Val’s Book Reviews Return of the sea otter Sea Otters: A Survival Story by Isabelle Groc with forewords by Dame Judi Dench & David F. Mills Victoria: Orca Books, 2020 $24.95 / 9781459817371 Reviewed by Valerie Green Sea Otters: A Survival story by Isabelle Groc is a delightful wildlife book for all ages. Author Isabelle Groc has […]
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Val’s Book Reviews Trauma, work, love Forest Green by Kate Pullinger Toronto: Penguin Random House Canada (Anchor Canada), 2020 $19.95 / 9780385683067 Reviewed by Valerie Green In her novel Forest Green, author Kate Pullinger has produced a powerful portrayal of a man at various stages of his life from childhood to old age. Her protagonist, Arthur Lunn, is
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February is the month when thousands of people around the world will send or receive sentimental or humorous greetings cards from their sweethearts, friends or family members. So, let’s take a step back in time and examine the history of this unique ‘giving-of-cards’ tradition which apparently all started with a man called Valentine. Some people
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Kung Hei Fat Choi! Gong Xi Fa Cai! Saehae bok mani badeuseyo! Chúc mừng năm mới! Today is the Lunar New Year, the first day of the 2 week Spring Festival. Visit your family (but only on the second day), wear red, avoid taking out the trash (which is akin to washing away your luck
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In January of 1901, the city of Victoria in British Columbia, was contemplating the New Year with optimism. A new year was welcomed by the ringing of bells and the explosion of fireworks. But on January 19th some disturbing news reached the city. The Colonist reported that Her Majesty Queen Victoria, who was highly esteemed
Each year we seem to become more jaded in outlook concerning the real meaning of Christmas. So, let’s for a moment, step back into the past and see how people of long ago celebrated this special time. It’s interesting to find that through their writings of Christmas past they appeared to live in a happier,
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A CHRISTMAS PLEA! Christmas is fast approaching—a time of love and a time for families. It can also be a time of unimaginable sorrow if you are mourning a loved one, especially if that loved one is a child. Throughout history, women have lost children for a number of different reasons. Difficult births resulting in
Perhaps because there has been so much horror in the world of late, it seems even more important every November 11th to remember why we honour all those who serve their countries. On November 11, 1919, when the first Remembrance Day was held throughout Commonwealth countries to mark the end of the First World War,
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Remember that day back in March 2020 when the world closed down? How could we ever forget!At the time we thought it would only be for a few weeks, but then things grew steadily worse and it became a pandemic around the world greater than we could ever have imagined.In British Columbia, Canada, we are
Today, Smugglers’ Cove in my home town of Victoria, British Columbia, is a peaceful place where families visit to picnic or just admire the scenery. Not so a few decades ago! The capital city of British Columbia, Victoria, is known for many things today—tea at the Empress Hotel, the world-famous Butchart Gardens, and all the
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