourite snack food? Which province was the last to shift traffic from the left-hand side of the road to the right? These are some of the questions that are asked - and answered - in 1000 Questions About Canada. Every reader with an ounce (or a gram) of curiosity will find these intriguing questions and thoughtful answers fascinating to read and ponder. This book is for people who love curious lore and who want to know more about the country in which they live.

  • Author:
    Sawler, Sarah
    Summary:

    Did you know that the Halifax? Dartmouth ferry was once operated by a team of nine horses? Or that Babe Ruth used to visit Yarmouth regularly for hunting and fishing vacations? Enter journalist Sarah Sawler: your guide to discovering 100 fascinating things you don't know about Nova Scotia--from robberies and murders to famous landmarks, events, and people. Inspired by the success of her popular Halifax Magazine column "50 Things You Don't Know about Halifax," Sawler has expanded her focus to include interesting anecdotes and facts about the social, political, economic, and cultural history of the entire province. Arranged in chronological order, each "thing" is accompanied by a contextual write-up explaining its historical significance. Includes twenty-five black and white photos.

  • Author:
    Forster, Merna, Payette, Julie
    Summary:

    Following the bestselling 100 Canadian Heroines, Merna Forster presents 100 more stories of amazing women who changed our country. In this second installment of the bestselling Canadian Heroines series, author Merna Forster brings together 100 more incredible stories of great characters and wonderful images. Meet famous and forgotten women in fields such as science, sport, politics, war and peace, and arts and entertainment, including the original Degrassi kids, Captain Kool, hockey star Hilda Ranscombe, and the woman dubbed "the atomic mosquito." This book is full of amazing facts and trivia about extraordinary women. You’ll learn about Second World War heroine Joan Fletcher Bamford, who rescued 2,000 Dutch captives from a prison camp in a Sumatran jungle while commanding 70 Japanese soldiers. Hilwie Hamdon was the woman behind the building of Canada’s first mosque, and Frances Gertrude McGill was the crime fighter named the "Sherlock Holmes of Saskatchewan." Read on and discover 100 more Canadian heroines and how they’ve changed our country.

  • Author:
    McLeod, Neal, Wolvengrey, Arok
    Summary:

    As an Elder once said, "Learn one Cree word a day for 100 days, and emerge a different person." In 100 Days of Cree Neal McLeod offers a portal into another way of understanding the universe--and our place within it--while demonstrating why this funny, vibrant, and sometimes salacious language is "the sexiest" of them all (according to Tomson Highway). Based on a series of Facebook posts, the 100 short chapters or "days" in the book present chains of related words, some dealing with the traditional--the buffalo hunt, the seasons--and others cheekily capturing the detritus of modern life--from internet slang to Johnny Cash songs to Viagra.

  • Author:
    Forster, Merna
    Summary:

    100 Canadian Heroines profiles some remarkable women; from the adventurous Gudridur the Viking to murdered Mi'kmaq activist Anna Mae Aquash. You'll meet heroines in science, sport, preaching and teaching, politics, war and peace, arts and entertainment, etc. The book is full of amazing facts and fascinating trivia about intriguing figures like mountaineer Phyllis Munday, activist Hide Shimizu, Arctic guide Tookoolito, unionist Lea Roback, sexy movie mogul Mary Pickford and singer Portia White. Great quotes and photos are featured in this inspiring collection. As we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Persons Case on October 18, 2004, discover some of the many heroines Canada can be proud of. Find out how we're remembering them. Or not!

  • Author:
    Hughes, Aaron W.
    Summary:

    Revisiting ten notable days from recent history, Aaron W. Hughes invites readers to think about the tensions, events, and personalities that make Canada distinct. These indelible dates interweave to offer an account of the political, social, cultural, and demographic forces that have shaped the modern nation. The diverse episodes include the enactment of the War Measures Act, hockey's Summit Series, the patriation of the Constitution, the Multiculturalism Act, the École Polytechnique Massacre, victories for gay rights, Quebec's second referendum on secession, The Tragically Hip's farewell concert, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and ongoing Black equality struggles. Each day represents a window on contemporary Canada, jumpstarting reflection and conversation about who we are as a nation and how we got here. Ten Days That Shaped Modern Canada is the perfect guide for all those curious about the forces that shape our country and about how we understand our place in the world.

