Saturday, October 28, 2006

Media Club of Ottawa - Fall Events

MEDIA CLUB OF OTTAWA - CALENDAR OF EVENTS
September 2006 - December 2006
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Although our meetings are usually held in the evening at the National Press Club on the last Monday of each month, please note that three of the following meetings will either be held at a different location, or on a different day, or at a different time.
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Monday, September 25 - The Intricacies of Festival Planning

Speakers: Sean Wilson, Director, Ottawa International Writers’ Festival and Neil Wilson, Artistic Director, Ottawa International Writers’ Festival.
Where: 2nd floor, National Press Club. 165 Sparks Street, near O’Connor.
When: 6:00 p.m.
Cost: Members - $20, Non-members -$25, coffee $5.


Wednesday, October 11 - Marginalization of Immigrants in our Educational System Speaker: Jennifer McKenzie, Ottawa School Board Trustee candidate.
Where: 2nd floor, National Press Club. 165 Sparks Street, near O’Connor.
When: Noon to 2 p.m.
Cost: $25.

Monday, October 30 - Giving Back to the Community: The Role of Media
Speaker: Max
Keeping, vice-president of news, CTV Ottawa, and long-time anchor of the 6 p.m. local news.
The evening will also include the annual Margaret Graham Award presentations to journalism students from Algonquin College, Carleton University, and the University of Ottawa. Presenting the awards will be Kimothy Walker, anchor and producer of the CTV Weekend News at 6 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
Where: 2nd floor, National Press Club. 165 Sparks Street, near O’Connor.
When:
6:00 p.m.
Cost: $25


Monday, November 27 - Saluting the International Year of War Brides
Hear stories from three women who married WW11 Canadian Servicemen and view a handmade quilt made in recognition of the war brides.
Where: Canadian War Museum, 1 Vimy Place, Ottawa. There’s indoor and outdoor parking at the museum and the number 8 bus stops at the door.
When:
Noon - 2 P.M.
Cost: $25


Monday, December 11 - High Tea at Zoe’s
A time to celebrate the holiday season and chat with dear friends.
Where: the Chateau Laurier, 1 Rideau Street.
When: 5 P.M. - 7 P.M.
Cost: $25

Book Launch - Chaudiere Press at WritersFest

October 26, 2006

Mario and I went to see the launch of a new publishing house in Ottawa called Chaudiere Books, headed by rob mclennan at <robmclennan.blogspot.com>. He is helped by Jennifer Mulligan.

I went as the representative of PWAC, Ottawa Branch. The event was sponsored by the Ottawa International Writers Festival founders, Neil and Sean Wilson <www.writersfest.com>, and was very well attended.

Bywords editor, Amanda Earl, was there, as were John Macdonald, Dr. Stephen Artell, and fellow PWACer, Sue Bowness, who is branch vice-president.

Three books were introduced to us, the first being a book of poetry by Monty Reid called Disappointment Island.

An exhibit manager at the newly renovated and reopened Museum of Nature in Ottawa, the book is set in stages and covers such areas as his travels to Cuba and to the Gobi Desert.

The second speaker was Meghan Jackson, and she read from her book, Movements in Jars. Like she said, "there is poetry in everyday things - you just have to look for it."

She took poetry that she wrote back in the nineties, and added more recent content to put together an engaging chapbook.

The third author that Chaudiere Books has is novelist Clare Latremouille, who introduced her first book, The Desmond Road Book of the Dead, through a very descriptive narrative, using flashbacks to look at a family, perhaps hers. But we could all identify with it.

Chaudiere Books hopes to awaken the literary community in Ottawa, and eventually publish non-fiction books, too.

After a brief interlude, Neil introduced Patrick McCabe, an Irish writer in the Writing Life series who read a couple of pieces from his book, Winterwood, and was interviewed by Neil. There was an interesting discussion afterwards.

All of this was held at the Library and Archives Canada on Wellington Street. This event took place in conjunction with the Writers Fest's 10th anniversary.