Celebrating Stories That Connect Us in Waterloo Region– Part I

 

Front entrance to Museum, off Homer Watson Boulevard

On November 12, and 13th, Waterloo Region celebrated the grand opening of the new Museum with an opening ceremony and Jazz concert on Saturday and open exhibits to the community on Sunday.

The Museum, new gateway to the Doon Heritage Village, has been long in the planning. Many historical artifacts, now on display for the public to see, have been stored away in a variety of places, waiting for such a building to house them. While the main lobby,, meeting rooms and theatre have been in use for more than a year, the exhibit area opened officially this weekend.

 

 

The coloured glass panels on the outside of the building represent the stitching on a quilt, assembling many pieces to make a whole quilt. The colours were selected from quilts to be shown in the museum and the pattern shown here by the front door spell out names of the municipalities of Waterloo Region. Planners put a great deal of thought into the design, but I’ll let you learn more about that on a tour of your own.

 

“The museum is located at the intersection of two transportation routes that crossed this property in the 19th and 20th centuries,” say the words in the program.

Indeed there is a railway track running straight through the  lobby of the museum. In the photo above, you can see the steam engine in the village, and though it looks as though the train might go right on through the building, the engine sits there, quiet and still, and a pane of glass  and some distance separates it from the interior.

The track inside is under clear flooring, the  steel rails and the wooden ties. One can walk down this track without worry.

 

Floor-to-ceiling windows allow people in the lobby to see the historic village outside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On this special opening weekend, a young harpist wows and relaxes us with her music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Come back in a few days for Part II of my feature on the new Waterloo Region Museum. Until then, go here for more information.

 

 

Lessons from Write! Canada

Outside the dining hall, and it’s time to say good-bye.

Darcy Neil Croteau (left) and Carolyn Wilker (Photo by Darcy’s husband, used by permission.)

 

Lessons I learned at Write! Canada this year:

There’s always more to learn. Be open to learning from others.

Even if I need to learn more, I can help someone who is in the place I have been.

Grace Fox said, “Do it afraid.”

To see Christ in all.  A reminder from Tim Huff.

Marketing a book  is a lot of work, and there are ways to do it.

We are never alone in our struggles and learning. There are others who can light the way.

Our words can change the world. (Write ! Canada theme)

Take along a bigger camera card for taking videos.

One-on-one appointments with faculty were beneficial.  I have already used some of what I learned.

Where do I go from here? What is my vision for my writing?

We are never alone. God is there, if not holding my hand, then guiding me.

Our words can change the world. Let them be for good.

Thoughts on change

Change— the thing many fear. Whether it be a change in profession,  living accommodations, or even a new opportunity.

Moving to another country and learning a new language is a brave step, often taken with great courage, because of strife in one’s homeland. Making a decision to be a better speaker, writer or singer takes courage and requires a willingness to learn new things, and that process, if undertaken with the intent to improve, involves change.

Here are a few quotes about change for you to consider today.

I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.
  – Maya Angelou

Let go of the past and go for the future. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined.

- Henry David Thoreau

 Opportunity is missed by most people, because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

-Thomas Edison

Write! Canada— a benefit to a writing career

Conference is a great place to meet fellow writers too

 

I learned when I began writing for print just how much I didn’t know. There’s more to it than knowing about good spelling and grammar, though those things are very important. My first conference, God Uses Ink, in 2001, opened my eyes to the world of other writers, to the importance of presentation in our writing, communicating with editors, learning about writers’ guidelines, and that it’s okay to write for oneself or family.

I also recognized that I was among people who thought as I did, who loved words and reading. I learned that writing is a gift and if I work hard at it, I can improve my writing. Unlike the steward in Jesus’ parable, who hid his talent (money from the boss), it’s not a gift to store away, but to use. My gift, if used well, can help others. It can inspire, convince, console, entertain and encourage others.

God Uses Ink conferences were about to come to a close, since the governing body had decided to end its sponsorship. Oblivious to the decision at my first ever conference, I learned some months later of a new organization that was forming and that would sponsor future confererences so that writers could continue to hone their craft, and so that publishers in Canadian publications would have writers equipped to write for those publications, and others too.

I was not in the middle of that decision, but I have indeed been part of The Word Guild, formed in 2002,  for Canadian writers and editors who are Christian. Having been in various positions such as archivist/historian, membership registrar, editor of Write On newsletter,and now as a member of the Revision online critique group, I can say that my educational curve shortened by sharing  with and learning from other more experienced writers. The goal of  this organization is to equip writers in the craft, ministry and business of writing. While we may not all write expressly for Christian publications, we are all of a Christian world view.

The conference, sponsored by this organization, is for writers wishing to improve their writing, and to continue to learn and meet editors and agents whom we may wish to write for. This year will be my 6th or 7th conference. I have attended as a learner, a  faculty member, and in many of them, have offered my time as a classroom assistant, leader of an early morning reading session, and in offering grace at mealtimes. A conference is a busy place of learning and takes many hands to make it run efficiently and to make the conference a good place to be.

To learn more about this conference or to register, go to Write! Canada.
I have  things to do to get ready. See you there!

Copyright Bill C-32– who gains, who loses?

In this post, I depart from my usual format of reflections. Copyright and the creative and intellectual copy of its creators is important in this time, and has far-reaching implications.

Writers organizations, actors, screen writers and artists have made their objections to government regarding the long-term consequences of the act, should it be passed as it stands. Being a writer myself, I need to pay attention and act. As an editor and member of the Editors’ Association of Canada, I am aware that the bill, should it be passed, will have major implications on work available to us.

What I do know is that writers and those who create will suffer. Nino Ricci and other authors express their deep concerns in the video on this site.

For more information, read here and here.