  • Author:
    Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
    Summary:

    In spring 2010, federal, provincial and territorial governments undertook a dialogue with representatives of the Canadian agriculture, agri-food and agri-based processing sector (the sector) to: Develop a common understanding of the current state of the sector and key drivers shaping its future; Identify the sector’s long-term objectives; and Discuss how the sector and governments can work together to meet future challenges and take advantage of the opportunities which will present themselves. This report tries to capture the essence of all the ideas that arose during the discussion.

  • Author:
    Summary:

    "The first-ever collection of Aaniiih/Gros Ventre narratives to be published in the Aaniiih/Gros Ventre language, this book contains traditional trickster tales and war stories. Some of these stories were collected by Alfred Kroeber in 1901, while others are contemporary, oral stories, told in the past few years. Like other First Nations Language Readers, Aaniiih/Gros Ventre Stories comes with a complete glossary and provides some grammar usage. Delightfully illustrated, each story is accompanied by an introduction to guide the reader through the material."--

  • Author:
    Barrett, Paul
    Summary:

    Contributor List Paul Barrett, University of Guelph Michael Bucknor, University of West Indies Austin Clarke (1934 – 2016) George Elliott Clarke, University of Toronto Patrick Crean, Toronto, Cyril Dabydeen, Ottawa André Forget, Toronto John Harewood, Ottawa, ON Camille Isaacs, OCAD, Toronto Sonnet L'Abbé, Vancouver Island University John R. Lee, St. Lucia Dennis Lee, Toronto, ON Katherine McKittrick, Queen's University, Kingston E. Martin Nolan, York University Giovanna Riccio, Toronto Leslie Sanders, York University, Toronto Winfried Siemerling, University of Waterloo Kate Siklosi, Toronto Kris Singh,Royal Military College, Kingston Marquita Smith, John Brown University, AR Asha Varadharajan, Queen's University, Kingston.

  • Author:
    Clarke, Austin
    Summary:

    2016 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature (Longlisted). 2016 RBC Taylor Prize (Longlisted). The unforgettable memoir of Giller Prize-winning author and poet Austin Clarke, called "Canada's first multicultural writer." Austin Clarke is a distinguished and celebrated novelist and short-story writer. His works often centre around the immigrant experience, of which he writes with humour and compassion, happiness and sorrow. In 'Membering, Clarke shares his own experiences growing up in Barbados and moving to Toronto to attend university in 1955 before becoming a journalist. With vivid realism he describes Harlem of the '60s, meeting and interviewing Malcolm X and writers Chinua Achebe and LeRoi Jones. Clarke went on to become a pioneering instructor of Afro-American Literature at Yale University and inspired a new generation of Afro-American writers. Clarke has been called Canada's first multicultural writer. Here he eschews a traditional chronological order of events and takes the reader on a lyrical tour of his extraordinary life, interspersed with thought-provoking meditations on politics and race. Telling things as he 'members them. Bespeak Audio Editions brings Canadian voices to the world with audiobook editions of some of the country's greatest works of literature, performed by Canadian actors.

  • Author:
    Coates, Kenneth
    Summary:

    Idle No More bewildered many Canadians. Launched by four women in Saskatchewan in reaction to a federal omnibus budget bill, the protest became the most powerful demonstration of Aboriginal identity in Canadian history. Thousands of Aboriginal people and their supporters took to the streets, shopping malls, and other venues, drumming, dancing, and singing in a collective voice. It was a protest against generations of injustice, a rallying cry for cultural survival, and a reassertion of Aboriginal identity.

  • Author:
    Cooper Diallo, Habiba
    Summary:

    A young Black writer documents the systemic racism in her high school diary and calls for justice and change. The prevalence of anti-Black racism and its many faces, from racial profiling to police brutality, in North America is indisputable. How do we stop racist ideas and violence if the very foundation of our society is built upon white supremacy? How do we end systemic racism if the majority do not experience it or question its existence? Do our schools instill children with the ideals of equality and tolerance, or do they reinforce differences and teach children of colour that they don't belong? #BlackInSchool is Habiba Cooper Diallo's high school journal, in which she documents, processes, and resists the systemic racism, micro-aggressions, stereotypes, and outright racism she experienced in Canada's education system. Powerful and eye-opening, Cooper Diallo illustrates how our schools reinforce rather than erode racism: the handcuffing and frisking of students of colour by police at school; one-dimensional, tokenistic curricula portraying Black people; and the constant barrage of overt racism from students and staff alike. She shows how systemic racism works, how it alienates and seeks to destroys a child's sense of self. She shows how our institutions work to erase the lived experiences of Black youth and try to erase Black youth themselves. Cooper Diallo's words will resonate with some, but should shock, appall, and animate a great many more into action towards a society that is truly equitable for all.

