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The Effective Citizen How to Make Politicians Work for You
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95Effective citizens–engaged, knowledgeable, and persistent, and united in common cause–are the most powerful force that ever was, or ever will be. I hope this book will help citizens to be more effective.
In his uniquely straightforward and accessible style, Political insider Graham Steele pulls back the curtain on our political system and gives readers a look inside. A lawyer, analyst, former Nova Scotia cabinet minister, and author of the Globe & Mail bestselling memoir What I Learned About Politics, Steele answers the burning questions of Canadians: Who really runs the parties? What does a backbencher do? How does a citizen effectively navigate the system, and achieve change through a politician? What is “truthiness?”
A primer for anyone who wants to become a politician or influence one, The Effective Citizen explains how politicians think and what factors influence that thinking; how to interpret the “non-answer” in political speech; and acknowledges that in politics, “bland is safe.” Ideal for political neophytes and junkees all the same, Steele’s newest book will have the whole country talking.
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Then and Now
Photographer: Len WaggPublisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95Wallace MacAskill (1887-1956) is one of Nova Scotia’s foremost photographers, lauded for his portraits of seascapes, sailing and fishing ships, and picturesque landscapes. In this remarkable collection of then and now photographs, Len Wagg follows in the footsteps of 50 of MacAskill’s best shots, recreating them in colour contemporary portraits. Through side-by-side comparisons, readers see how much has changed, and how much has remarkably remained the same. Included are urban streetscapes, important events and monuments, and spectacular scenery from around the province, Halifax to Louisbourg, Chester to Pictou. The 100 photographs in this book are captioned with short anecdotes conveying the significance of the images and the process of finding the location for some of MacAskill’s original work. Includes a foreword from Garry Shutlack.
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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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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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Maritime Christmas Treasury
$29.95A collection of best-loved Maritime Christmas stories in one beautiful book for children. From the hilarious Gadzooks the Christmas Goose to the heartwarming A Christmas Dollhouse, each carefully selected story highlights another aspect of the Christmas season. Love, family, the natural world, and yes, even Christmas presents, are all celebrated in this gorgeous treasury.
Interspersed with the stories are classic poems and Christmas carols (including Bruce Nunn’s Bluenose version of “Twelve Days of Christmas”!), as well as beautiful and lively illustrations from a range of artists. A Maritime Christmas Treasury is sure to be cherished by Christmas lovers of all ages.
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Toronto
Photographer: George FischerPublisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95Toronto has grown to such a size and come to possess such a scope of urban possibilities that it defies generalization. The city outgrew its original nickname of Hogtown decades ago, and the moniker Toronto the Good is just as dated and irrelevant. Now Toronto is a city with a readily identifiable skyline that speaks of skyscrapers and prosperity. But it is also a conglomeration of distinct neighbourhoods and immigrant hubs, and each tells a different story of the different people that play a part of the whole. Combined, its temples to sport and religion are sometimes interchangeably grand. The seasonal festivals run from film to art, Caribbean culture to Greek food. The best of its historic hotels, theatres, and concert halls are as iconic as its immediately recognizable streetcars and streetscapes. In these pages award-winning photographer George Fischer turns his revealing lens on every aspect of that rich visual fabric, to uncover all of Toronto’s beauty and truth, and Jacob Richler adds the words that fill in the picture.
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Weeds of the Woods (new edition)
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95This handy guide to wild trees and shrubs of eastern North America will assist readers in identifying individual species by leaf, bark, flower, and fruit. It includes insightful information on each plant’s habitat, its importance in the larger ecosystem, and its ornamental and medicinal uses. The book uses colour photographs of the individual plants to help identify the various wild trees and shrubs. Blouin gives both the scientific names for the individual plants and their popular variations in English, French, Mi’kmaq, and Maliseet.
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Titanic Victims in Halifax Graveyards revised edition
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95For eighty-five years dozens of victims of one of the most famous ships in history rested quietly in Halifax, Nova Scotia, until the 1997 film Titanic created a renewed interest in the burial sites.
Visitors to Halifax have many questions about the city’s connection to the infamous ship. Of the 328 bodies found, why were some buried at sea? Why were 59 bodies sent elsewhere for burial and the rest buried in Halifax? Titanic Victims in Halifax Graveyards answers those questions while telling the intriguing and little-known story of the 150 passengers and crew who were buried in the port city of Halifax. Using official reports and newspaper articles, author Blair Beed provides an outline of life on board the Titanic, describes society as it was in 1912, and highlights the care for the dead taken by the crews of the recovery ships and those who met them on arrival in Halifax.
