Monthly Archives: May 2011

May 26

Subverting the walls at TEDxCalgary

On June 4th, I will have the pleasure of giving a presentation at TEDxCalgary, a local ‘franchise’ of the inspiring TED talks that originated in California in the 1980s and have since become a sensation online. (Those of you who’ve never heard of TED should stop reading my blog and visit the TED site immediately.) […]

Poets and Pahlevans on the Cross-Country Bookshelf

This morning, friend and fellow writer Will Ferguson nominated Poets and Pahlevans: A Journey Into the Heart of Iran for the Alberta edition of CBC’s Cross Country Bookshelf. I am grateful for the nod, even though most of the other writers in the running – Will among them – are friends of mine. (You can […]

May 20

Parc Extension Mural

The  Montreal community of Parc Extension commissioned this mural to celebrate the neighbourhood’s centennial anniversary last year. The different fabrics in the image represent the diversity of cultures that make their home in Parc Ex. The mural is not without its detractors, but I think it is gorgeous.

Thinking about Walls in Montreal

I am in Montreal conducting research for what will likely be the last chapter of the ‘Walls’ book. I will investigate the fence, built in the 1960s, that stands between the neighbourhoods of the Town of Montreal and Parc Extension. I’ve only just begun my inquiries here and look forward to learning more. I am […]

Nominations for “Fatherhood”

My “Fatherhood” story had a good week. The essay, which appeared in the November 2010 issue of Alberta Views, was shortlisted for both a Western Magazine Award and a National Magazine Award. For the NMA, “Fatherhood” is nominated in the “Personal Journalism” category. Oddly, five of the nominated stories are about fathers and/or sons, and […]

The Iraqi Priest

Today I interviewed Abbé Noël Farman for a story I am writing for Alberta Views. Abbé Noël Farman is a priest of the Chaldean Order of the Eastern Catholic Church who hails from Iraq. He is now the pastor at two Calgary churches: the Francophone parish Paroisse Sainte-Famille, and St. Mary Chaldean Parish. I will […]