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Maud’s Country Landscapes that Inspired the Art of Maud Lewis
Photographer: Bob BrooksPublisher: Nimbus Publishing$24.95Maud Lewis stayed close to home: the rugged coastlines and gentle valleys of Nova Scotia’s southwest knew—but they provided ample material for her joyful creative spirit. Now revered as Canada’s foremost folk artist, Maud Lewis (1903-1970) transformed her world of poverty and deformity into a magical kingdom of happy children, contented animals, and a peaceful and charming rural environment.
Maud’s Country offers unique insight into the landscapes that inspired Lewis’s works and her own special way of representing them. The materials she had at hand were primitive—particleboard, crude brushes, marine or house paints. But these were all she needed to convey her message that happiness and harmony exist all around us, for those who have eyes to see.
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Explosion in Halifax Harbour, 1917
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$15.95In December 1917, one of the greatest natural harbours in the world was humming with excitement. Halifax Harbour was filled with naval convoys and merchant vessels while factories worked overtime in support of the Allied war effort in Europe. But on December 6, Canada’s worst disaster struck, as two ships–one carrying high explosives–collided. The explosion killed and injured thousands, razing the city’s North End and destroying nearly everything in its path.
The story of the worst human-made explosion before Hiroshima is the account of tremendous human suffering and devastation, yet also of human bravery and survival against all odds. Chaos and confusion reigned that day in Halifax and Dartmouth but what followed was a massive relief effort involving charitable assistance from all over the globe–especially Massachusetts.
Explosion in Halifax Harbour, 1917 includes a detailed account of the event, chronicling many remarkable human tragedies, rescue and relief efforts, attempts to place blame for the collision, and the reconstruction program that created Canada’s first government-assisted housing program. The newest Stories of Our Past title includes 60 full-colour images as well as sidebars on many monuments and commemorations that pay tribute to this catastrophic event that took place 100 years ago.
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Me & Mr. Bell
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$11.95It’s 1908, and ten-year-old Eddie MacDonald shares Alexander Graham Bell’s passion for solving problems and for taking long walks in the fields above Bras d’Or Lake.
But whereas Bell is renowned by many for being the smartest man in the world, Eddie is just a local farm boy who struggles to learn to read and write. After a few chance encounters, the elderly Bell befriends the young boy, and takes an interest in his struggle—encouraging Eddie to celebrate his successes and never give up.
When Bell’s long ambition for manned flight culminates in the Silver Dart soaring over Bras d’Or Lake, Eddie is inspired to find solutions to his own challenges.
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Historic House Names of Nova Scotia
$17.95Mount Uniacke, Acacia Grove, Winckworth, Saint’s Rest, Spruce Tree Cottage. Ever wonder how Nova Scotia houses got their names? The better-known names are largely connected with prominent historical figures who resided in commodious homes with sprawling grounds, but the naming tradition was far more prevalent than that. Historic House Names of Nova Scotia provides a fascinating look at the house-naming tradition in Nova Scotia. What sorts of names did Bluenoses create, and what did the names mean? Author and historian Joe Ballard has amassed a wealth of historical information and photos on the subject.
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A Blinding Light
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$14.95It’s 1917 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The First World War is raging, and despite its distance from the conflict, the Halifax Harbour is bustling with activity. Anti-German prejudice is rampant, and though 12-year-old Livy Schroeder and her 15-year-old brother Will are still mourning the loss of their father, who died in a mysterious boating accident just six months before, his German heritage doesn’t merit them much sympathy. The rumours he’d been a German spy are only flamed by his disappearance.
On the morning of December 6, while Livy is in Richmond begging forgiveness from the Schroeders’ former housekeeper, Will is atop Citadel Hill reporting for the school paper, when he sees two ships collide. A flash of light, then thunder from underground: the Halifax Explosion hits. Instantly, the city is unrecognizable. Lost and separated in the dark, destroyed city, will the siblings find each other again? Where is their mother? And who is to blame for the catastrophe?
