Archives for posts with tag: Festival

It’s always interesting to go back in time and hear the background behind some of well known public figures and events, and Paul Serup is an expert in the events surround Abraham Lincoln’s death.He’ll be at Word On The Street Sunday, and would love to meet any fellow history buffs so make sure to stop by.

Paul Serup is an independent researcher and author based in central British Columbia, Canada. Though he didn’t know it at the time, the simple act of reading a book almost thirty years ago changed the direction of his life. He recounts:  “After reading Charles Chiniquy’s autobiography, Fifty Years in the Church of Rome in 1986 I was so fascinated and curious about what Chiniquy had said, particularly about President Lincoln’s assassination that I began researching the ex-priest’s life.”  Serup has spent 22 years researching the connection between Charles Chiniquy and President Lincoln, the result being the book Who Killed President Lincoln?

About the Book

In 1885, the former Catholic priest Charles Chiniquy, published his autobiography Fifty Years in the Church of Rome. A 2009 biography declares that he remains Canada’s best-selling author of all time. Thirteen years after it was first printed, 70 editions of the book were circulating and it had been translated into at least nine languages. In it, Chiniquy made the startling claim that officials and laymen from the Catholic Church had, in fact been responsible for the murder of his very close friend, Abraham Lincoln.

Over a period of some 22 years, author and independent historical researcher Paul Serup assessed Chiniquy’s claims. The result of his meticulous research makes a strong and compelling case that a Catholic plot led to the assassination of one of history’s most famous heads of state. It’s a story of a conspiracy that seems to be much more than ‘just a theory’

With all the mystery and suspense of a classic thriller novel, Who Killed Abraham Lincoln? Is an exciting addition to the literary landscape- with the added bonus that it’s an actual real-life whodunit!

Paul Serup
This 424 page tome is meticulously researched by independent researcher and author Paul Serup and also comes with a CD of more than 3,300 pages of additional documentation. It’s a must read for fans of true crime, history buffs and mystery lovers alike!

 

Just one week left to go before The Word On The Street Lethbridge next Sunday September 23rd. There’s still a few odds and ends to take care of this week but overall we are in pretty good shape bcause of some dedicated help from several Lethbridge Public Library staff and a handful of volunteers helping with advance tasks.

Francophone rap artist Webster Agent performs live at WOTS Lethbridge

Francophone rap artist Webster Agent performs live at WOTS Lethbridge

There’s so much I am looking forward to seeing, with literally dozens of new exhibitors, vendors and community organizations. Check out the entire list of authors and exhibitors on the Lethbridge section of The Word On The Street national website, and watch for the program guide to be posted online Monday. (fingers crossed :-) )

Here is a sampling of the activities happening:

Webster Agent – Internationally known francophone rap /recording artist Webster performing live in the Teen Lounge
The Medieval Club – once again, dressed in period costumes with the woollen tunic under a chain mail vest club members will be doing sword fighting demonstrations and roasting meat on a traditional spit throughout the day.  I think their efforts were particularly heroic considering the 35°C temperatures last year.The Medievel Club in full period costume

The Fairy Tale photo booth in the Family Centre tent. Kids can have their picture taken against the magic fairyland backdrop wearing a choice of costumes including fairy wings, dragon costume, princess or knight in shining armor.

The Drop’nBeats display featuring information on their mobile recording studio where young people from our community can write lyrics and record their own original tracks, learn to add in a back beat and musical accompaniament, and even dub in layers of harmony while recording their own custom CD’s.

Haiku Magnet Poetry Death Match – watch the U of L compete against Lethbridge College in front of the Main Stage along with 4 other teams as they strain their brains to come up with instant, but brilliant, Haiku poetry under the pressure of a ticking clock while the audience cheers for their favorites…

Crazy Cakes…. real butter icing. Need I say more?

2012 WOTS Lethbridge Festival site mapThese are just a few of the fun and interesting activities planned for WOTS 2012 Lethbridge. Come visit the 53 exhibitors and vendors who will be joining us, along with 34 amazing authors featured on one of the five performance areas known as the TD General Tent Stage,  the Listen & Learn Theme Tent, Most Vocal Poets Tent, Children’s Tent and the Teen Lounge downstairs inside the Library, as we celebrate the second annual Word On The Street Lethbridge.

