News

“Trapper Boy” new song for Men of the Deeps

Posted by on May 14, 2014

Trapper_FC-webSo, this is cool: We just learned from Hugh R. MacDonald that his song “Trapper Boy” is being added to the repertoire of the world-famous coal miners’ chorus, The Men of the Deeps. The song was written and scored years before publication of MacDonald’s YA novel of the same name, published by CBU Press (2012).

In a recent exchange with chorus director John C. (Jack) O’Donnell, Hugh learned that, all things being well, the song will be performed at the “Deeps” next concert at Chedabucto Place Theatre in Guysborough, May 25, at 2 p.m.

Set in a 1920s coal-mining town, Trapper Boy is the story of 13-year-old JW Donaldson, whose father works in the mine. There is a lot of talk around town about the mines and his father’s hours at the mine have been reduced and the family faces difficult decisions to try to make ends meet.

There is a video recording of Hugh performing his song available from the book’s website (link here) as well as a series of interviews.

The Men of the Deeps is a choir of working and retired coal miners from the island of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Canada. Organized in 1966 as part of Cape Breton’s contribution to Canada’s Centennial Year (1967), the group’s inception was an effort by the people of Cape Breton to preserve in song some of the rich folklore of that island’s coal mining communities. Since 1967 the group has been singing of the work and lifestyle of the Cape Breton coal miner to audiences throughout most of Canada and the United States.

615_The_Men_Of_The_Deeps_2010

 

So, this is cool: We just learned from Hugh R. MacDonald that his song “Trapper Boy” is being added to… Continue»

NS Gaelic poet to Games literary event

Posted by on May 13, 2014

lmackinnon-bardGlasgow-games200 athletes,  55 coaches,  25 mission staff and one Gaelic Nova Scotian poet – that’s the Canadian contingent (sort of) to the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, 23 July-3 August, 2014.

Lewis MacKinnon, author of Famhair agus dàin Ghàidhlig eile / Giant and Other Gaelic Poems (CBU Press 2008) is part of a team of Commonwealth and Scottish writers who will explore Scottish connections with literature of the Commonwealth and the wider world.

This is one of a number of unique series of literary events being held across Scotland in parallel with the Queen’s Baton Relay prior to the opening of the games.

Organized by Scottish PEN the series is an international exchange between six Scottish poets, and poets from six Commonwealth nations. Poets will spend time creating new work, visiting schools and exploring the local culture.

The Queen’s Baton Relay, having travelled the Commonwealth already, will travel  through 400 towns, villages and cities over 40 days across the U.K., offering people across the nation the chance to be part of the countdown to Scotland’s biggest ever sporting and cultural event.

Mr. MacKinnon’s participation, will be while the relay is on the Isle of Lewis, Tuesday, July 8, 7-9 p.m., at the Woodlands Centre, Lews Castle Grounds, Stornoway. It’s an evening of poetry and music, with Meg Bateman, respected Gaelic poet and scholar and singer Babs MacGregor. It’s a free, but ticketed event.

MacKinnon is the current holder of the Scottish Bardic Crown, official bard (poet laureate) of the Royal National Mod. He is the first poet to the appointment from outside of Scotland. That three-year appointment will culminate at the Mod in Inverness this October, at which time CBU Press will be launching his second Gaelic Poetry collection, A’ Rud Mì-Bheanailteach / The Intangible.

The Commonwealth is an association of independent sovereign states of 2 billion people making up 30 per cent of the world’s population of many faiths, races, languages, cultures and traditions and spread over every continent and ocean. The Commonwealth Games is a unique, world class, multi-sports event which is held once every four years. It is often referred to as the “Friendly Games.” More than 6,500 athletes from 71 countries will compete in 17 sports over 11 days in Glasgow.

200 athletes,  55 coaches,  25 mission staff and one Gaelic Nova Scotian poet – that’s the Canadian contingent (sort of) to… Continue»

New play inspired by Jeanne Dugas of Acadia

Posted by on May 12, 2014

Jeanne d'AcadieWe are very excited to learn that Le Festival de l’Escouette will stage a play entitled Jeanne d’Acadie, by Paul D. Gallant. The title character is Jeanne Dugas, whose incredible life story was fictionalized in the novel, Jeanne Dugas of Acadia by Cassie Deveaux Cohoon (CBU Press 2013).

Born of Acadian parents at Louisbourg, Jeanne Dugas (1731-1817) and her husband Pierre Bois were among the founding families of the Acadian village of Chéticamp in 1785. Descended from one of the three most prominent families in Acadia, Jeanne Dugas and her family lived for more than thirty years under the threat of capture and deportation by the British militia and attacks by pirates and privateers.

In many ways, the life of Jeanne Dugas and her family is the story of 18th-century Acadians. We look forward to seeing the play, which will be staged on August 1, 2 and 3 at la Place des Arts Père-Anselme-Chiasson, Chéticamp.

We are very excited to learn that Le Festival de l’Escouette will stage a play entitled Jeanne d’Acadie, by Paul D…. Continue»

Community history exhibit set to open

Posted by on May 9, 2014

Invite electronic.pagesOur friends at the Beaton Institute have partnered with the Old Sydney Society on an exhibition from the Abbass Studios collection, held at the Beaton. John Abbass’s name was synonymous with the recording of practically every event and activity in the greater Sydney area and elsewhere in Cape Breton. CBU Press has benefited greatly by the availability of the Abbass collection in completion of a variety of projects. Chief among those is Paul MacDougall’s Distinction Earned: Cape Breton’s Boxing Legacy. John Abbass recorded many, many photos of boxers and matches, but that’s a small part of the collection.