In A Blinding Light, award-winning author Julie Lawson (No Safe Harbour) tells a riveting story of the Halifax Explosion and its aftermath, exploring the concepts of guilt, blame, and taking ownership, the divide between the rich and poor, locals and immigrants, as well as the human bonds that arise in times of tragedy. Young readers will be spellbound, and teachers and librarians will find plenty of topics for discussion in the book’s historical and cultural lessons.
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Flavours of New Brunswick The Best Recipes from Our Kitchens
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$24.95Bursting with recipes from land and sea, Flavours of New Brunswick brings together the best-loved appetizers, entrées, soups, preserves, desserts, and more from Karen Powell’s popular cookbooks. If you loved Taste of New Brunswick or the original Flavours of New Brunswick, this updated edition is for you. Featuring time-tested favourites like Fundy Fog Pea Soup and crowd-pleasers like Fiddlehead Fry and Leek and Salmon Pizza, these delicious recipes are as fun to make as they are to share!
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A Giant Man from a Tiny Town A Story of Angus MacAskill
Artist: Christopher HoytPublisher: Nimbus Publishing$22.95When Angus MacAskill was still just a boy, he began to grow…and grow…and…grow! Known far and wide as the Cape Breton Giant, Angus was loved by his neighbours as much for his beautiful singing voice as for his renowned strength. But as much as Angus loved his little town of St. Ann’s, Cape Breton, he decided to leave and seek fortune and adventure.
With heartfelt text from critically acclaimed author Tom Ryan and meticulously researched and joyful illustrations from Christopher Hoyt (A is for Adventure), A Giant Man from a Tiny Town tells the story of a remarkable man who travelled the world performing for crowds, but never stopped longing to return to the place he loved the best: his Cape Breton home.
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Sidney Crosby, Hat Trick Edition The Story of a Champion
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$19.95Sidney Crosby: The Story of a Champion follows the young Cole Harbour hockey phenomenon through his early years in minor hockey, his dominating run through the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, his recordbreaking play with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and his spectacular contributions to Team Canada at international competitions. With colour photographs of Crosby in action and featuring interviews from coaches, teammates, and hockey insiders like Pierre McGuire, this accessible, visual book is the account of a onceinageneration hockey talent and his path to greatness.
This new edition features updates and a new chapter and photos showcasing Crosby’s recent achievements.
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A Bird on Every Tree
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$19.95Carol Bruneau, author of six acclaimed works of fiction (most recently, These Good Hands), brings her finely honed voice to 12 new stories about shifting concepts of Nova Scotian identity.
In “The Race,” a war bride’s remarkable life trajectory unfolds as she competes in an international swim marathon in the Northwest Arm. Strain erupts between a Haligonian couple in “Burning Times,” while they struggle to keep track of one another, both physically and emotionally, on an Italian vacation. In “Polio Beach,” cousins gather oceanside over the will of a recently deceased aunt who once saved one of them from drowning.
Writing with empathy, humour, and linguistic precision, Bruneau follows characters who find themselves connected to Nova Scotia by birth, through attempts at escape and new beginnings, or as a temporary resting place, always carrying with them their own idiosyncratic and complex definitions of “home.”
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Broken Pieces An Orphan of the Halifax Explosion
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$17.95One hundred years ago, on December 6, 1917, the French munitions ship Mont Blanc collided with the Belgian relief vessel Imo in the Halifax Harbour. At first, a small fire broke out aboard the Mont Blanc, which grew bigger crowds of people and emergency responders linded the shores of Halifax and Dartmouth to get a better look. Suddenly, the Mont Blanc‘s explosive cargo blew up, flattening homes and businesses, and triggering a tsunami.
Amid the confusion and devastation that followed the blast was fourteen-year-old Barbara Orr, who had been walking from her neighbourhood in Richmond to a friend’s house. Follow Barbara as she navigates post-explosion Halifax, learning about rescue efforts, the kindness of strangers, and the bravery of heroes like Vincent Coleman along the way.
Part of the popular Compass series, this full-colour non-fiction book includes highlighted glossary terms, informative sidebars, over 50 illustrations and historical photographs, a detailed index, and recommended further reading. In commemoration of the tragic event’s 100th anniversary, Broken Pieces is a great resource for young readers and educators.
