Gaspereau press achieves 10, Herstory calendar celebrates women

Kudos were flying this past weekend when Kentville's Gaspereau Press marked its 10th anniversary with a sedate dust up -- no more liquor licenses at the recreation centre. But a quartet of poets happily lined up to praise a stellar small press.

Allan Cooper termed it the most unique press in the country for working with authors. Harry Thurston lauded the Gaspereau gang for their dedication to making beautiful books. Monica Kidd from St. John's said her publishers make the best books in Canada, while George Elliott Clarke noted that given a check list of Gaspereau awards and nominations, they have moved and shaken book publishing.

Ten years ago the launch of the press at a long gone cafe in Wolfville seemed an audacious but worthwhile venture to set out upon. Partners Gary Dunfield and Andrew Steeves proved to have an excellent blend of skills and attitudes toward printing. They have done well.

Since they purchased the old Kentville Electric building, I imagine the town knows the press exists, but in essence it is a little known jewel parked behind the pub despite eight Wayzgoose events.

Recognition comes from far away award committees and sales ledgers.

Herstory calendar

I came home from the poetry reading with a mitt full of books, but I also have on my night table the latest Herstory calendar for 2008. Thanks to Patty Williams' able research, there are a number of local connections that make this national effort notable.

Athlete and teacher Marion Eaton Bishop, who won a putting contest in her 80s, was the first. She was followed by Gertrude Phinney Beatty, another renowned athlete, who died last year. Both were members of the 1925 Wolfville School girls basketball team.

Margaret Conrad, only recently honoured by her alma mater Acadia University, was recognized with a page in the calendar. As a historian, she has worked to break “the silence surrounding women’s culture and women’s contributions to Canada's past.”

This, by the way, is Women's History Month in Canada.

Born in Mount Denson, Verna States Thomas became a well-organized advocate for African Nova Scotians. “I came to understand that to be black you had to live in two worlds, play by two sets of rules, and struggle to maintain your sanity when those two realities collided.” She, too, deserves her place.

Finally on the local front organic farmer Angela Patterson merits a mention due to her involvement in agriculture, international development and women's education. While working as an advisor in Pakistan, she and her husband farm 150 acres atop the North Mountain.

The Herstory calendars have been produced every year for 30 years by the Saskatoon Women's Calendar Collective. They make an incredible record of the female contribution to this country of ours.