Posts from the ‘News & Events’ Category

The Business of Freelance Journalism Session

The Business of Freelance Journalism, Tues Nov 4 (6:15pm) – River John Library – limited space, preregistration required (902-351-2599)

Featuring Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library Writer-in-Residence Chris Benjamin

For anyone who has ever dreamed of hanging a “Professional Writer” sign and making writing your full-time gig, get the inside scoop on the do’s, don’ts, snags and joys of being a freelance journalist and writer.

Chris Benjamin has worked in Halifax as an independent, self-employed freelance journalist for the past eight years and has written for a long list of magazines and newspapers in Canada and the United States. A few highlights include The Globe and Mail, Science Friday, Chronicle Herald, Z Magazine, Canadian Dimension, This Magazine, Briarpatch, Saltscapes, Halifax Magazine, The Halifax Examiner, Progress Magazine, and The Coast. He received honourable mention in the 2009 Canadian Journalism Awards.

Understanding our story: two books on the Shubenacadie Residential School

The Halifax Media Co-op’s Robert Devet  wrote a review of Indian School Road as a companion piece to Isabelle Knockwood’s book about the survivor experience of the school. Her book, and the questions she raised, was an inspiration for Indian School Road.

You can read the review here.

Stellarton Living Library of Storytelling; Seniors Week hosted by Chris Benjamin

Becoming Fierce Book Launch Oct 18

Becoming Fierce Halifax Launch, Just Us! Cafe, 5896 Spring Garden Rd

Sat, 18 October, 14:00 – 16:00

Come out and join us as we celebrate the publication of Becoming Fierce: Teen Stories IRL, anthology of creative non-fiction. There will be readings from contributing authors Ben Boudreau, Alison DeLory, Chris Benjamin and Jo Treggiari. They will also be available to sign copies of the anthology, and dance with you the sardana.

Read the Chronicle Herald review here and the Quill & Quire review here.

Historical Research Session at Pictou Public Library

‘Historical research – where and how to begin’
with Chris Benjamin, Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library’s Writer-in-Residence
Pictou Public Library, 40 Water Street
Tuesday, October 14, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Register by calling 902-485-5021

This session will outline some key sources of accurate historical information, primary and secondary, including libraries and archives as well as the use of key informants when tracing the roots of present day circumstance.

Indian School Road on Global News

On October 7 author Chris Benjamin appeared on Global Television’s “Morning News” with Crystal Garett. Here’s the clip:

Environmental Writing Workshop Oct 7

Writing Workshop: Environmental Writing with Writer in Residence Chris Benjamin

Tuesday, October 7th from 6:00 – 7:30pm

The People’s Place: Antigonish Town & County Library, 283 Main Street, Antigonish

Registration required. Call the library at 863-4276.

The world is awash in environmental crises and their magnitude overwhelms many of us. This session will look at how writers can use their skills to shine a light on the darkness of human futures, whether by exposing environmental misdeeds or highlighting sustainable alternatives.

Chris Benjamin has studied, reported, and acted on environmental issues since the late 90s. He was the “Sustainable City” columnist for The Coast from 2008 to 2013. His 2011 book, Eco-Innovators: Sustainability in Atlantic Canada, won the Best Atlantic-Published Book Award and was a finalist for the Evelyn Richardson Non-Fiction Prize. He writes regular environmental features for Halifax Magazine and Saltscapes.

Chris Benjamin reads from Indian School Road at Halifax North Public Library

Fierce Ink Press Supports Kids Help Phone with the Release of Becoming Fierce Anthology

On Sept 23, Fierce Ink Press released its new anthology Becoming Fierce: Teen Stories IRL (the IRL is “in real life”, now ya know). Twenty percent of proceeds go to help Kids Help Phone. Included in the collection is Chris Benjamin’s short story, “Cuisvé”, about his eye-opening, and heart starting, time in St. Lucia as a young man.

From the press release:

Each short deals with something the author struggled with during his or her teen years. The goal of the anthology is to let teens know that adults do understand what they’re going through and that it does get better.

Click here to read the full release. You can get your copy at Bookmark, Chapters or Woozles.

Talking Indian School Road with the Coast

In the Sept 18 issue of the Coast (Halifax’s independent weekly newspaper), city editor Jacob Boon interviewed author Chris Benjamin about his new book, Indian School Road: Legacies of the Shubenacadie Residential School. Here is a brief excerpt from the interview:

Why did you want to write this book?

I’m interested in all kinds of social justice issues, but I was fascinated by the residential school system and what happened. Always the question left in my mind was, as a European-descended Canadian, what the hell were we thinking? I just wanted to understand the thinking that went into the school. I had a rudimentary idea of what that was, but where did it come from? Who was behind it?

Click here to read the full interview at thecoast.ca.