Editorially speaking...
I’m absolutely amazed by the wonders of our technological age, particularly as it applies to my fields of researching, writing and publishing.
Compare the original black and white photo below to its colourized version sent by Michael Burke, who I assume, performed the magic. I’m seeing this more and more. I have no idea how it’s done but I sure see its potential for book covers, to name one.
What can I say but, wow.
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An interesting book, if you’re into true Canadian crime, is Edwin Alonzo Boyd: The Life and Crimes of Canada’s Master Bank Robber by Nate Hendley.
Police mugshot of Edwin Alonzo Boyd. —Wikipedia
In the 1950’s Boyd was Canada’s master bank robber. He and his gang worked primarily in the greater Toronto area and—twice—they broke out of the Kingston Penitentiary. He’s also suspected of being involved in a double homicide although this has never been confirmed.
In short, a very colourful fellow.
But, what particularly caught my attention, was that he spent his final years in Victoria as the driver of what I’ll call a handi-dart bus. He married one of his passengers and to all appearances walked the straight-and-narrow. I might well have met him when I lived there.
Proving yet again that everyone has a story to tell.
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A recent commentary in the Times Colonist addressed the losses of homes and personal property from wild fires and other natural causes such as floods, and the resulting threats to our heritage. Ryan Hunt, the executive director of the B.C. Museums Association, thinks governments have to come up with solid plans for the protection of our historical infrastructure such as museums.
He reminds us that museums, for one, are stewards of our history; it’s their responsibility to save and to protect now for the benefit of future generations.
He makes his point by noting that “Intangible objects and landscapes that have been cared for and protected for hundreds, in some cases, thousands of years can be destroyed in the blink of an eye...”
With climate change appearing to accelerate, the risks of catastrophe increase steadily. B.C., he says, needs to create an arts, cultural and heritage emergency response plan today, so our our communities are ready to act when the next emergency inevitably arrives.
Alberta did so after the severe flooding of 2013.
He acknowledges the fact that the potential loss of cultural heritage pales alongside the loss of lives, but that it’s an essential part of our national fabric and must be protected.
“If we do not plan for our future emergencies, we will witness the destruction of our shared arts, culture and heritage over and over again. In order to safeguard the irreplaceable, we must act now.”
Among the victims of the fire that devastated Lytton two years ago were its two museums.
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