  • Author:
    Newbold, L. Iris, Newbold, K. Bruce, Walters, Evelyn A., Walters, Mark G.
    Summary:

    Private James Herbert (Herb) Gibson was 26 years old when he volunteered for service in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the First World War. Born near Perth, Ontario and descended from Scottish settlers, Gibson enlisted against his father's wishes because he viewed the war as justified and felt he needed to do his part. "Without fear and with a manly heart" collects his personal letters and diaries as well as those sent to him by family and friends. They reveal his beliefs, hopes, realizations, and tragedies through an account of his contribution to the war. The letters trace Gibson's wartime service from 1916 to 1919 from his enlistment and training with the 130th (Lanark and Renfrew) Battalion to his service on the Western Front with the 75th Battalion. Gibson was wounded twice, first near Vimy during the Gas Raid of March 1917 and again more seriously during a night patrol in July 1918 which ended his war. He also had to deal with tragedy on the home front from afar. Gibson's religious beliefs significantly influenced and sustained him through his darkest hours. He felt himself a gentle man caught up "on an errand the full consequences of which we did not realize."

  • Author:
    Lawlor, Allison
    Summary:

    On May 13, 1939, the eve of the Second World War, the MS St. Louis left port in Hamburg, Germany, headed for Havana, Cuba. Among the ship's passengers were more than six hundred Jews attempting to escape Nazi rule. But most of the visas the passengers had purchased turned out to be fake and after several days in limbo in Havana's harbour, the ship's captain turned back for Europe. Canadian and American activists petitioned their governments to accept the refugees on humanitarian grounds, but to no avail. On its return, the ship would distribute its passengers among European countries, and over the course of the war, an estimated 250 would die in the Nazi-run concentration camps.The latest in the Stories of our Past series is illustrated with photos and sidebar features on the voyage, glimpses into the lives of passengers, a look at Canada's postwar refugee policy, and memorials dedicated to preserving the story of this tragic event in Canadian immigration history.

  • Author:
    Goodwin, James
    Summary:

    During the Battle of the Atlantic, Dr. George Hendry had just finished performing two major surgical operations on board the destroyer HMCS Ottawa when his ship was ambushed by 13 German U-boats. Canadian warships like Ottawa had inadequate radar sets that were incapable of detecting submarines approaching in the dark. On September 13, 1942, U-91 stole in and torpedoed Ottawa, sinking her in 20 minutes. utterly exhausted, Dr. Hendry was lost along with 113 of his shipmates. George Hendry was a much-loved man, a great university athlete, and a very good doctor. Unfortunately, he was also naive and too trusting. One night in January 1941, he committed a very foolish indiscretion. He would spend the rest of his tragically short life making amends for this mistake.

  • Author:
    J. Savoie, Donald
    Summary:

    Est-ce qu'on naît entrepreneur ou est-ce qu'on apprend à le devenir? « Merci de nous avoir choisis » cherche à répondre à cette fameuse question en examinant l'histoire fascinante des magnats des affaires Arthur Irving et K.C. Irving, et celle d'Irving Oil. Un observateur aguerri a écrit au sujet des Irving : « Qu'on les aime ou qu'on les haïsse, on se doit de les respecter. » S'appuyant sur d'innombrables entrevues et des recherches approfondies, l'auteur primé Donald J. Savoie (Se débrouiller par ses propres moyens) examine en détail le succès d'une entreprise qui a vu le jour à Bouctouche et qui a grandi à Saint John, au Nouveau-Brunswick, et qui exploite maintenant la plus grande raffinerie de pétrole au Canada, ainsi que plus d'un millier de stations-service réparties dans l'Est du Canada, la Nouvelle-Angleterre et l'Irlande. L'entreprise a également des bureaux à Amsterdam et à Londres et exploite la seule raffinerie en Irlande. Comme l'a dit K.C. Irving, on n'est jamais assuré de garder les clients; il faut gagner leur fidélité une personne à la fois. « Merci de nous avoir choisis » retrace l'histoire de la famille Irving depuis ses origines en Écosse, couvre la création et les premières années de l'entreprise et étudie la façon dont Irving Oil fait face aux défis actuels. Cette biographie exhaustive fournit des enseignements précieux pour les aspirants entrepreneurs, les écoles de commerce, les politiques publiques et, en particulier, le Canada atlantique.

