continued from page 16Gwen Symon arrives the
same summer, having driven by herself from Georgian Bay, and
comes looking for a job at the CBC. Gwen lacks the confidence and
ease of Dido but she has the desire to learn and Harry finds
himself the mentor of both young women. Harry has a lot to teach
and they are eager to learn. Eleanor Dew, the station receptionist,
gives Dido a home in her first months in the north. Eleanor had
been in the north for some time - not realizing how lonely she has
been until Dido comes along.
New to small community
As the newcomers are woven into the fabric of this small
isolated community - whites in the Dene north - they find they are
fundamentally changed by their relationships and the environment in
which they live.
Dido entrances all of them, drawing them out without ever giving
herself away. When she leaves suddenly - she leaves all of those
she has touched with a loss they would have difficulty in
describing.
It is after her departure that
Harry, Gwen, and Eleanor, along with reporter, Ralph Cody, plan
a canoe trip into the Barrens.
These are the famous Barrens of the northern explorer, Samuel
Hearn, who coined the phrase the Barren Ground for the arctic
expanse of treeless plains that he toiled across between 1769
and 1772. It is the route travelled by
John Hornby, who inspired this novel when Elizabeth Hay read his
biography The Legend of John Hornby by George Whalley 30 years ago.
This is a trip into the wilderness, but not without proper
preparation and an awareness of the possible dangers.
Wilderness trip
It is in mid-June, a year after Gwen's arrival in the north,
when the foursome sets out, by floatplane loaded with canoes and
provisions, to be dropped at the eastern end of Great Slave
Lake.
T h e y a r e t o paddle and portage for 10 days before being
picked up at Beverly Lake, 500 miles away. This is
true wilderness travel.The beauty of the landscape
is brought to life by the author's descriptions of the land and
the animals; she traveled here herself in 1978, the year she left
Yellowknife after living there for four years. (At some point in
the novel she talks about the "five year club" - if you've lived
there that long you might stay forever.)
A long 10 days
It is a long 10 days, days of peaceful paddling and sunshine,
days of ice and snow. Their
bodies are battered with bruises from dragging their canoes
across frozen lakes - their senses sharpened from witnessing small
birds and huge herds of migrating caribou.
There are periods of intense danger and moments of absolute
bliss.
There is a sense of impending tragedy throughout the novel, and
as the voyage is almost complete, it strikes.
Their lives will never be the same again. This trip will bind
the survivors for the rest of their lives.
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Thursday, October 4, 2007
www.westendkids.ca/columbia236886
Northern experience woven into novel
Charlotte Stein
continued from page 16Because of a deep-rooted interest in
Canadian history that was instilled in him by his father, Mr.
Ford’s new career also includes a substantial number of concerts
for school-age audiences from Grades 7 to 12. He uses a mixed bag
of musical styles including hip hop, folk and garage punk to tell
stories of Canada. He released a third solo album, Canada Needs You
Volume One, in 2005 that features songs from this show, and will be
releasing Volume Two next year. The website www.teachwithmusic.ca
recommends a number of the songs from this disk as excellent tools
for history teachers.
Mr. Ford will be performing two concerts next week as part of
the Stockey Centre’s new education program,
SHAPE. Grade 7 and 8 students will be coming to the Stockey
Centre with their classes to hear Mr. Ford perform his show The
Great Canadian Songbook. Some of the Grade 7 students who
participated in last spring’s songwriting workshop about the
history of Parry Sound will have an opportunity to ask him about
the art of songwriting.
These three artists are wonderful examples of how musicians can
keep their music growing and developing throughout their careers
without alienating their fans. Although audience members will still
ask for their favourites; after all we all like to hear music that
we know and love. At the same time, we want the musicians we love
to become the best that they can be. To do that, they need the
freedom to explore new
challenges and new kinds of music.Please note: Don’t miss our
local band
made good this week – Red Umbrella, a rock band that started out
at the Parry Sound High School is back for a visit, performing at
the Stockey Centre tomorrow evening to open the Pop/Rock Series and
to promote their first album, Wishing for Boardwalk.
(Lynn McGuigan is the executive director of the Charles W.
Stockey Centre.)
Musicians change during careers
continued from frontMr. Weir said he began the portraits in late
December of 2006, with the intention
of just painting the spiritual energies of women, but following
their completion, he felt the need to tell more of the story.
“When I got the energies (completed), 'I thought, holy smokes, I
better do something about, what do (the women) do with these
energies? So then I went on.”
He chose each of the women, who he already knew, because they
had each done something special with their life.
“I think you’ll really feel the energy, I think it’s going to be
a powerful show,” he said.
The two-and-a-half-week show opens at the Parry Sound Station
Gallery from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, October 5 and runs through to
October 21.
"I had the good fortune to have Bert Weir as my first art
teacher in the mid-'70s,” said Frances Thomas, president of Station
Gallery. “He has been an important influence in Canada for many
students and artists and it is a real honour for the gallery to
have this exhibition. Bert has dedicated almost his entire lifetime
to his art which is a very tough thing to do, a tough way to live
one's life, but I suspect he would do it all over again. It is that
important and Parry Sound is the greater for his contribution."
Showing how women use their spiritual energy
Colin James and Craig Northey will perform in Up Close, Personal
and Slightly Unplugged at the Charles W. Stockey Centre for the
Performing Arts on Friday, October 12. Two awe-inspiring guitarists
will join for one concert that boasts an acoustic energy that is
incomparable.
A six-time Juno Award winner, Mr. James, has once again teamed
up with Mr. Northey, a founding member and principal
singer/songwriter of the band Odds. The duo has paired up in
previous years to bring fans great music. The first time the two
worked together was on Mr. James’ 2000 CD’s Fuse.
Saskatchewan born Mr. James has been in the music industry for
nearly 25 years with well over a million albums
sold worldwide and six Juno Awards, and was the first artist to
sign with the then fledgling Virgin America label. Today, Mr. James
continues to raise the bar, with his latest release the Colin James
and the Little Big Band III and his duo tour with Mr. Northey.
Mr. Northey is no stranger to the music world. He has helped
write, produce and or performed in more than 40 albums. The hit
television show Corner Gas took its theme song from Northey
Valenzula in which Mr. Northey co-produced, wrote, played, helped
mix, master and record with Jesse Valenzuela.
See these two guitarists in concert at the Charles W. Stockey
Centre.
(Story provided by the Charles W. Stockey Centre for Performing
Arts.)
Guitar duo on Stockey stage
Wednesday October 3, 2007 ◆ PARRY SOUND NORTH STAR - 17
