Headed to Nain

I am headed to Nain and soooo looking forward to this trip...

If you've not heard of Nain, it's worth a Google. The vast majority of the people there are Inuit and the community is as reflective of their culture as you might expect. Yes, I will post pictures.

Our garden in Victoria is inundated with crocuses and snow drops as I pack my flutes, books and bags and regret not having kept my long johns from my life in Saskatchewan (If you're not from the Prairie). And no, I don't resent leaving this beautiful weather in Canada's most gentle city. I am going to Nain!

The last time I visited northern Labrador was when I was invited to work with the Innu, my Grandmother's people. It was an amazing trip.

In the picture on the right, I'm standing with my host Barb in front of our hotel in Natuashish. I know it doesn't look all that special but hey...it has a dining room (shown here).

Tomorrow, I fly from Victoria to Vancouver and on to Toronto. Sunday, I will fly from Toronto to Halifax, Halifax to Goose Bay and from Goose Bay, I have a 300 km flight north to Nain.

Ours will be a smaller plane likely jam packed with supplies. We few passengers will take up the balance of the space. There is no service or bathroom on board.

In our day and age, true adventure is becoming harder and harder to find. Don't get me wrong, I love working in Paris, London, India and China but tomorrow...tomorrow, I am headed to Nain!!!

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2015 - my best year ever

My best year ever: 2015

This is going to be my best year ever. Have you ever felt something in your bones and just knew it was going to be? Well, this is that feeling and this is the year.

It's started off perfectly. I am in great health. My family is healthy and happy. Those in and around me are all good - to the exception of Olivia, a beautiful student at the DBPS in Oshawa, who was taken from us. Cancer can and will be beaten. Until then, so many continue to be hurt. My good friend and web designer, Michael Waters, is also in a battle with cancer. This is a battle he will win. I'll keep you informed.

I spent last week in Edmonton, one of my favourite cities in Canada. For those of you who have not been, be sure to spend some time on Whyte Ave. I'm not kidding, it is the funkiest street in our country. I feel hip/cool just walking down that street - in fact, I think I walk differently on Whyte than I normally do.

I spoke to...thousands while there. Here is a shot of T.D. Baker, one of those amazing groups of kids I presented to on this tour.

I'm packed and ready to head to Ontario tomorrow. I'll come home for one week and then bundle up for a week in Northern Labrador, Nain and Hopedale. I am sooooo excited.

Enough. I will post pics - I promise.

Until then, join me in making 2015 a magical year (and not only the year my friend/agent Chris Patrick turned 60).

Group hug



Moi

2015

2015 - and this is good 

There were highlights in 2014 as there are every year, however, in many ways, 2015 couldn't have come soon enough.

In spite of looking forward to this new year, I don't take anything in life for granted - and that includes 2014 and the opportunities that this year offered my family and me.

We were blessed with an invitation to China. This wasn't our first invitation but it is the first that we accepted.

We spent our spring break at the Salon du Livre in Paris (...our tenth consecutive year).

We celebrated Victoria's 16th birthday in London and in Yorkshire.

And I went back to Paris for the Festival des Ameriques in September.

How anyone could complain after this kind of calendar year is almost inconceivable.


There were great trips and there were books, of course. There are always books in my life.

We launched our new book, The Great Law, in Mohawk territory.

Goodminds Books in Brantford hosted an event that saw a good number of friends and family gather for the celebration.


Ray Skye and I are grateful to Jeff Burnham and his staff for this and for all they do for our Aboriginal communities.

Even with this beautiful book, four overseas trips and dozens of great venues in Canada, the real highlight for me was the opening of the David Bouchard Public School in Oshawa.

Alison, Lauren, Tammy and staff and the entire Oshawa community honoured me by linking me forever to their kids, parents and professionals.

I could write for hours about how the school came to be, who it serves, the dedicated professionals and volunteers who make it tick...and the 650 kids that mean so much to all of us.

...However, I'd not be able to touch on the magic. So here are a couple of pictures and a link... 

 

http://www.ddsb.ca/school/davidbouchard/Pages/default.aspx