This revised edition, with two new chapters and an updated design, is an important addition to any Titanic library.
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Share and Care
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95Share and Care: The Story of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children is a microcosm of black Nova Scotia history. Founded nearly one hundred years ago to address the needs of neglected and unwanted children in the black community, the home has become a monument to the self-reliance and solidarity that has long defined black culture in Nova Scotia.
With meticulous care, author Charles R. Saunders recreates the day-to-day life of the home and acquaints us with its devotees, the people who founded it, nurtured it, and found refuge in it. Behind the accounts, one senses the spirit of the struggles and challenges faced by the home’s supporters, determined people whose inner strength proved equal to the task of sharing and caring for each other.
The text is generously illustrated with photographs and enriched by poetry—written especially for the book—of George Elliott Clarke.
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Nova Scotia Black Experience Through the Centuries
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95The Nova Scotia Black Experience Through the Centuries is a comprehensive account of the African Nova Scotian struggle to build a vital community in the face of racial discrimination.
Originally published in two volumes as Beneath the Clouds of the Promised Land, this illustrated edition has been extensively updated and includes a new chapter tracing the experiences of Nova Scotia’s black community into the twenty-first century. Author Bridglal Pachai profiles the individuals and organizations that fought for equality in education, business, politics, religion, and the arts, and carved a path for tomorrow’s leaders.
Covering more than four hundred years of a people’s history, heritage, and culture, The Nova Scotia Black Experience Through the Centuries is a powerful record, indispensable to any study of the province’s history.
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Le Québec Maritime
Photographer: George FischerPublisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95George Fischer is the author of numerous books including Destination Fundy Trail, The Adventurer’s Guide to the Magdalen Islands, and Along the St. John River
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From Black Horses to White Steeds Building Community Resilience
Editor: Laurie Brinklow, Ryan GibsonPublisher: Island Studies Press$29.95This book discusses how small communities can survive and flourish. Edited by Laurie Brinklow and Ryan Gibson, it celebrates and critiques the dynamics of innovation, governance, and culture in place. Case studies from both sides of the North Atlantic illustrate episodes of “turning around”: the evolution, transformation, and visionary strategy that breathe new life into the term “think global, act local.”
The book’s chapters focus on the strength of local initiatives, the impacts of collective power, and re-envisioning local assets. They explore how various “black horses”–including minorities, small towns, peripheries, Aboriginal communities, those with little money, status, voice, or political leverage–can rise to the occasion and chart livable futures.
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Panama
Photographer: George FischerPublisher: George Fischer$29.95Lounge on a deserted beach or dive for treasure. Enjoy fine Panamanian coffee in a plantation and a jungle lunch with an Indian tribe. Follow the sounds of nearly 1,000 bird species. Make friends with monkeys, toucans, and iguanas. George Fischer’s images have captured Panama’s magical mix of nature, culture, history, and a thoroughly modern infrastructure. Best known for the Panama Canal, the country is also recognized for its other wonders: five UNESCO sites, distinct Indian cultures, more than 1,500 islands, and countless historical monuments.
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Unforgettable Tuscany and Florence
Photographer: George FischerPublisher: George Fischer$29.95Step into central Italy’s region of Tuscany and its capital city of Florence with George Fischer –one of Canada’s most celebrated and prolific landscape photographers.
Through his artistry, George has captured life and an area steeped in history and culture. He immortalizes Tuscany’s stunning landscapes, rich artistic legacy and delightful people, finding beauty and inspiration around every corner. He takes you to places where you can absorb hundreds of years of history and culture –or simply bask in the vibrant colours and varying moods.
Whether your tastes run to elegant or rustic, classic or modern, you’ll savour the journey.
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Discover Canada
$29.95The author, a gifted photographer, experienced in the last two years all of the adventures detailed in this book – travelling from coast to coast. Her goal is to show the possibilities and inspire. She receives 50,000 views per month on her website HikeBikeTravel.com. You can also try to keep up with her on Facebook or join her 10,000 Twitter followers for dynamic posts and photos @hikebiketravel.
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Land and Sea Environmental History In Atlantic Canada
Editor: Claire Campbell, Robert Summerby-MurrayPublisher: Acadiensis Press$29.95An original exploration of the relationship between people and the environment in Atlantic Canada, from the native-settler interactions of the 17th century to the presentday challenges of resource depletion and economic renewal. Major themes focus on how people have explained and understood the natural world, what we have learned from experiments in conservation and management, and how we have responded to environmental crisis and change. This wide-ranging collection features contributors from all four provinces and beyond, and is edited and introduced by Claire Campbell and Robert Summerby-Murray of Dalhousie University. The final chapter is an eloquent survey of the region’s environmental history by the distinguished historical geographer Graeme Wynn, University of British Columbia.
