May 18, 2012: In part one of this episode, Bells and Whistles, we hear from Ron Caron at Almonte’s Clock Tower about how he restored the clock and what he hopes for its future. We also meet an apprentice who hopes, one day, to take the reins.
When Arthur Moffatt set off for the Barrenlands in 1955, he envisioned a land of plenty. He was plenty wrong. This story captures some of the history of the Moffatt expedition on Nunavut’s Dubawnt River.
This documentary style profile of singer-songwriter Landon Coleman is an exploration of faith and music. Landon Coleman may seem like another indie musician in a jean jacket, but he is bringing the good news to a bar near you.
March 17, 2012: A tape talk with CBC’s Michael Bhardwaj about Almonte’s historic clock tower. Ron Caron has been looking after Almonte’s clock tower since 1996. He rebuilt it himself and now winds it twice a week. This story takes listeners up the tower and reveals who Caron will choose as his apprentice and successor….
Teaching looks a lot like learning at Dechinta Bush University. This isn’t any old campus. The school is located at Blachford Lake Lodge, 25 minutes east of Yellowknife by float plane on the traditional territory of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation.
Five friends and I completed a 54-day canoe expedition on Nunavut’s Back River in the summer of 2005. I was ready to be tested, but I never imagined the combination of grief, beauty and disaster that would push me to the limit and leave me with a new understanding of the wild. I wrote this essay at the Banff Centre’s Literary Journalism program in 2005.
June 2010: Excavation Digging down through layers of northern experience. And going back in time. This essay pulls apart the strata of history that compound to create a single moment.
Check out some of my past work in this entry.
I am a writer, a broadcaster, a wilderness guide and a naturalist. My passions include communications, wild places and radio journalism. On this site, you will find a bio, a portfolio and a way to get in touch with me. I hope you will.