  • Author:
    Hume, Margaret Anne
    Summary:

    Just Mary and Maggie Muggins are names that will arouse memories in those who grew up with CBC radio and television in the 1940s and 1950s. The creator of these and other children’s shows, former Fredericton schoolteacher Mary Grannan, became a radio star when she hit the national airwaves in 1939, her popularity peaking when Maggie Muggins moved to television in 1955. Long before The Friendly Giant and Mr. Dressup appeared, her work helped to shape the legacy of gentle children’s programming on CBC. Building on her broadcasting success, Grannan published over thirty books, most runaway best-sellers. Attired in stylish dress, extravagant hats, and enormous earrings, she made frequent guest appearances at public events across the country. She received the Beaver Award for her broadcasting and was honoured by the International Mark Twain Society and the Institute for Education by Radio at Ohio State University."Just Mary": The Life of Mary Evelyn Grannan is the first biography of this creative and once well-known Canadian woman. Immersing the reader in rich detail while showcasing excerpts of her writings through the years, the book presents an intimate examination of her life journey through previously unreleased personal letters, archives, an abundance of photographs, and interviews with family, friends, colleagues, and former students. This is the private Mary Grannan as the public has never before known her.

  • Author:
    Deane, Lawrence, Silver, Jim, Morrissette, Larry, Comack, Elizabeth
    Summary:

    With the advent of Aboriginal street gangs such as Indian Posse, Manitoba Warriors, and Native Syndicate, Winnipeg garnered a reputation as the 'gang capital of Canada.' Yet beyond the stereotypes of outsiders, little is known about these street gangs and the factors and conditions that have produced them. Indians Wear Red locates Aboriginal street gangs as a form of resistance to colonialism. But just as colonialism has been destructive, so too has street gang activity, including the illegal trade in drugs. Solutions lie not in the search for 'quik fixes' but in decolonization: re-connecting Aboriginal people with their culture and building communities in which they can thrive, aware of and proud of their identity.

  • Author:
    Wilson-Raybould, Jody
    Summary:

    THE #1 BESTSELLER FINALIST FOR THE WRITERS' TRUST BALSILLIE PRIZE FOR PUBLIC POLICY. A compelling political memoir of leadership and speaking truth to power by one of the most inspiring women of her generation Jody Wilson-Raybould was raised to be a leader. Inspired by the example of her grandmother, who persevered throughout her life to keep alive the governing traditions of her people, and raised as the daughter of a hereditary chief and Indigenous leader, Wilson-Raybould always knew she would take on leadership roles and responsibilities. She never anticipated, however, that those roles would lead to a journey from her home community of We Wai Kai in British Columbia to Ottawa as Canada's first Indigenous Minister of Justice and Attorney General in the Cabinet of then newly elected prime minister, Justin Trudeau. Wilson-Raybould's experience in Trudeau's Cabinet reveals important lessons about how we must continue to strengthen our political institutions and culture, and the changes we must make to meet challenges such as racial justice and climate change. As her initial optimism about the possibilities of enacting change while in Cabinet shifted to struggles over inclusivity, deficiencies of political will, and concerns about adherence to core principles of our democracy, Wilson-Raybould stood on principle and, ultimately, resigned. In standing her personal and professional ground and telling the truth in front of the nation, Wilson-Raybould demonstrated the need for greater independence and less partisanship in how we govern. "Indian" in the Cabinet: Speaking Truth to Power is the story of why Wilson-Raybould got into federal politics, her experience as an Indigenous leader sitting around the Cabinet table, her proudest achievements, the very public SNC-Lavalin affair, and how she got out and moved forward. Now sitting as an Independent Member in Parliament, Wilson-Raybould believes there is a better way to govern and a better way for politics-one that will make a better country for all.

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