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Casey The Remarkable, Untold Story of Frederick Walker “Casey” Baldwin: Gentleman, Genius, and Alexander Graham Bell’s Protégé
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$24.95Eleven months before the historic 1909 flight of the Silver Dart in Baddeck, Frederick Walker “Casey” Baldwin, became the first Canadian to fly. One of Alexander Graham Bell’s young associates, Casey was an aeronaut, engineer and politician—and heralded as a true genius. In this biography by John Langley, Casey’s remarkable story is told in full for the first time.
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It’s Our Time Honouring the African Nova Scotian Communities of East Preston, North Preston, Lake Loon/Cherry Brook
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$19.95The Black Loyalists were the first large group of people of African ancestry to settle in Halifax, in 1782. In 1796 the Jamaican Maroons arrived. Then in 1813, Black refugees fleeing the United States came. These Loyalists, Maroons, and refugees settled in the Preston area, and although some subsequently left for Sierra Leone, many stayed and established the largest community of African Nova Scotians in the province. Since then, the Preston township—comprising North Preston, East Preston, and Lake Loon/Cherry Brook—has become a web of vibrant neighbourhoods with a rich and complex history.
With care and precision, award-winning writer Wanda Lauren Taylor delves into the history and development of this area, the organizations and churches that helped bolster the population, and the struggles, successes, and personal stories of several Preston-area residents. Through interviews and archival documents, Taylor shows how a resilient group of marginalized people built a thriving community that generations of African Nova Scotians can be proud of. Contains seventy-five images, both contemporary and archival, of the people and places around Preston.
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Atlantic Canada’s Greatest Storms
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$24.95Wind, waves and snow: Atlantic Canada has experienced more than its share of dramatic and tragic storms. In this accessible narrative, author Dan Soucoup takes readers from the eighteenth century to present day, as he details the blizzards, floods, tornadoes—and even tsunamis—that have brought havoc to the East Coast.
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As British as the King Lunenburg County During the First World War
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$21.95The Great War comes to Lunenburg County in this gripping and detailed historical account from award-winning author Gerald Hallowell. In 1914, Germans in Lunenburg County, despite deep roots, faced suspicion as Canada waged war with Germany. Hallowell’s meticulous research breathes life into the World War I home front, in a time of blackouts, rumours of spies and naval skirmishes.
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Wounded Hearts Memories of the Halifax Protestant Orphans’ Home
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$19.95A portrayal of trauma and innocence lost at an infamous Halifax orphanage, from veteran journalist Lois Legge, which centers the strength and sorrow of the survivors. Thousands of children, between the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, passed through Halifax Protestant Orphan’s Home. Legge writes an in-depth narrative of an institution that betrayed so many of the children it was entrusted to protect.
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Canadian Confederate Cruiser The Story of the Steamer Queen Victoria
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$17.95Canadian Confederate Cruiser tells the story of an elegant but unpretentious steamer that bore witness to the birth of a nation. In 1864, the Queen Victoria took the Fathers of Confederation from Quebec to Charlottetown and back. Long before she could be given the recognition she deserved, the Queen Victoria was lost in a hurricane off Cape Hatteras, the crew and passengers rescued by the American brig Ponvert. That incident and the events that followed it put the lost vessel into the international limelight and tweaked diplomatic relations between Canada and the United States.
John Langley, the author behind Steam Lion, the award-winning biography of Samuel Cunard, documents the life of this steamer and the unlikely cross-border tug-of-war that developed over her bell. In telling the Queen Victoria‘s story, Langley provides a better understanding of the social and political forces that led to Confederation, explaining the pivotal choices that were made.
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A Soldier’s Place
$19.95For two decades following the First World War, Nova Scotia-born Will R. Bird published war stories in magazines and periodicals, which have gone out of print and were never digitized, and the stories had long fallen into obscurity—until now.
Carefully curated by author and editor Thomas Hodd, A Soldier’s Place is an anthology of fifteen of Bird’s best combat stories, based on the experiences of himself and of others, covering all aspects of the war effort and following brave Canadian, American, and Australian soldiers.
An infantry soldier, Will R. Bird miraculously survived the First World War and became one of the most prolific Canadian authors on the subject, completing both fiction and non-fiction works.