Great to see this valued cultural resource housed at and made available by the university.

We’re not sure of the length of the exhibit, but the official opening is May 16, 4-6 p.m., at the Lyceum, 225 George Street, Sydney.

Our friends at the Beaton Institute have partnered with the Old Sydney Society on an exhibition from the Abbass Studios… Continue»

Another literary icon passes – Farley Mowat dead at 92

Posted by on May 7, 2014

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/farley-mowat-dead-at-92-1.2634772

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/farley-mowat-dead-at-92-1.2634772

“Tales from the Ring” postponed

Posted by on

We note an announcement on CBC this morning that this event (scheduled for May 8) has been postponed to an undetermined date in June. Link here to the original post. http://cbup.ca/blog/tales-ring/

We note an announcement on CBC this morning that this event (scheduled for May 8) has been postponed to an… Continue»

CBU Press authors head to Scotland book festival

Posted by on May 5, 2014

Frank MacdonaldLindsay-Marshall-3-webBon voyage to Lindsay Marshall and Frank Macdonald who are off to Ullapool, Scotland, for this weekend’s Ullapool International Book Festival (May 9-11).

Frank Macdonald is the award-winning author of A Forest for Calum and A Possible Madness (CBU Press 2005 and 2012, respectively), both of which were longlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Watch for Frank’s new novel Tinker & Blue, scheduled for release in September.

Lindsay Marshall is a frequent contributor of poetry for important celebrations, including as Mi’kmaw poet laureate for an official visit to Nova Scotia by Queen Elizabeth II (2010). His poetry collection, Clay Pots and Bones, first published by Solas in 1997, has been updated with a number of new poems and will be re-released by CBU Press later this month.

Bon voyage to Lindsay Marshall and Frank Macdonald who are off to Ullapool, Scotland, for this weekend’s Ullapool International Book Festival… Continue»

Wow – Page Turner Project young writers projects are amazing

Posted by on May 2, 2014

Page-Turner-Baddeck-Oct'13Last year, CBC Information Morning Cape Breton teamed up with CBU Press to offer a writing workshop for Junior High students, led by best-selling author Philip Roy.  The “Page Turner Project” aimed to encourage the next generation of writers in Cape Breton.  On May 1, CBC broadcast two stories written by participants Tabitha and Azaria Durant of New Waterford. They worked with Philip via e-mail to improve their stories, culminating in the broadcast.

Congratulations Tabitha and Azaria – your stories are awesome!

You can hear the stories here (about ten minutes): http://www.cbc.ca/informationmorningcb/2014/05/01/tabitha-and-azaria-durant/

Philip Roy is the best-selling author of Me & Mr. Bell and Blood Brothers in Louisbourg (both CBU Press), the Submarine Outlaw adventure series and the new Happy the Pocket Mouse series (Ronsdale).

Me & Mr. Bell

Last year, CBC Information Morning Cape Breton teamed up with CBU Press to offer a writing workshop for Junior High… Continue»

Johnston to be featured on The Good Sentence, with Paul MacDougall, on The Coast 89.7

Posted by on May 1, 2014

The Good Sentence, with Paul MacDougall, on The Coast 89.7Paul MacDougalljohnston-web

CKOA-FM The Coast 89.7’s weekly Dialogue (Sundays 6-7 p.m.; encores Tuesday and Thursday 11 p.m. to midnight) will now include a monthly literary segment with Cape Breton writer Paul MacDougall.

The segment, called “The Good Sentence” will have its inaugural broadcast this Sunday, May 4. The Coast also streams live over the web at http://www.coastalradio.ca/about/listen-live/ and is available throughout Atlantic Canada on Bell Aliant FibreOp TV, Channel 773.

Each episode of “The Good Sentence” will feature interviews with authors, book reviews and other conversations about regional literature.

Johnston-Maze-webThe May 4 episode will feature Paul’s conversation with A.J.B. Johnston, whose new novel The Maze, A Thomas Pichon Novel (CBU Press) launches in June (#themaze). The Maze is the second in a series of novels, following Thomas, A Secret Life CBU Press (2012).

Paul MacDougall is well-known to the literary community of Cape Breton. He is the author of a number of plays and short stories and of Distinction Earned: Cape Breton’s Boxing Legends (CBU Press 2010).

The Coast 89.7 (Coastal Community Radio Co-operative Ltd.) operates from studios on Reserve Street in Glace Bay. It was founded by current General Manager Bill MacNeil who had the idea for a community-owned radio station dedicated to promoting local artists and culture to an interested local audience.

The Good Sentence, with Paul MacDougall, on The Coast 89.7 CKOA-FM The Coast 89.7’s weekly Dialogue (Sundays 6-7 p.m.; encores… Continue»

Tales from the Ring

Posted by on April 30, 2014

boxing

This event has been postponed to June.

Calling all boxing enthusiasts…

… to our first storytelling circle about Cape Breton boxing in days gone by. Many boxers of yesterday and today will be in attendance. Paul MacDougall, author of Distinction Earned: Cape Breton’s Boxing Legends, will host the evening and lead the discussion. We invite anyone interested, involved or just curious about boxing to attend.

Free admission and, yes, tea and oatcakes will be provided.

The Lyceum, 225 George St.,
Thursday May 8, 2014, 7:00pm

Contact paul_macdougall@cbu.ca or 564-1066 or oldsydneysociety@ns.aliantzinc.ca for more information.

This event has been postponed to June. Calling all boxing enthusiasts… … to our first storytelling circle about Cape Breton boxing… Continue»