2009 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

Elizabeth Strout has won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction with her novel, "Olive Kitteridge."
The Pulitzer judges said the book "packs a cumulative emotional wallop, bound together by polished prose and by Olive, the title character, blunt, flawed and fascinating."
Other books by Strout are Amy and Isabelle and Abide with Me.
Previous well-known winners: The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton; The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck; Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell; The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings; Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener; To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee; The Color Purple by Alice Walker; Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry; The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx.

York Grand River Society Antique Roadshow

The York Grand River Society's regular meeting is Tuesday evening, April 21, 7:30 p.m. at the Parish Hall in York.
Members and visitors are invited to bring heirlooms to Tuesday's meeting, an "Antique Roadshow" conducted by well-known, popular auctioneer, Jim Anderson, Esq. Everyone welcome. Light refreshments.

2009 Keep Toronto Reading

Glen Downie's collection of poems, "Loyalty Management," is this year's "One Book" chosen to keep Toronto reading. Downie confesses to his "heart being loaded/without the safety on."
Refecting on fatherhood, stay-at-home Dad's, his neighbourhood -- the Junction area of Toronto and other city landmarks as well as the theme of loyalty in business and government. Downie's sixth book of poetry is appropriately chosen for T.O.'s 175th centennial year.
keeptorontoreading.ca

"The True Story of Wainfleet With Lies By William Thomas"

National syndicated columnist, William Thomas' latest book, "The True Story of Wainfleet With Lies by William Thomas," is available at The Neat Little Bookshop. Co-authored with writer Karen Arthur, Thomas has published 334 pages packed with historical facts, photographs and stories ~ and more ~ about everything from security at the Wainfleet dump to the Feeder Canal, places like Chambers Corners, Marshville, Winger and Burnaby. Endless tales about people ~ events and shenanigans that a person could not make up ~ perhaps explaining the disclaimer "...lies by William Thomas."

The Canadian Military Heritage Society

A valuable resource for military buffs is the recently re-designed Canadian Military Heritage Society website, http://www.cmhslivinghistory.com
Featuring videos and photographs of re-enactment events of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry WWI and WWII, also the 49th Regiment of Foot. Descriptions of the society's services and activities.
Congratulations on a beautiful and fascinating tribute to Canada's military heritage.

Ontario Genealogical Society Conference '09

The 2009 Ontario Genealogical Society Conference,"From the Printed Page to the Digital Age," will be held from May 29th to the 31st at Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario.

Hamilton's Literary Festival

Hamilton's fifth GritLIT takes place April 2 - 5. A popular cultural festival of authors' readings, workshops for aspiring authors, poetry contest. Designed to promote local writers along with well-known Canadian authors.
An evening of poetry readings, April 2, 7:30 p.m. at the Hamilton Art Gallery. An evening of fiction readings, 7:30 p.m., April 3.
The event takes its name from the fact that Hamilton is often thought of as a gritty city. www.gritlit.ca