A Scandalous Love Affair Today we are accustomed to scandals in the news, but this was not case in early Victoria. Rumours surrounding one young woman during the 1890s, for instance, were therefore thought to be quite shocking. The lady in question was Bertha de Miranda Genn who led a very unorthodox life. Born in […]
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The Lady who knew “next to nothing” about Gardening. Jeanette Foster Kennedy was born in Toronto, Ontario, on February 26th, 1868, one hundred and fifty-five years ago, but her presence on Vancouver Island is still very much alive. Although her ancestry was both Canadian and Irish, she was destined to become famous on the Saanich
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Val’s Book Reviews Patterson House by Jane Cawthorne Toronto: Inanna Publications, 2022 $22.95 / 9781771339391 In her novel Patterson House, Jane Cawthorne has produced a warm yet tragic story of a once-wealthy Toronto family who still own a stately mansion known as Patterson House. Cawthorne begins in 1873 with the ghostly voice of William Patterson,
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CRAIGFLOWER SCHOOL The Oldest School Building in Western Canada Craigflower School in the City of Victoria, British Columbia, opened its doors in March of 1855 to twenty-six students. The first teacher was Charles Clark, who lived in the accommodation upstairs with his family and a few boarders from outlying areas. This little school, alongside the
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Val’s Book Reviews The Runaway Heiress by Meg Tilly Toronto: Penguin Random House Canada (Berkley), 2021 $10.99 / 9780593201084 Who better than an Oscar-nominated actress to write a story about the quirky, unconventional lifestyle of Hollywood? Author Meg Tilly does not disappoint us in her novel The Runaway Heiress. After an unconventional beginning at a
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Val’s Book Reviews The Secret of Bell Island by Mike Phelan Victoria: FriesenPress, 2021 $28.99 / 9781039127296 This author has written a very thought-provoking story set on Bell Island in Newfoundland during two time periods – the Second World War and the present-day — which also makes for an intriguing narrative of a relationship between
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Val’s Book Reviews Deadly Triangle: The Famous Architect, His Wife, Their Chauffeur, and Murder Most Foul by Susan Goldenberg Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2022$23.99 / 9781459750302 Anyone who lives in British Columbia’s capital city or has visited the beautiful city of Victoria and admired the Parliament buildings and the world-famous Empress Hotel in the harbour, will
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Val’s Book Reviews Canada, By Jove by Betty Annand Airdrie, Alberta: BWL [Books We Love] Publishing, 2021$16.99 / 9780228619437 (Amazon price and Amazon print ISBN) Betty Annand’s book, Canada, By Jove, is a charming tale of two young brothers, Ernest (Ernie) and Hubert (Bert) White, who leave England in 1910 for an adventure in Canada.
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Val’s Book Reviews Definitely Not James Herriot: A Memoir, of Sorts by Jocelyn Reekie Campbell River: Peregrin Publishing, 2022$21.95 / 9781896402208 Jocelyn Reekie’s small book is a delightful treasure for anyone who loves animals. This short memoir covers Reekie’s life from the time she discovered a passion for animals as a child in Saskatchewan. Her
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Val’s Book Reviews Why I’m Here: A Novel by Jill Frayne Edmonton: NeWest Press, 2022$21.95 / 9781774390498 Jill Frayne’s book Why I’m Here is a combination of the strong pull of family, overwhelming heartache and puzzling mystery. The book is a compelling read set against the fierce splendour of the Yukon. The protagonist, Helen Cotillard,
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