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Prince Edward Island Then and Now
Photographer: Scott MacDonald, Victor RuntzPublisher: Acorn Press$29.95Vic Runtz, a long-time cartoonist for The Guardian newspaper in Charlottetown, had a large collection of phototgraphs from his time there. Through his position with the newspaper, he was able to get to know Elton Woodside, the Flying Farmer who delivered the newspapers across the province therefore allowing for highly-detailed aerial photographs of many of the communities at the time. Upon discovering this amazing collection, D. Scott MacDonald set out on the task to take photographs of the same communities today.
Together with photos from Vic’s collection that shows his varied interest in the Island, Prince Edward Island Then and Now is a fascinating look at the way the Island has changed over the past sixty years.
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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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Woodchips and Beans (new edition) Life in the Early Lumber Woods of Nova Scotia
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95Lumbering in Nova Scotia has a long and storied history, dating back nearly for centuries. A rich resource and lose to world markets, lumbering has played an important role in the development of the province, employing thousands of men and woman over the years.This oral history, covering a 30-year period from the 1920s to the 1940s, captures the personal experiences of those choppers, scalers, swayers, yarders, mill hands and cooks who were part of this rugged experience.
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Louisbourg: From its Foundation to its Fall
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95The only complete history of Louisbourg.
“J.S. McLennan’s Louisbourg From Its Foundation To Its Fall is in several ways a remarkable book. To begin with, it is because of its continuing popularity. Though it was first published many decades ago, it remains the standard work on the 45 year history of the French settlement at Louisbourg. Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of detailed studies have been done on Louisbourg since McLennan’s appeared, each one illuminating some theme or aspect of life there, but none has replaced it as the authoritative chronicle of the town’s history.” –A. J. B. Johnston, Historian and Author
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Halifax Warden of the North (Updated Edition)
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95First published in 1948, Halifax Warden of the North has remained the best-known and most influential chronicle of Halifax since it first hit the shelves. In this updated version of the Governor General’s Award-winning history of Halifax, celebrated journalist Stephen Kimber picks up where Thomas Raddall left off, adding three new chapters that cover the city’s history from the mid-1960s to the present day, including the destruction of Africville, the arrival of the Buddhists in the 1970s and 80s, the amalgamation of HRM in the 1990s, and the storms of the most recent decade.
Already the definitive history of Halifax, this newly updated edition of Raddall’s fascinating historical portrait will be an essential addition to all local historians’ libraries.
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Historic Antigonish Town & County
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95Antigonish County is a rural community steeped in a unique heritage. Mi’kmaq have lived here for hundreds of years; they were joined in the eighteenth century by Acadians, Loyalists—including Black Loyalists—and settlers from New England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Historic Antigonish: Town and County bears witness, in photographs and detailed captions, to this cultural diversity and its many benefits. This is a book not about landscape or politics–although both have naturally affected life here–but about the countless individuals whose everyday lives shaped the area’s evolution, people like John Boyd, founder of the Casket; Lottie Melanson, champion sheepshearer; Alex MacDonald, the “Klondike King”; and Katie MacEachern, a gifted midwife. From the raising of St. Joseph’s Church to the fiery destruction and resurrection of Mount St. Bernard, local events, businesses, and, above all, people are captured and honoured in this wide-ranging tribute to Antigonish town and county.
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Fredericton And Its People
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95Fredericton, New Brunswick’s capital, is a city known by many names. Because of its beautiful churches it is often referred to as the celestial city, and for its majestic trees it has been described as the city of stately elms. To many citizens who have passed trough its buildings and across it streets over the year, this beautiful city is known simply as “home.” Fredericton and Its People focuses on the lives of these citizens-their enterprises and events, their homes and hobbies-between the early 1800s and World War Two. Drawn from the rich resources for the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick and city’s most famous photographers, vivid historical photos capture history as it happened, from royal visits and disaster to military events and community celebrations. Detailed captions complement the photo with historical context.