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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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White Point Then and Now Ninety Years of Making Memories
Photographer: Len WaggPublisher: Nimbus Publishing$22.95John and Anne Sun first came to White Point in 1993 when they were dating, and they are still coming back, now with five children, including quadruplets. It is the tranquility of the south shore resort that appeals to the Suns of Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey. Others enjoy the ocean, the stone fireplaces, and the famous bunnies. This book captures the magic and the memories of White Point, which opened in 1928 and has survived storms, both real and financial. What started as a seasonal destination for the well-to-do from outside Atlantic Canada has turned into a year-round operation that welcomes everyone. How has the resort changed? How has it stayed the same? Photographer Len Wagg skillfully contrasts the thens and the nows of White Point with over 60 charming photos, and Rick Conrad incorporates the memories of guests and staff.
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25 Years of 22 Minutes
$29.95The final chaotic season of Codco had just wrapped when Mary Walsh sat down at a Toronto bistro with George Anthony, then creative head of CBC TV’s arts programming. She’d been thinking about a news-based comedy show–did he think that would fly? He did. That was the early ’90s. Twenty-five seasons later, hundreds of thousands of Canadians continue to tune in weekly to This Hour Has 22 Minutes for its unashamedly Canadian, biting satirical take on politics and power.
25 Years of 22 Minutes takes readers backstage to hear first-hand accounts of the show’s key moments—in the words of the writers, producers and cast members who were there. Readers will have a front-row seat to the birth of the show—including a crisis that had producers scrambling in the very first episode—and offer an insider’s take on the highs, the lows, and the daily grind behind the scenes at 22 Minutes.
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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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The Accidental Farmer The Story of Ross Farm
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$15.95Nova Scotia’s Ross Farm Museum is a living window into the province’s agricultural history. Since the museum opened in 1970, it has been a favourite destination for school children, who have been educated about early times and farming. There, you can see straw hats being woven, wool being spun, and butter being churned. There is a blacksmith shop and a stave mill.
This delightful book, the latest in the Stories of our Past series, tells the story of the original Ross family who crossed the Atlantic in 1816, built a home, and overcame many challenges. Perfect for high-school students and general readers with an interest in local history. Illustrated with over 60 colour images, and including sidebar features and an index.
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Dusty Dreams and Troubled Waters A Story of HMCS Sackville and the Battle of the Atlantic
Artist: Richard Rudnicki, Susan TookePublisher: Nimbus Publishing$19.95They said I was a sailor, now. But this was my first time on the ocean. And I was going to war…
By 1942 most of Europe was under the heel of the Nazis. Only the United Kingdom remained free to oppose them. Knowing Britain needed supplies from overseas, the German navy built a large fleet of U-boats to hunt merchant ships. It was up to Canada to protect all shipping from North America to Britain. Corvettes like HMCS Sackville were crewed by young men from across Canada, and from all walks of life. The Battle of the Atlantic (1939–1945), the longest of the Second World War, was Canada’s battle, and the outcome sealed Hitler’s fate.
Following young Wally as he leaves the family farm on the prairies to pursue a daring career in the navy—leaving love interest Winnie behind—this striking graphic novel is a high-stakes adventure, a love story, and an important historical lesson. Features meticulously detailed black and white drawings, an illustrated diagram of the Sackville, information on wartime propaganda, glossary, and an illustrated map.
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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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Noble Goals, Dedicated Doctors The Story of Dalhousie Medical School
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$39.95Dalhousie Medical School celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2018. This is the story of the noble goals of a handful of dedicated doctors who came together at a physician’s office to plan a medical school. They outlined a curriculum, assigned teaching roles, successfully applied to be a medical faculty of Dalhousie College, and began teaching the first class of twelve students. It was not an easy journey, one complicated over the years by war, politics, and natural disaster. In this richly detailed book, Dr. Jock Murray, a former dean of the medical school, looks at the struggles and errors, as well as the triumphs of the school. Filled with over 75 historic photos and dozens of informative sidebars, though aimed primarily at former students and faculty, Noble Goals, Dedicated Doctors is an accessible narrative that will appeal to anyone interested in the storied institution’s vast history.
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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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Atlantic Canada’s Unusual Place Names Place name origins, attractions, legends, characters, history and firsts
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$17.95A collection of unusual place names from the four Atlantic provinces! The origins of each of these 477 strange names are explained and any notable or quirky history is described in detail. Of course, many of these names become “unusual” only when they are at a distance from the place of their origin. Joe Batt’s Arm, for example, may seem unusual to a Manitoban (not to Newfoundlanders!). Pokemouche could sound odd to an Ontarian (but familiar to New Brunswickers!). This book also includes little-known facts, trivia, and occurrences from the Atlantic provinces, and also 18 mini-biographies of famous, infamous, and not-so-famous-but-still-interesting Atlantic Canadians.
