Remembrance Day Ceremonies at Richmond City Hall 

This important annual event honours and remembers Canadian service personnel who gave their lives in the service of our country. 

The parade begins at 10:20 a.m., official ceremonies at the City Hall cenotaph begin at 10:40 a.m. and a two minute silence is observed at 11:00 a.m., which is then followed by wreath-laying.

Henning Mankell, author of acclaimed Kurt Wallander crime series, dies at 67

We are sad to report that Swedish author Henning Mankell, known for his best-selling crime novel series about Kurt Wallander, has passed away this past weekend at the age of 67.

Mankell`s crime series featuring policeman Kurt Wallander sold more than 40 million books and was turned into a TV drama starring Sir Kenneth Branagh. He also wrote dozens of plays, novels, children`s books and screenplays. Mankell died of cancer. More here: http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-34442252

Jackie Collins, bestselling romance novelist, dies at 77

We are sad to report the passing of well-known romance novelist Jackie Collins, who passed away this past weekend at the age of 77.

Jackie Collins wrote over 30 New York Times bestsellers, and her novels enjoyed worldwide popularity. Her books sold more than 500 million copies in 40 countries. Many of her stories were about Hollywood personalities although she always took care to disguise the personalities. Collins passed away on Saturday September 19 in Los Angeles of breast cancer. More here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/jackie-collins-dies-1.3235648

A Sad Weekend for Literary and Artistic Pillars

We are sad to report that this weekend, three societal pillars and well-known literary figures passed away.

Dr. Wayne Dyer, a frequent motivational speaker and best-selling self-help author of dozens of books, passed away on Saturday, August 29 at the age of 75. He had been battling leukemia in recent years. More here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/wayne-dyer-self-help-author-dead-at-75-1.3209369

Wes Craven , who directed “Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Scream”, passed away on Sunday, August 30 at the age of 76 following a lengthy battle with brain cancer. More here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/wes-craven-classic-horror-film-director-dead-at-76-1.3209339. 

Oliver Sacks, an esteemed neurologist who wrote books about his findings including “Awakenings” and “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat”, also passed away on Sunday, August 30 at the age of 82 after a battle with liver cancer. More here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/oliver-sacks-neurologist-and-author-dead-at-82-1.3209000

Esteemed true-crime author Ann Rule passes away at age 83

We are sorry to report that Ann Rule, a true-crime author who has written over 30 books and more than 1,400 articles for the crime magazine “True Detective”, has passed away at the age of 83. Ann’s literary contributions include her book “The Stranger Beside Me”, which profiled her former colleague Ted Bundy, as well as a book about her work with the Green River Task force. Ann died on Sunday night, July 26, 2015 after struggling with many health issues, including congestive heart failure.

Read more: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/true-crime-author-ann-rule-wrote-former-co-212207003.html

Harper Lee - Go Set a Watchman

The wait is over! Fifty-five years have passed since Harper Lee published To Kill A Mockingbird and finally, her next novel has arrived!  Written before her beloved classic, Watchman takes place twenty years after To Kill A Mockingbird.  Scout returns to Maycomb and “struggles with issues both personal and political, involving Atticus, society, and the small Alabama town that shaped her.” (HarperCollins Canada).

Harper Lee was born on April 28, 1926, in Monroeville, Alabama. The much-anticipated release of her new novel has already sparked debate among fans, broken pre-sale records for publishing house HarperCollins and, only days after its release, is on target to become one of the fastest-selling literary works in history (Harper Lee, 2015. The Biography.com website. Retrieved 10:01, Jul 20, 2015, from http://www.biography.com/people/harper-lee-9377021). 

Update: Truth and Reconciliation

Final Report - December 15, 2015

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada has a mandate to learn the truth about what happened in the residential schools and to inform all Canadians about what happened in the schools. The TRC published its final report on December 15, 2015 in order to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation.

Please read the final report here: http://bit.ly/1JcnG8J




The Commission has documented the truth of what happened by relying on records held by those who operated and funded the schools, testimony from officials of the institutions that operated the schools, and experiences reported by survivors, their families, communities and anyone personally affected by the residential school experience and its subsequent impacts

Executive Summary:

http://bit.ly/1Yl8LQG

Principles:

http://bit.ly/1TQr0w2

The Survivors Speak:

English: http://bit.ly/1T7OFtf

French: http://bit.ly/1cH7Use

Calls to Action (English): http://bit.ly/1QG7YpF

Calls to Action (FR): http://bit.ly/1JDYk6l

It is due to the courage and determination of former students—the Survivors of Canada’s residential school system—that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) was established. They worked for decades to place the issue of the abusive treatment that students were subjected to at residential schools on the national agenda. Their perseverance led to the reaching of the historic Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. All Canadians must now demonstrate the same level of courage and determination, as we commit to an ongoing process of reconciliation. By establishing a new and respectful relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians, we will restore what must be restored, repair what must be repaired, and return what must be returned.

Additional resources for further consideration -

Richmond Public Library Resources:

Canada’s Residential Schools: http://bit.ly/1KRhBju

First Nations Treaties: http://bit.ly/1dYmm0y

CBC Digital Archives - http://bit.ly/1KRh019

TRC Media Room - http://bit.ly/1F4M2xt

Legacy of Hope Foundation Website - http://wherearethechildren.ca/en