It’s going to be a big day…

Enjoying Alberta-grown foodsI had a chance this morning to read a review from the Toronto Globe and Mail on food author dee Hobsbawn-Smith (featured on the WOTS website here) who will be speaking at the Festival on September 23rd. She brings a fascinating behind the scenes view of the farm-to-table process in Alberta which I expect will enlighten and educate those ‘foodies’ among us.  Here’s an excerpt from her website at http://curiouscook.net/

dee Hobsbawn-Smith is a farmer’s daughter who has cultivated her passion for food into multi-faceted culinary career. Her work as a classically trained chef, caterer, talented baker and restaurateur has been succeeded by a second successful career as a best-selling author, award-winning food writer and popular culinary educator and speaker. dee is a fifth-generation prairie dweller and she has two sons.

dee is an alumna of professional cooking schools in Vancouver, France, Ireland, and Calgary’s SAIT, and is an alumna of the Sage Hill Writing Experience. Her weekly column, “The Curious Cook” Wednesdays in the Calgary Herald, focuses on philosophy and issues, growers and chefs, personalities and the pleasure of food. More of her words appear in North American publications from Portland to St. John’s.”

Volunteer Katherine covers the information table at WOTS 2011We’ve still got lots of opportunities for WOTS volunteers this year! Perhaps you might like to….

- walk the Whoop Up Days Parade route along side other festival volunteers and Library staff on August 21st

- take a shift and spend 2 hours talking to people about WOTS at the Community Booth in Park Place Mall August 27th – September 9th

- be part of our poster distribution team by putting up 20-30 posters in an assigned area or nearby town

- help with site cleanup in the last week before the Festival to get the Library grounds and parking lot ready for the big day

- set up tents and exhibitor tables on Festival day

- take a shift inside one of the mascot costumes :-)

- help with a variety of tasks on site during the Festival

- help take everything down at the end of the day….

Author Dan Trivates is currently working on a time-travel saga called "Galdebrach, The Lord of Time" with Volume One; "Cruel Twist of Fate" has been released  just in time for The Word On The Street.One of the really amazing things about running this festival is the opportunity to showcase so many diverse authors, each with their own unique voice developed through the stories they share. Meet author, songwriter and editor Dan Trivates:

“Dan Trivates initially found his love for writing in song, and has written over 100 songs. In addition, he provides editing services to other self-publishing authors, contributing an objective eye and strong sense of style.

Dan is currently working on a time-travel saga called “Galdebrach, The Lord of Time” with Volume One “Cruel Twist of Fate” which has been released  just in time for The Word On The Street.

Author Dan Trivates featuring a series titeld Galdebrach, The Lord of Time“Cruel Twist of Fate” creates the ideal backdrop for a cast of uniquely authentic characters, whom Dan uses to full advantage by creating colourful dialogue and steamy adults-only relationships within the natural context of his characters’ lives and adventures.

Through it all he weaves a number of important messages about what really matters in life, based on acceptance and tolerance of the many aspects of human behavior, including lifestyle, sexual orientation, the pursuit of happiness and the importance of focusing on one’s goals.

It is Dan’s hope to release Volume Two; “He Who Has The Gold” in 2013 and Volume Three; “The End of Everything” in 2014.”

Teacher, speaker and author Denise Gagne Williamson will be in the self-published author section at The Word On The Street Festival

Denise Gagne Williamson is a teacher, author, conference speaker and marketer of 7 successful teacher’s resource books! She is an example of how self publishing can sometimes be the most effective way to satisfy a niche market, and that’s a great lesson for many aspiring writers!

Based on her expertise as a fully bilingual kindergarten teacher combined with her second love of music and singing, Denise has created a series of CD and book combos that give teachers practical tools for getting kids hooked on learning. Denise says “Over the years, I have seen firsthand how much easier it is for children to learn a second language when vocabulary is presented through song and rhyme.” By using the songs and activities in these books you will:
- foster greater student participation
- enhance student knowledge & practice of
the French language
- promote student participation and creative thinking
- organize & lead musical presentations with greater
confidence
- improve your own singing voice

“More than anything, I believe that singing builds self-esteem, is a source of joy and brings us closer to our true selves. Each of you, every one, were meant to sing. Begin to find your song today.”