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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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The Saddest Ship Afloat The Tragedy of the MS St. Louis
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$15.95The latest in the Stories of our Past series explores the WWII Jewish refugee ship refused safe harbour at Halifax’s Pier 21. Illustrated with photos and sidebar features on the voyage, the lives of passengers, a look at Canada’s postwar refugee policy, and memorials of this tragic event in Canadian immigration history.
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Niniskamijinaqik / Ancestral Images The Mi’kmaq in Art and Photography
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95The Mi’kmaq of Atlantic Canada were here for thousands of years before the arrival of European peoples. Niniskamijinaqik / Ancestral Images: The Mi’kmaq in Art and Photography presents their unique culture and way of life through the remarkable and sometime complex lives of individuals, as depicted in artwork or photography.
The opening images in this collection were created by the Mi’kmaq themselves: portrayals of human beings carved into the rock formations of Nova Scotia. Then there are the earliest surviving European depictions of Mi’kmaq, decorations on the maps of Samuel de Champlain. Finally we see portraits of Mi’kmaw individuals, ancestors in whom we see their “humanity frozen in the stillness of a photograph,” as the writers of the book’s foreword describe.
Niniskamijinaqik / Ancestral Images includes 94 compelling pieces of art and photography, chosen from more than a thousand extant portraits in different media, that show the Mi’kmaw people. Each image is an entry point to deeply personal history, a small moment or single person transformed into vivid immediacy for the reader.
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History of Annapolis Royal Volume 2 1749-2005
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$34.95In spite of its status as capital and chief military post in Nova Scotia, Annapolis Royal in 1749 remained a small community, with its early development influenced by its origins as a military settlement. The town would continue to experience tremendous change over the next two hundred and fifty years, witnessing the commercial boom of ship and rail and then the challenges facing rural Canada due to urbanization. Through it all Annapolis Royal has remained nationally significant and quietly dignified. From the devastating fires that ravaged sections of the community and in the spirit of rebirth, Annapolis Royal has emerged as a leader in heritage preservation in Canada. A History of Annapolis Royal, 1749–2005, explores some of the main themes of the town’s story and attempts to understand how and why the town evolved as it did to become the community that it is in the early twenty-first century. The text is accented with 20 historical and contemporary photographs and illustrations and includes an index.
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War at Sea Canada and the Battle of the Atlantic
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$17.95The Battle of the Atlantic, the longest single engagement of the Second World War, resulted in the coming-of-age of the Royal Canadian Navy. By 1945, the Canadian Navy had transformed from a small force of 3,500 personnel and 13 vessels into the third-largest naval power in the world. As German U-boats threatened to weaken the Allied war effort, the Canadian Navy was put to work protecting convoys across the Atlantic and hunting for submarines off the coast of Atlantic Canada.
War at Sea uses first-hand accounts from the veterans who survived, as well as a detailed catalogue of the technology, weapons, and ships, to describe the history of this pivotal conflict. Author Ken Smith emphasizes the contribution of Atlantic Canadians, who worked in areas vital to the war effort while under constant threat from U-boats, sabotage, and spies.
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Dominion Atlantic Railway 1894-1994
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95For a hundred years (1894–1994), the Dominion Atlantic Railway served the people of western Nova Scotia—from Yarmouth to Halifax—faithfully. In this new edition to the Images of Our Past series, author Gary Ness traces the history of the line through gorgeous photographs and fascinating stories from the people who worked along the route and the passengers who used the trains to travel through the heart of the Annapolis Valley. Includes over 150 black and white photos.
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Islands of Nova Scotia Outpost Portraits
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$17.95Equally home to tragedy and beauty, Nova Scotia’s islands are buoys in a nearly “sea-locked” landscape. In this revised edition, Mitcham showcases 10 Nova Scotia islands through narrative portraits. Included are little-known outport Scaterie Island, billed as “Sable Island’s Rival”; the Avon River’s mysterious Boot Island, whose tides have claimed many a swimmer; the infamous Halifax Harbour islands; and more. Portraits of each island contain vivid descriptions and remarkable true stories as well as facts and legends detailing unique features about these unusual offshore sites.Features 20 illustrations by Peter Mitcham and a brand-new introduction from the author.
