Kit Pearson’s imagination intensifies Words on the Water

Campbell River bookies (those who read, not those who take bets) congregated in droves at the Maritime Heritage Centre on the weekend for the ninth annual Words on the Water literary festival.

The line up, as usual, was stellar: Andreas Schroeder (thanks for signing Renovating Heaven, which I’ve started reading, and Shaking it Rough, which I haven’t), Annabel Lyon, Susan Musgrave, Gabor Mate, Ronald Wright, Colin Angus, Kit Pearson, and current Haig-Brown writer in residence Harry Thurston, whose poetry left me breathless.

Every year there’s at least one author who I particularly look forward to seeing. This year it was Kit Pearson. Her talk on Saturday afternoon focused on imagination, something I got an extra dose of when it was being doled out. For Kit, playing pretend was a huge part of her after school life, especially the Knights of the Round Table, a theme that made its way into her book A Perfect Gentle Knight.

She also spoke about the positive aspects of imagination – how it can fuel characters and plot in later life – but also how it can overshadow your life if taken to an extreme. This is shown in clear relief in Gentle Knight, particularly in the character of 14 year old Sebastian…

The world of make believe is one Kit knows first hand. When she was 12, the family returned to Kit’s birth place of Edmonton after several years in Vancouver. Leaving her friends and a city she loved was tough on the young girl. Her way of coping with the changes was to retreat into a world of fantasy and reading even more – an escape from reality when the real world was too overwhelming.

I was enchanted to hear Kit read from her Guests of War trilogy. It’s a perfect example of high quality kid’s lit. Set throughout WW II, the books trace the experiences of brother and sister Gavin (and his elephant friend, Creature, who my sock monkies now want to meet) and Norah as they are sent from their home in Kent, England, to live with the well-to-do Ogilive sisters in Toronto. They are beautifully developed characters set against an era I’ve always been interested in. I first read the series some years ago when I borrowed them from the library. I’m now the owner of all three – The Sky is Falling, Looking at the Moon, and The Lights Go On Again – and only two days after the end of this year’s event, they’ve all been read again. But not for the last time.

Scope out Kit’s website at www.kitpearson.com.

“I write because I like to make things up”. What a wonderful reason, Kit. I know the feeling.

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Waffling at Discovery Pier for more than 20 years

Summer in Campbell River means different things to different people. For me, nothing gets me in the summer mind set more quickly than visiting Discovery Pier. Even though tomorrow is the official first day of summer, I’ve already claimed  my favorite bench by dripping Thai sauce and Diet Coke on it (and yes, I did wipe up both). 

On a recent visit there was an elementary school class lining up with their partners to leave just as I was arriving. The medley of knapsacks was a sight to behold. As I walked along the approach I could see that the fishing rods the kids had been using were each neatly installed in the rod holders. They seemed abandoned and even a bit sad that they hadn’t been successful in providing fish for a local dinner table.

A family with a mother,  a petite fair-haired daughter in a breezy dress, husband, and combination mother-in-law grandmother were in front of me at the concession stand. They all ordered ice cream but I was too busy eyeing the double scoop of mint chocolate chip in a waffle cone he ordered to pay attention to what the others chose. I was sorely tempted to change my lunch menu to ice cream but behaved and ordered my regular Pier lunch, a Thai chicken wrap with all the veggies.

I settled myself on The Bench, arranging my water bottle, book, and camera all within close reach but away from my bulging wrap.   The concession peep had warmed it just a little bit in the microwave and it brought out all the flavours, from the sauce to the freshly sliced real chicken breast to the crunchy zucchini.

As I took the last bite, I caught a wonderous whiff of the fresh waffle cones. It was sugary, warm, and inviting all at the same time.  Next time.

A man and woman strolled by, holding fish and chips with fresh wedges of lemon and tartar sauce peeking out from the overflowing newspaper cones they held. Next time.

Discovery Pier Facts (amaze your friends with your local knowledge):

Date opened: July 4, 1987

Length: 600 feet

Width: 24 feet

Cost to build: $1,200.000 (including parking lot and breakwater)

Number of fish cleaning stations: four

(information courtesy of the wonderfully terrific book Edge of Discovery, Ptarmigan Press, 1989)

 The concession stand opens at 7:30am each morning and closes about half an hour after sunset. Fishing rod rental is available, as are fishing licenses, which are required before you dip your line. For info on rod and license costs call 250-286-6199 and talk to Ben or one of his friendly staff.  This link takes you to the Recereational Fishing page of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada:  http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/licence-permis/index-eng.htm

Looking for one of the best views of the Canada Day fireworks in town? This is it. But get there early.

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Discover local attractions with a Staycation

It’s no secret that people from all over the world come to Campbell River to experience our broad variety of actitivites and attractions. The visitor’s book at the Visitor Info Centre in Tyee Plaza is full of enthusiastic comments from those who have experienced first hand what our community offers, whether it’s for three days or two weeks. 

Since moving here seventeen years ago, I’ve learned to welcome the sight of shorts-clad families and couples, complete with cameras and maps wandering throughout the community anytime after the Victoria Day long weekend. Discovery Pier, Tyee Plaza, the Pier St. Market and the stores along Shoppers Row are popular gathering places. 

When I ask a simple question such as, “Are you visiting?”, it inevitably leads to comments such as, “You live here? Wow! Lucky you”, “We’re thinking about moving here in a few years”, “It’s beautiful, even though it’s rained a lot”, or my personal favorite, “Can we move in with you? We promise we’d be no trouble”.

For those of us fortunate enough not to need to travel here by plane, train or automobile, we have within easy reach the potential for life experiences we may not even be aware of. How often I’ve heard locals say, “We had family staying with us from fill in location here and we took them to the museum. I’d never been there before. I had no idea there was so much to see. The kids loved it”.

But maybe the challenging economic times that many in our community are living with have left you convinced you’ll have to leave the fun to the tourists this year. However, don’t despair.

Thanks to the Campbell River Spirit of BC Comimttee and Rivercorp, in conjunction with What’s On Digest and local tourism operators, here’s your chance to kayak on Quadra, stay overnight at Painter’s and April Point, or take a wildlife tour, all at very special prices until June 22.

The Staycation concept is a simple one: let residents know there are tons of things to do and see in their very own backyard and that it doesn’t have to cost your food budget for the month to scope it out.

Your copy of the 2009 Staycation Guide, found in the June issue of What’s On Digest, is set to hit your mailbox very soon if it hasn’t already. It can also be picked up at the Visitor Info Centre.

Don’t let your out of town guests be the only ones to have terrific stories to tell about Campbell River.

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