Make sure you stop by and say hi to Denise at the Festival Sept 23rd. Maybe even sing a little…

Once again this year we thank the BikeBridge Cycling Association for volunteering to provide bike valet service at no charge for The 2012 Word On The Street Festival in Lethbridge.

By providing a safe, secure area where festival goers can park their bicycles on the Festival site, BikeBridge is helping to reduce the demand on parking spots for Festival day.

Here’s more on BikeBridge from their website and Facebook page.

It’s simple: the bicycle offers us all opportunities at improved well-being.  Riding a bike is exhilarating; it slows us down and awakens our awareness of our connection to the earth and each other.  From a bicycle’s more human scale we see, smell, hear and feel the neighbourhood’s real beauty.  Cycling builds and maintains fitness, for the cyclist and the community.

Bikebridge believes that if, as a community, we can reduce the barriers that keep us from using a bicycle, we can improve our lives and those of our neighbours.  We think that is what community is all about.

We believe the barriers to cycling in Lethbridge relate primarily to safety, security and demands on fitness.   When considering a trip by bike a first consideration is probably:  Is it a safe route to and from my destination? Secondly:  do I have the ability to physically make the trip? Is it an easy or difficult route?  And finally: once I arrive, will there be a place to secure my bike and the things I take with me or acquire en route?

BikeBridge Cycling Association - Lethbridge AlbertaBikeBridge is dedicated to removing the main barriers that keep citizens in Lethbridge from using a bicycle for at least some of their transportation requirements.

Our purpose is to inspire, facilitate, and celebrate cycling as a means of transportation in Lethbridge

In addition to the many national authors who will be speaking at the 2012 Word On The Street Festival in Lethbridge, we also have the opportunity to support several local authors in launching their works, each with an important and unique perspective to share.

Lavinia Thompson will be at The Word On The Street Festival Sept 23rd hosted on the streets around the Lethbridge Public Library Main Branch.

Lavinia Thompson is a 23-year old journalism grad. She emerged from an environment of domestic violence and abuse from her childhood to discover her voice in writing and find a light at the end of that dark tunnel. With that voice, she dedicates her passion for writing into raising awareness about domestic violence. Her poetry book, “She Wasn’t Allowed to Giggle” released Sept. 28, 2011, is a collection of poetry and prose based on what she experienced as a child. “She Wasn’t Allowed to Giggle” has been used in poetry workshops by the Girls Education and Mentoring System (GEMS) for victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse.

Ms. Thompson also has a dark fantasy novel called “Legend of Kawilara, Part1: Fire,” the first in a series based on the theme of preventing and stopping violence against women.  The sequel, “Legend of Kawilara, Part 2: Swords” will be released in fall 2012.

Through her writing, Lavinia wants to spread the message to domestic violence victims and survivors that there is hope, help and that someday there will come a time when the words “never again” really mean, never again. She wants to be a part of making sure everyone sees that day.

Lavinia’s books are available in paperback and ebook on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lavinia-Thompson/e/B005S4U47W/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1344015772&sr=8-1

The ebooks can also be found on Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LaviniaThompson   and her blog

at: http://laviniathompsonauthor.wordpress.com/

Come see Curious George at the Festival!

Hmmmm…. I’m coming to the conclusion that building a new festival is a lot like gardening… plant a few seeds, pour a little water on them, pray a little… and then stand back to watch the magic!

2012 is starting to look pretty awesome! Check out the list of confirmed authors here http://www.thewordonthestreet.ca/wots/lethbridge/authors/all

Come September 23rd, you can have your picture taken with Clifford the Big Red Dog  and Curious George while snacking on Crazy Cakes Cupcakes!

For more information visit our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/LethbridgeWOTS and don’t forget to get your raffle tickets for the Quidam group package online at http://www.lethlibfriends.ca/#!raffle-tickets or at any of the Customer Service desks at both Lethbridge Public Library branches. All the money raised goes to support The Lethbridge Word On The Street Festival.

 

Then check out the Author page at http://www.thewordonthestreet.ca/wots/lethbridge/authors/all

The Library Online Services team are doing a great job keeping up to date! They’re still adding more authors, musicians and fun activities but the link to the website (above) shows a preview of the authors we’ve confirmed so far – it’s going to be a very big day!

Check out the website: http://www.thewordonthestreet.ca

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