Over the years I have given a large number of presentations on Elsie MacGill and to a wide variety of groups. Getting the story about Elsie out is something I truly enjoy doing, and having a truly engaged audience makes this endeavour that much more rewarding. That was the case on May 16th with the Ottawa Canadian Federation of University Women. In addition to a truly warm welcome, it was a pleasure to spend an evening with a group that was so keen to hear the story. Moreover, a lively and intelligent question period followed and kept going right throughout the social time after the presentation.
In a slightly different twist to this presentation, I explored Elsie's life from the concept of her being a banknote-able woman. And, indeed she is - having made the shortlist for the new $10. But, what does that mean? It is relatively straight-forward to reduce any life to a serious of chronological facts - and when exploring historical significance at a surface level this degree of analysis is enough - however - as I argued that night this most interesting part is what happens before the facts, during the creation of the facts and after the facts - that my friends is where living occurs and those nuances contain the true richness of a life.
There is nothing that warms an author's heart more than to spend time with readers and potential readers who are so excited to discuss a book. It was a wonderful evening that left me truly energized! Thank you Ottawa CFUW for a fantastic evening!
On May 16, 2017 at 7:30pm at Riverside United Church I will be giving a presentation about Queen of the Hurricanes. This event is hosted by the Canadian Federation of University Women.
Please RSVP by April 15, 2017 to Janet Riehm: jriehm@sympatico.ca or 613-744-7305
It was recently brought to my attention that Queen of the Hurricanes is part of Canada History's Canadian Women's History book list! It is one of many fascinating books on women's history in Canada that
should all be added to your reading lists for 2017! It is a great year to do it too...Canada's 150th!
For more information see: Canadian Women's History
