Join us for an encore presentation of interviews with Sher Leetooze we made in November 2014. Sher wanted to write all through school, and to that end submitted material to the annual High School Year Book. In 1994 she published her first local history book and it was an instant success. Sher went on to publish the history of all the other townships in the former county where she lives. From this sprang other books, WW1 Nursing Sisters, Clarington’s Home Children, and a History of the Churches of Old Durham. In between these she wrote a trilogy following the people known as Bible Christians from England to their new homes in Canada. Sher then went on to compile genealogy source books, gardening books, wild plant books and a couple of cook books. And if that isn’t enough, she’s also written a book of short stories, a novella, The Queen’s Pawn and a novel called Finding Sean McRory.

This week’s summer encore interview is from November 2014 with Melody Crowe. Elder Melody Crowe is an Ojibway woman from the Alderville First Nation, where she has lived all her life. Melody is an Eagle Feather Carrier and for more than 25 years she has taught the Ojibway language and culture to children, youth, adults and elders. She is the recipient of many awards including the Honouring our People Award Sept 2015 from the Ogemawahj Tribal Council and a Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in the Preservation of Language and Culture from the Union of Ontario Indians in 2007. Melody holds an Honours BA in Indigenous Studies from Trent University and, as a student, was the recipient of both the Joyce Moonias Award and The K. E. Kidd Awards from the University. She has worked as the First Nation Liaison for the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board since 2001.

Mark Richardson is a journalist and author. Based in Cobourg, Mark is the former automotive editor of the Toronto Star and now contributes regularly to Canada’s national newspaper, The Globe and Mail, among other publications. His books include Zen and Now, Bird on a Wire, The Drive Across Canada, and Running on Empty. This encore program from the summer of 2014 is a conversation about The Drive Across Canada – Mark’s experience driving Canada’s longest road and travel with the adventurous pioneers who helped make it a reality.