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Birding Sites of Nova Scotia
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95Nova Scotia is a birder’s paradise- the trick is knowing where to go to catch sight of the dainty piping plover, stately blue heron, or cheeky blue jay. This problem is solved within the pages of this invaluable guidebook, which divides Nova Scotia by county, pinpointing the best birding sites, how to reach them, and on-site orientation. Complete with maps and chockfull of useful information such as special birds to see, species of note, and key details for each site (i.e. amenities, points of interest, and habitats), this guidebook is sure to delight the bird fancier in your life, or be a welcome addition to your own feathered pursuits!
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Guides of the North Woods
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95Hunting, fishing and woodsmanship are inscribed in North American culture. Once the survival skills of the Mi’kmaq people, they became recreational pastimes for British officers arriving in Nova Scotia in the nineteenth century. The native people became wilderness guides for these ‘sports’, passing on their guiding skills to others. In this book, using their own words, Mike Parker resurrects how native and white men shared the call of the wilderness, traveling miles on foot or by canoe, hunting moose and deer or fishing trout and salmon. The hair-raising incidents of danger, the funny anecdotes, the skills necessary to succeed, and the personality of these men are collected here with respect and admiration.
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Tidal Life
Artist: Stephen HomerPublisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95Tidal Life is the definitive natural and human history of the unique and massive Bay of Fundy. With visual reminders of the Bay’s immensity and impact. Winner of the Evelyn Richardson Award for non fiction, the Dartmouth Book Award for non-fiction and the Atlantic Provinces Booksellers Choice Award.
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Plants for Atlantic Gardens Handsome and Hard-working Shrubs, Trees, and Perennials
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95With all the special challenges associated with gardening in Atlantic Canada, in-depth information and genuine inspiration are even more important. Plants for Atlantic Gardens is your go-to resource for growing perennials, shrubs, and trees on the East Coast. Well-known gardening columnist Jodi DeLong profiles over 100 of the best species for planting in Atlantic Canadian gardens. Each plant description includes essential gardening information, such as growing requirements, hardiness, height, and bloom period. In an accessible, friendly writing style, Jodi also tells prospective gardeners about the plant’s natural history in the region and shares her own experiences-both good and bad!
The book includes a hardiness map, Jodi’s list of preferred further reading, and short sidebars on useful topics like soil type, native plants, and pollinators. Over 200 colour photos provide readers a great opportunity to truly assess each plant’s suitability for their own gardens.
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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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Exotiques Îles De La Madeleine Ever Exotic
Photographer: George FischerPublisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95The inexhaustible affection lavished on Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine is the envy of many tourist destinations. First-time visitors are pleasantly surprised and totally enchanted by the discovery of an archipelago that is as exotic as it is bucolic. With its local island delicacies, beaches of fine sand that stretch forever, a quality of light that is typical of open-sea islands, and countless other charms, the Québec archipelago casts a spell that is irresistible.Photographer George Fischer is a habitual and prolific visitor whose capacity to amaze never wanes. The exotic Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine includes over 200 colourful and spectacular images.
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Les iles perles du golfe
Photographer: George FischerPublisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95A glittering archipelago nestled in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, swept by sun and sea, the Magdalen Islands are a photographer’s paradise. Acclaimed photographer George Fischer returns again to the inspiring land and seascapes of the picturesque islands, showcasing their unique beauty for all to enjoy. Stunning vistas, brilliantly hued houses, charming storefronts, and always-present expanses of sky and ocean are depicted in this lavish, full-colour visual journey. Be inspired by the vivid flavours and colours captured in this new collection of photographs, and discover for yourself the treasure of the Magdalen Islands.
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Taste of Nova Scotia Cookbook
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95A bestseller that blends the rich tradition of “down-home” cooking with modern and innovative ideas for delicious eating.
The best crowd-pleasing recipes from popular inns, restaurants, and home kitchens all around Nova Scotia are collected in this unique cookbook. Blending the rich tradition of “down home” cooking with modern and innovative ideas, The Taste of Nova Scotia Cookbook provides mouth-watering recipes for every inclination. The recipes make use of ingredients for which Nova Scotia is known–from seafood and lamb to apples, blueberries, pumpkins, and maple syrup.Drawing on the many heritages that make up; the province, from Scottish, Acadian, and Mi’kmaq to Italian, Irish, and German, this cookbook truly reveals the taste of Nova Scotia.
Taste of Nova Scotia is a province-wide restaurant program whose members are committed to serving their customers the very best of Nova Scotia’s fine harvests of both the land and sea.
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Great Nova Scotia Cookbook
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$29.95The definitive cookbook of Nova Scotia combining traditional foods with trends in today’s cooking, and the best techniques. This is a must have cookbook for all who value good cooking.