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The Charlottetown Conference And the Birth of Confederation
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$15.95In mid-June 1864, the Province of Canada (Ontario and Quebec) was experiencing what contemporaries call “political deadlock”: no political party could hold a majority in the Assembly. The past fifteen years had seen twelve different governments, and few important laws were passed. As a result, the “Great Coalition” was formed, seeking to turn the Canadas into a federal union. That September, delegates from the three Maritime provinces prepared to discuss their potential union in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. With the addition of delegates representing the Canadas, however, the conference became the catalyst for the formation of the Dominion of Canada.
The newest title in the Stories of Our Past series explores the political motives surrounding Confederation, with a focus on the pivotal role of the 1864 Charlottetown Conference. Highlighted with images, tables, and informative sidebars, The Charlottetown Conference is an accessible history of the birth of a nation.
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Letters Home Maritimers and the Great War, 1914-1918
Editor: Ross HebbPublisher: Nimbus Publishing$17.95With personal letters gathered from public archives and the relatives of those who fought in the First World War, historian Ross Hebb tells the story of Canadian soldiers, from recruitment to deployment to return, in their own words. Letters Home is a collection of the correspondences of 20 people shipped overseas from across the Maritimes, asking about their homes and farms, wondering at the girls in Britain, and leaving keepsakes and life advice for their children.
Organized chronologically, the letters describe crossing the Atlantic, training in England, the confusion and anticipation leading up to combat, and for some, the journey home. Includes 20 photographs of the letter writers, their families, postcards, and memorials.
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Titanic Halifax (2nd edition) A Guide to Sites
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$12.95Titanic Halifax presents the dramatic stories of those who didn’t survive the sinking, and details the efforts made from Halifax to gather and bury the dead. This guidebook includes accounts of the “Unknown Child” controversy, details on Halifax’s role in storing and maintaining Titanic artifacts, and the city’s participation in Titanic, the movie. This pocket guide includes maps and photographs of the city’s many Titanic sites. A perfect companion while discovering the places where Titanic’s ghosts roam. Updated edition with the latest findings and information.
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A Short History of Halifax
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$16.95Covering the most significant events in the storied history of the city, A Short History of Halifax is a fascinating, accessible record. In a readable, narrative style, author Dan Soucoup offers up a to-the-point history, taking readers from the geography of the harbour and the settlement of the city, through years of conflict between its various inhabitants—Mi’kmaq, British, Acadian.
Encompassing the entire history of the city, from 1749 to present, A Short History of Halifax is the perfect read for tourists seeking an historical overview of Halifax, and residents curious about the city they call home. Includes 30 black and white photos.
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Grand-Pré Landscape for the World
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$15.95In 2012 the Landscape of Grand Pré, which includes the entire Grand Pré Marsh and portions of North Grand Pré, Hortonville, Grand Pré, and Lower Wolfville, was declared Nova Scotia’s third UNESCO World Heritage Site. This newest addition to the Stories of our Past series details the area’s physical and cultural evolution in an accessible, highly visual format.
Grand Pré explores the interrelationship of the peoples and landscape of Grand Pré, from the legacies of the dykelands to the record-breaking tides of the Minas Basin. With a focus on the resilient first peoples of Grand Pré—the Mi’kmaq and the Acadians—the book explores the implications of the Grand Dérangement, including the arrival of New England Planters, the twentieth-century Acadian Renaissance, and the creation of the “Land of Evangeline.” Includes informative sidebars and 50 colour photos.
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Scamps and Scoundrels True Stories of Maritime Lives and Legends
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$19.95A miserly miller with a stash of gold, some sly smugglers who nevertheless remember to send a thank you note, a stern schoolmaster who couldn’t tell time, and a thief with two left feet are just some of the fascinating individuals who grace the pages of Scamps and Scoundrels. Riotous and witty, Bob Kroll writes these tales of historic hijinks in a delightfully folksy style, bringing to life snippets of the Maritimes’ less glorious past. With over a hundred tales from the 1700s to the 1900s, there is an example of just about every odd, peculiar, silly and ill-advised adventure you can think of. Scamps and Scoundrels gives readers a glimpse of the lives of smugglers, sailors, robbers, murderers, and sometimes just ordinary folk having a surprisingly bad day.
