Arts
Historian to speak at Parkside Centre
Winter 2012 |
The history of this area is dramatic. This lonely land was not always tranquil for it was fought over by French and English adventurers anxious to obtain control of the fur trade, and the first commando raid in the country’s early story took place at Moose Factory on James Bay. More conflict took place during the War of 1812 on this northern land and its Great Lakes. Most know Northern Ontario through advertisements that promote it as a top wilderness travel destination but the land north of North Bay is a great treasure house of natural resources. Forest products, hydroelectricity and minerals from base metals, gold and silver; even diamonds enrich the Canadian economy from the northern portion of the province. Mineral discoveries continue to be made and one, the Ring of Fire, will likely be one of the greatest bonanzas ever in the annals of Canadian mining. Those who live in Northern Ontario have a strong sense of identity and this is reinforced by the fact that the region is economically, geographically and socially vastly different by the southern part of the province. Periodically the sense of alienation from the more populous part of the province felt by some northerners has led to calls for secession and the formation of a separate political entity. Discover the story of Northern Ontario, its scenic beauty, natural wealth and the opportunities offered there for travel, exploration and development as the unknown country awakes. ***** A former columnist in several newspapers on northern history and one-time freelance broadcaster for CBC radio, Michael Barnes has spent much of his life in the country north of North Bay. The author of more than fifty books, many of which are about Northern Ontario, he has taught in a one-room school in an isolated community that lacked what are generally accepted as modern conveniences; worked in Wawa before the Trans-Canada connected the town with the provincial highway system; spent time in Lively, which belied its name, as it was then a company town; administered schools on the First Nations reserve at Moose Factory on James Bay, where he was a correspondent for the Globe and Mail; was supervising principal of public schools in Cochrane; and completed his professional career in Kirkland Lake. The author is a member of the Order of Canada. He may be reached via his Wikipedia page or Web site at www.barnes4books.com.
February 16/12 - Michael Barnes will be launching his latest book, Northern Ontario: Introducing the Unknown Country, at ParkSide Centre, 140 Durham St., Sudbury, ON, at 1 PM.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anthologist John Robert Colombo has cited Michael Barnes as “the most prolific writer in and about Northern Ontario living or dead.”