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December 1917 (new edition) Re-visiting the Halifax Explosion
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$22.95December 1917 is a photographic guide to the Halifax Explosion by noted local historians Janet Kitz and Joan Payzant. The authors profile locations in both Halifax and Dartmouth that were affected by the explosion, looking at the role of the explosion in the transformation of the two cities. Stories and anecdotes reveal the ways in which the explosion touched the lives of citizens, and original research brings to light new aspects of the explosion. The book is richly illustrated with more than 100 historic and contemporary photographs.
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Nova Scotia’s Industrial Heritage A Guidebook
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$15.95If you drive across Nova Scotia, you will see abandoned rail lines and sleepy towns that once hummed with mills and mines. If you look closely enough, you will see the remnants of the province’s industrial revolution, which began in the 1850s and faded away a century later. In this well-researched, compact guidebook, author and historian David Rollinson identifies and explores many of the historic sites and cultural artifacts that record this era. Included are over 70 sites of interest from across the province, from the shipbuilding display at the Bear River Heritage Museum to the Digby Rail Trails on the old rail bed out of Digby which overlooks the Annapolis Basin. Organized by industry–power, natural resources, agriculture, crafts, and transportation–and by county, plus featuring 60 fascinating images, Nova Scotia’s Industrial Heritage will appeal to tourists travelling by car as well as locals interested in industry, their roots, and social change.
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Nova Scotia Place Names
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$19.95Washabuck is not a place to launder money; Ecum Secum is not a children’s game; Joggins has nothing to do with anything athletic.
They are just some of the 1,421 Nova Scotia place names whose origins, where they are known, are explained in this book. The history of each name is succinctly chronicled with an emphasis on events past and current that are historically significant, offbeat, or humorous. This quirky and informative guide also contains a treasure trove of the province’s little-known facts and occurrences and 95 mini-biographies of famous, infamous, and not-so-famous-but-still-very-interesting Nova Scotians, folks who achieved something outstandingly positive, or negative, during their lifetimes.
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Nova Scotia at War, 1914-1919
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$26.95When the First World War ended in 1918, its profound impact did not. The war continued to haunt a nation. Nova Scotia at War, 1914-1919 is an in-depth study of Nova Scotia’s role that was, at the time, the most traumatic collective experience in the history of Canadians. As Tennyson explores in nine fascinating chapters, the war effort was more than just the brave soldiers and sailors who went overseas; it was also the civilians who worked in the fishery, on the farms, and in the forests, coals mines, and steel mills.
A specialist in early twentieth-century Canadian political history, author and historian Brian Tennyson examines the economic impact of the war, which shattered Nova Scotia’s dream of becoming the Atlantic gateway and the industrial heartland of Canada. Includes 30 black and white photos.
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Short History of Fredericton
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$21.95Sitting along the scenic St. John River and tucked into the surrounding wilderness, Fredericton bristles with history as New Brunswick’s capital. With Maliseet, French, and British origins, this colonial garrison town quickly became the political centre for the area as it grew with the efforts of Loyalist settlers and others in the 1780s. In an engaging narrative style, author Dan Soucoup traces Fredericton’s development through the contributions of leading citizens and the significant events that saw commercial growth and the first Canadian literary movement.
Through the social and political tensions of the 1960s and 70s up to the present, A Short History of Fredericton records the entire history of the city in a highly accessible manner. This book is ideal for tourists seeking a concise historical overview of Fredericton, as well as for citizens wanting to know how their city came to be. Includes 30 black and white photos.
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Georges Island The Keep of Halifax Harbour
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95Georges Island has long stood guard in Halifax Harbour. Used in the seventeenth century as a place to dry fish by a nearby Acadian/Mi’kmaq village, the island came under control of the British with the founding of Halifax in 1749. The first wooden battery, established in 1750 and rebuilt as a stone fortress in the 1790s, was continuously modernized and manned by both British and Canadian soldiers right up until the Second World War.
