On This Day ~ 365 Tales of History, Mystery, and More by Dale Jarvis

Stories of lactating whales, spooky phenomenon raining blood on ship decks and scantily clad contortionists....what more could one expect from a rock isolated in the middle of the North Atlantic home to 500 000 people descended from English, Irish, French and Indigenous ancestors? Hearses for hire, fog so thick residents are lost for hours and a tavern owner who hosts meetings of the Newfoundland House of Assembly....such are the weird and wonky stories, tantalizing tidbits of trivia, to be found in Dale Jarvis' newest book by Flanker Press On This Day ~ 365 Tales of History, Mystery and More.

On This Day is a day by day record of fun facts from the 16th century all the way to present day. Researched and compiled by folklorist and storyteller Dale Jarvis, history buffs and lovers of all things Newfoundland will delight in the strange but true stories gleaned from archived copies of the Evening Telegram and other sources of provincial records. Jarvis does a superb job at highlighting the unique characteristics of the people Newfoundland has become known for. Turnip vandals, an insane fisherman, and pea-blowing nuisances are just some of the  fun characters and crazy antics that Jarvis delights in sharing with his readers. An easy to read, coffee table book, this fun and entertaining piece of Canadiana is a great way to start your day or an enjoyable gift for all those expat Newfoundlanders living abroad who crave a little dose of home.

On This Day ~ 365 Tales of History, Mystery, and More is a Flanker Press publication. Other books by Dale Jarvis can be viewed here.

In Search of Adventure ~ 70 Years of The Royal Canadian Mounted Police In Newfoundland and Labrador by Helen C. Escott

It all started on March 21, 1949 with the dispatch of nine Mounties. Arriving on our shores to establish a presence in Canada’s newest province, Newfoundland, these freshly minted officers had a huge task ahead of them. Not only were they required to establish a divisional headquarters in the capital city and to enforce federal law within the entire province of Newfoundland and Labrador with the exception of St. John’s, they were also charged with absorbing the existing law enforcement agencies that had previously operated on the island when it was an independent colony. With the absorption of  the Newfoundland Rangers and the Newfoundland Constabulary in 1950, the contract policing history of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police began in this province. In Search Of Adventure ~ 70 Years of The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Newfoundland and Labrador is an epic piece of Canadiana that chronicles the personal and professional lives of veteran officers and civilians of the RCMP who dedicated themselves to serving the coastal communities and towns of Newfoundland and Labrador. 

In Search of Adventure is author, Helen C. Escott’s,  fourth book which was written on the heels of two best selling crime thriller novels, Operation Wormwood and Operation Vanished, as well as blog-turned-book I Am Funny Like That. As a retired civilian member of the RCMP herself, there is no better author who could commemorate the service of police officers in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador than the accomplished Helen C. Escott. Two years in the making, the research conducted by Escott is neatly packaged into a 303 page paperback, chronicling  conversations and interviews with over 70 RCMP veterans, civilians and wives whom Escott refers to as “the foundation of our organization”. Readers of this wonderful collection of stories will be intrigued by the unique history of policing within our province. From the early days of the non-uniformed Newfoundland Rangers who chased speeders in a taxi to officers that had close encounters with unidentified flying objects and those who provided sage advice to constipated callers, law enforcement was not for the faint of heart or for those who were looking for routine work. The compassion and dedication required to be an effective member of law enforcement is also highlighted time and time again. From officers that go above and beyond their duties by serving lunch at their home to a couple who had been involved in an accident, to wives of officers who were stationed in remote locations and sat up all night guarding arrested individuals detained at their homes, members did what needed to be done to serve the people in their communities. And of course, no commemoration would be complete without recognizing the efforts and telling the stories of both members and civilians during the historic Badger Riot and 9/11. Though each of the stories was interesting, fascinating and, many times, humorous or sad, readers will be particularly struck by the pride, camaraderie and sense of accomplishment expressed by each veteran who served with the RCMP. 

