An Important Day in History Two of the most important events in ancient and modern history happened on this date—September 28 — although neither are celebrated worldwide today or even thought about much. The first was the birth of Confucius, one of the most important people in ancient China, born on this date in 551 […]
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New Beginnings To me, this time of year seems more like A New Year than January 1st does. It is a time for new beginnings—a new school year, starting university— and even if you are well past those years yourself, thinking about when your children were starting school. Now with grandchildren entering the world of
Val’s Book Reviews Owls, Doughnuts, and Democracy by Jason A.N. Taylor Victoria: independently published $7.99 (e-book) / 9798333346148 My first impression of Owls, Doughnuts and Democracy was that it was simply a bizarre book of political ramblings by the author—and not the type of book I would normally have sought out. After a beat, I
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Val’s Book Reviews The Imposter by Johanna Van Zanten Las Vegas: Histria Books, 2024 $29.99 / 9761592113767 Johanna Van Zanten has created an intriguing story spanning two World Wars in Europe in her second novel The Imposter. Like her first novel (Between a Rock and a Hard Place) The Imposter explores the overwhelming decisions that
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Val’s Book Reviews Let’s Eat: Recipes for Kids Who Cook by DL Acken and Aurelia Louvet Victoria: TouchWood Editions, 2023 $40 / 97817711514132 If you have been searching for a cookbook for your children, Let’s Eat – Recipes for Kids who Cook by DL (Danielle) Acken and Aurelia Louvet, is the one for you. These
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A History of Midwifery Midwifery around the world, and especially in North America, has in many ways come full circle over the past three centuries. In the 1600s, the King of France commissioned several midwives to work in the colonies. In 1713 the first midwife was elected to serve in Quebec and until the 20th
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Discovery Days in the Klondike! Discovery Day is a provincial holiday celebrated every year in August in the Yukon. During August, there are celebrations happening everywhere. Citizens and tourists alike celebrate the fact that in 1896, George Carmack, an American prospector, and Skookum Jim and Dawson Charlie, two Tagish First Nations men, staked placer gold
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Val’s Book Reviews Apocalypse Child: Surviving Doomsday and the Search for Identity at the End of the World by Carly Butler Qualicum Beach: Caitlin Press, 2024 Apocalypse Child is an unimaginable story that would be difficult to believe unless you knew that author Carly Butler had actually lived it and is now generously sharing her story with readers. Butler begins
A Misnamed Islet off Cadboro Bay? There is a small islet off the north-east shore of Cadboro Bay in my hometown, Victoria, British Columbia, called Ellen Staines Isle. The story behind it is an interesting piece of historical trivia. For some unknown reason the small island was mis-named, because Ellen Staines Isle was named to
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The Birth of a Book Series! When I was about nine years old and still lived in England, an uncle gave me a very special book which I have treasured for years. It was called The Abridged Bible Catechism and was given to small children in Sunday school back in the 1840s. But it was
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