Saturday's at the Fort (Macleod,Home of the NWMP)

NEWS RELEASE

01 July 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lethbridge Author at Fort Macleod’s Saturdays at the Fort

Lethbridge, Alberta -- Jane Harris Zsovan (who writes under the name of Jane Harris) is pleased to share her love of Alberta’s history with visitors to Saturdays at the Fort, at the Fort Museum of the Northwest Mounted Police in Fort Macleod, