ALL-Battle River Writing Centre: Writing A Place in History:
ALL Alberta is a registered society, dedicated to life wide living. It is an organization that seeks to celebrate life lived well. ALL was born out of a concern for long term care residents, and is now actively involved in a holistic, multifaceted approach to wellness. For more information please click "MORE INFORMATION ON ALL" below.
Beauty Everyday: Stories From Life At It Happens, is an anthology by a group of the Battle River Writers, and edited by Jane Ross. It is the latest example of a collaboration between ALL and the Battle River Writing Centre. The centre acts as a nexus for dedicated individuals who are passionate about communicating the value of place through various kinds of literary exploration and expression. The work celebrates life, in the midst of, and in response to adversity. Even though the writers and perspectives included in the work flow form very different vantage points and walks of life, there is a common thread of endurance; a persistent sense of overcoming, woven consistently throughout.
The drive to create the collection came out of an awareness of the richness rooted the Battle River area, from Indigenous, settler and newcomer perspectives. Battle River Writers went to work gathering stories, volunteer power, and resources from Canada Labour, Service Canada, Alberta Culture, Writer's Guild of Alberta, Banff Centre - Writer's Retreat and other writer's networks. They successfully met their creative and financial goals, and published in February of 2016. The book was launched in the summer of 2016 here in Alberta, at various local events. In September of the same year, an Australian launch took place, at the second annual "Culture Creativity and Place" Conference in Victoria. For more information, please click on "CULTURE CREATIVITY & PLACE II" below. |
Dr. Jane Ross is a woman who defies constraint. She is self described as most passionately rural, and yet, comfortably cosmopolitan. Janes's roots are grounded in the Fridhem and Kingman area. Her family, the Swanson's, played an active role in settling the area. Jane knows who she is, where she comes from and where she is going. If you spend any time with Jane at all, you quickly realize that she is confidently present, wherever she is, whether it is in the middle of the Edberg Senior Centre, connecting with neighbours, or conversing over lunch with the Queen. (Both of these scenarios are lived experience for Jane.) Where ever she is, Jane takes the opportunity to cultivate an authentic interest in the people and places around her, embracing life in many forms and flavours. She is passionate about connecting with others of like minded flare, and embracing a fresh insistence for life lived well. Dr. Ross is an avid writer, speaker and community educator. Along with Beauty Everyday: Stories from Life As It Happens, she has written and presented on: Cree-active Writing: A workshop for people of any age. (1-8 hours) Dried Meat Lake: A widening in the Battle River Through the Looking Glass: Ethnographies of Childhood Holy Days and Holidays: Reflections on the family rituals and their importance Keep the Circle Strong: Native Health Promotion: Presentation or Workshop Especially for Modern Elders: Presentations and Workshops My Fridhem: A Memoir of Early Years in Battle River District Oral Histories: Personal Histories: Collecting, Writing and Presentations Re-imagining Local History Women and Development: Approaches based in Indigenous social organizations Women and War: Stories of 32 Alberta Nurses who served in war Women Pioneers in the British Commonwealth Women Winning: Mindset for Success: Presentation and / or workshop |