  “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give” 

Sir Winston Churchill

        (quoted by ret. Diane Butler of “B” Division Headquarters)

Helen C. Escott has done a remarkable job at capturing the stories of these brave and humble men and women while at the same time making a great contribution to the unique history of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police within Newfoundland and Labrador. This is a wonderful piece of Canadiana that will be enjoyed by both law enforcement personnel and civilians alike and will leave readers with an incredible appreciation for the men and women on our frontlines. In Search Of Adventure ~ 70 Years of The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Newfoundland and Labrador is a Flanker Press publication. 

Man and Dog ~ Through The Newfoundland Wilderness by Justin Barbour

In April 2017, 29 year old Justin Barbour and his 9 month old Cape Shore water dog, Saku, set out on an island expedition like no other. Traversing and portaging almost 700 kilometers through the wilderness of Newfoundland on a west to east adventure, the  pair learned to survive on meager amounts of food, living off the land and surviving every type of condition imaginable. If this was not a true test of survival, surly the physical and mental prowess demonstrated from minimal human contact and 17 kilometer days would be. However, this was more than just an extreme expedition or a test of will; this was a personal and spiritual journey of interdependence, respect and love between a man, his dog, and the land they travelled.  Man and Dog ~ Through The Newfoundland Wilderness is the modern quintessential Newfoundland adventure the likes that hasn't been seen since the early explorers of the late 19th century.

Breaking through the riverside bush, I laid eyes on what awaited us. Prying the green fir boughs from my face, I spied open water and precarious ice on Burnt Pond River. Much of what was in my view was still frozen, but out toward a narrow channel, squeezed together by two points of land, was a clear opening across. With the snow now coming down sideways, I had to get out there for a closer inspection. I was reluctant to ease out on the disintegrating ice, but there wasn't much choice. Saku stayed close. It was black in places, and what looked to be dead standing trees in the cove had no doubt created more deadly air pockets. To our left a small stream trickled into the river, and we hopped over its four foot width and continued on the other side toward the channel, which was about 200 yards away.

                                                                                                                                        ~ Day 14

Driven by a love of sport and fitness, Justin Barbour's thirst for exploration and adventure was initially inspired by a canoe trip undertaken as part of a Physical Education degree at Memorial University. Fueled by a fascination with nature, this course stirred a "thirst for exploration and adventure" and, as Barbour himself has said, "rekindled my passion to move through the great outdoors by my own power and with everything I needed to survive within reach." Man and Dog is an easy to read memoir. Written in a conversational style, readers will feel as though they are camped out with Barbour, sharing a fire or a meal of trout soup. This book intimately details the day by day highs and lows, moments of euphoria and challenges experienced by Justin and Saku. From navigating the tuckamore of Shoe Hills to bushwhacking through the backcountry; traversing through the Long Range Mountains during a lingering winter to staring death in the face while rafting  down Salmon Arm; Barbour chronicles his thoughts and feelings and daily life or death choices  made during the four stages of his expedition. Always positive, readers will be impressed by Barbour's knowledge, passion, tenacity and meticulous attention to detail.  Though there were many mistakes made along the way, Barbour is quick to recognize them and even quicker to learn from them. Most impressive, however, are the thoughtful realizations, introspective comments and spiritual awakening that is evident throughout the entire memoir, gleaned from Barbour's pushed-to-the-brink experiences. 

The rush was still pulsing through my body. All I wanted to do was hold Saku, relax with him, and curl into a ball by the fire. So many thoughts ran through my head. Was I pushing things too hard? Maybe I had gotten complacent. Up to this point in my four years of wilderness travel, even after travelling hundreds of kilometers through some tricky terrains, I had yet to have any life threatening ordeals.......Now I had gotten my first real taste of nature's power and realized the Hydro rivers around here were not to be messed with. I had felt invincible living this life in the wild, but not anymore, not out here.....You learn by doing, and the opportunity, although a bit out of my skill range, was there. It was a small window, and I had every right to go after it. That's the thrill I chase. 

                                                                                                                                   ~ Day 35

Man and Dog ~ Through The Newfoundland Wilderness is a book for all to enjoy! Readers, whether nature lovers or city dwellers, will get to live the journey first-hand from the comfort of their own home and will, no doubt , be left to contemplate what their own big adventure will be. Boil the kettle and prepare to enjoy a mug up in the big open land. You will be left inspired! Man and Dog is a Flanker Press publication.