The historical tour describes the fascinating evolution of Georges Island, from the site of the town’s first gaol and quarantine station, to a detention centre from which Acadians awaited their fate. Further chapters describe the features that bring the island to life, such as secret tunnels, ghosts, and the lighthouse that still guides ships to port. Includes over 150 photos, paintings, maps, and contemporary letters.
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A Real Newfoundland Scoff Using Traditional Ingredients in Today’s Kitchens
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$19.95Inspired by her desire to stay connected to the food of her home province, culinary writer Liz Feltham goes back to her roots to bring fresh and modern twists to favourite Newfoundland meals. A Real Newfoundland Scoff provides recipes using traditional ingredients from the sea, land, air, bakeshop, and bar to create non-traditional dishes. Above all, Liz encourages readers to use this cookbook as a guide to exploring, discovering, and creating new versions of their old Newfoundland favourites.
Packed with fifty-six new recipes, thirty colour photographs, and a guide for buying Newfoundland ingredients in Atlantic Canada, this cookbook will appeal to all Newfoundland chefs, traditional and adventurous alike.
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History of Nova Scotia in 50 Objects History of Nova Scotia Through Museum Artifacts
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$21.95Have you ever been to the LaHave Islands Marine Museum on Bell Island? How about the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Judique, or the Africville Museum in Halifax? Joan Dawson has. Armed with a spirit of adventure, curiosity, and the belief that “treasures can be found in unlikely places,” the author-historian has scoured Nova Scotia’s National Heritage Sites and community museums for the fifty objects that best “embody the history and culture” of the province.
Casting a wide net, from a pair of good-luck Nantucket Whaler shoes to a Mi-Carême seven-beast mask, Dawson unearths the many arcane and overlooked items whose stories collectively form Nova Scotia’s historical fabric. Entries are arranged in chronological order, from prehistory to present-day, and each one includes a photograph, description, and contextual history of the object. Written in an engaging, narrative style, A History of Nova Scotia in 50 Objects is both a fabulously unique approach to the province’s history and an interactive treasure hunt.
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Saint John Facts and Folklore
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$14.95Saint John Facts and Folklore is filled with anecdotes about the city’s history, unbelievable incidents, and local sayings that showcase the unique identity of Saint John. With a focus on the city’s long history and spirited citizens, David Goss leads readers through the rowdy port city and centre of the nineteenth century lumber trade. The book is scattered with facts and stats that surprise and teach. The latest addition to the Facts and Folklore series, this entertaining and informative book is perfect for those wanting an alternative guide to Saint John and its sights. Includes 20 black and white photos of Saint John past and present.
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Saint John
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95At the mouth of the St. John River sits New Brunswick’s largest city. Once a summer gathering place for the native Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet), this beautiful spot on the Bay of Fundy was first settled by Europeans in the seventeenth century, and today people from all corners of the globe are drawn to the city of Saint John.
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Sea Kayaking in Nova Scotia (3rd edition) A Guide to Paddling Routes Along the Coast
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$24.95Nova Scotia has some of the most spectacular coastline on the continent. The sea kayak is ideal for exploring those isolated nooks and crannies, where few other vessels dare to venture. Each route includes departure points, trip lengths, and necessary charts and maps; of special note are the safety considerations and the detailed points of interest. With 48 routes spanning Nova Scotia from Briar Island to the Cape Breton Highlands, from Halifax to Pictou, and everywhere in between, this guide includes useful information for what gear to pack, safety concerns, and techniques to make your kayaking expedition as enjoyable as possible.
The new 3rd edition of Sea Kayaking in Nova Scotia includes new routes, new preface, updated maps and text, 3 eight-page colour inserts with photos, and many of the existing photos have been updated or replaced.
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Cumberland County Facts and Folklore
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$15.95Cumberland County is one of Nova Scotia’s oldest and largest counties and its personalities, history, geography, natural life, and legends are second to none. Its shores are touched by the majestic Bay of Fundy and the beautiful Northumberland Strait, its landscape was carved by glaciers, and its prehistoric climate created and preserved fossils that today are worthy of UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. From Amherst to Advocate, Minudie to Malagash, Port Howe to Port Greville, the beauty of its forests, crystal-clear lakes and rivers, and pastoral scenery are a delight for visitors and locals alike.
Discover this incredible part of Nova Scotia through amusing anecdotes, fun facts, and quirky trivia in Cumberland County Facts and Folklore
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Hockey’s Home (new edition)
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$17.95Hockey’s Home includes a wealth of information about the origins of the great game of hockey in Nova Scotia with particular emphasis on the role that the community of Dartmouth has played in forming the game.
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Underground New Brunswick Stories of Archaeology
Editor: Jonathan FowlerPublisher: Nimbus Publishing$24.95Underground New Brunswick features fifteen accessible essays from practicing archaeologists, professors, and enthusiasts detailing recent excavations and restorations from around the province. Stories range from the prolific to the downright unusual, and include the discoveries of New Brunswick’s most famous treasure-hunter, the preservation of a Golden Hawk aerobatic jet, and a Miramichi forensic investigation aided by a psychic. The collection also features recent work at some of the province’s National Historic Sites, such as Wolostoq, Augustine Mound, Forts La Tour and Jemseg, and Fredericton’s Old Government House.
Including over 100 photographs of excavation sites, historical documents, and recovered artifacts, as well as a glossary, educational sidebars, and recommended readings, Underground New Brunswick will widen the horizons of archaeology enthusiasts and history lovers.
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Lighthouses of New Brunswick Past and Present
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$22.95The largest of the three Maritime provinces by area, New Brunswick is home to the third-largest number of lighthouses in the country. Lighthouses of New Brunswick is a guide to the province’s remaining lights as well as for those “lost lights” that are gone forever.
Photographs and descriptions of all 126 lights accompany a brief history of each light, and handy icons allow the reader a quick assessment of each existing light’s accessibility, historic significance, and scenic quality.
Accompanied by a reference map and with an index of each light profiled, Lighthouses of New Brunswick is the definitive resource for exploring the province’s iconic structures.
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Islands of New Brunswick
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$16.95Culled from her collections Offshore Islands and Paradise or Purgatory (1984), New Brunswick Islands is part ecocritical exploration and part historical survey, as Mitcham explores the province’s not-so-far-off islands in search of their unique stories. The result is an extraordinary collection of essays that illuminates the social and cultural histories behind New Brunswick’s islands.Exposed are the complexities of island history, from the Aboriginal peoples of Indian Island to the generations of lighthouse keeping on Miscou, to the tragic quarantine history of Passamaquoddy’s Hospital Island (Partridge Island). Industrious islands, from the once-lucrative quarries of Grindstone Island, to the still-flourishing fisheries of Grand Manan are also investigated, as well as the mysterious histories behind the now-uninhabited Heron and Shediac Islands, which have largely been reclaimed by nature.This revised edition features the original illustrations by Peter Mitcham.
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Fredericton
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$27.95Fredericton, the city of stately elms, is nestled within the Saint John River Valley in the heart of New Brunswick. Founded between 1783 and 1785, mostly by Loyalists and their sympathizers, the city was to become a stronghold for the Church of England, headquarters for the British military and a centre for culture. Dominated by politics and education and rich in history and the arts, Fredericton is home to the Centennial Building, the seat of the provincial legislature, and the University of New Brunswick. As well, it boasts many elegant homes, museums, galleries, and magnificent buildings such as Christ Church Cathedral. Picturesque and tranquil, blending historic charm with the amenities of modern commerce, Fredericton remains the perfect small city, retaining its intimate charm and air of gentility.
This revised edition features several new images of the city.
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Miramichi Facts and Folklore
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$14.95Find out how moose got to Newfoundland, the truth about the Dungarvon Whooper, and which farmers’ markets, bike trails, recipes, and heritage sites will most tickle your fancy. In Miramichi Facts and Folklore, extensive geographical, historical, and cultural lessons will have you schooled in the life of a true “Miramichier.”
This mighty book is a fact-filled journey through northern New Brunswick’s Miramichi region, from the golden age of immigration and industry through years of tragedy including illnesses, shipwrecks, and the Great Miramichi Fire–to the heritage destination it is today. The newest edition in the “Facts and Folklore” series, Miramichi Facts and Folklore is the perfect companion for anyone looking for an eccentric yet educational guide to this fascinating region.
Includes 15 photographs of important landmarks and people.
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Halifax Tastes Recipes from the Region’s Best Restaurants
Photographer: Scott MunnPublisher: Nimbus Publishing$22.95Halifax Tastes is the newest installment in the popular Tastes series. Halifax is famous for its flavourful seafood but as the largest city in the Maritimes, it should be no surprise that Halifax also boasts plenty of variety when it comes restaurants. From zesty Italian to spicy Thai, from tangy Chinese to carefully presented Japanese, from delightful Greek to classic Canadian cuisine, there is sure to be a restaurant to suit everyone’s liking. Easy access to Halifax’s much loved farmers’ market has allowed many of the area’s chefs the freedom to add local, fresh ingredients to their menus. Liz Feltham has chosen 27 restaurants from Halifax and Dartmouth so you can find a great spot to eat no matter where you are located. Featuring tried and tested recipes and approximately 60 mouth-watering photographs of the food and the scenery, Halifax Tastes will tempt your taste buds and give you some fantastic ideas for where to eat on a night on the town.
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Haunted Girl Esther Cox and the Great Amherst Mystery
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$17.95In 1878 eighteen-year-old Esther Cox arrived in Amherst, Nova Scotia, to live with her sister’s family. Shortly after Esther moved in, the story goes, the house was plagued by unexplained occurrences–something (or someone) knocked on the walls, hid household items, moved furniture around, and set fires. Esther herself was subject to mysterious fevers, prodding and, on one occasion, stabbing. These occurrences followed her when she went to stay with other families in the area. Eventually she was charged with robbery and spent a month in jail, after which the haunting ceased.
Was Esther the victim of paranormal powers or the troubled mind behind a series of elaborate hoaxes? At the time of her alleged haunting, the plausibility of Esther Cox’s claims were hotly debated in newspapers and by fellow Amherst residents. In the hundred years since her death, Esther’s story has been retold numerous times and she remains to this day the town’s most famous historical figure.
Includes 30 photos of key locations in Amherst related to the story as well as Esther’s family members.
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Sable Island the Wandering Sandbar
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$15.95Though it was discovered almost 500 years ago, few people have visited Sable Island. Despite modern navigational tools, excessive fog and stormy weather still make travelling to Sable a challenge. Add government restrictions limiting visitors to the remote island and prohibitive travel costs, and Sable is virtually inaccessible.
But the island is part of Maritime lore–dubbed the “graveyard of the Atlantic” because of the number of ships wrecked on its shores. Sable Island also hosts wild horses, tens of thousands of seals, and enchanting “singing” sands and “wandering” dunes. With 18 species of sharks patrolling Sable Island’s waters and the regular fights between bands of horses, not to mention the treacherous patches of quicksand, the island is as dangerous as it is alluring.
In this colourful book, author Wendy Kitts introduces the wonders and stark realities of this wild place. Full of photographs and sidebars, Sable Island: The Wandering Sandbar is an accessible and exciting look at this unprotected, untamed ecosystem.
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Dramatic Life of a Country Doctor Fifty Years of Disasters and Diagnoses
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$16.95Dr. Arnold Burden’s career began unintentionally when he performed his first surgery in the woods following a hunting accident at age 14. As a 20-year-old hospital clerk, he handed battle casualties after D-Day in France and Germany. His early years as a doctor began in rural Prince Edward Island, where he served in the combined role of doctor and coroner. Back home in Springhill, Nova Scotia, Dr. Burden was the first medic to enter the mines after the deadly No. 4 mine explosion in 1956 and the No. 2 mine bump, the most severe bump ever recorded in North America, in 1958. In both cases he risked his life alongside the underground rescue teams to bring the gassed and trapped miners to the surface.
In this new edition Dr. Burden gives his account of an active life and of a man dedicated to his patients; a man full of common-sense and interesting stories, who writes candidly of his dealing with patients, unusual cases, and brave efforts made under difficult conditions. As the author states: “The real satisfaction in life has come from helping people.”
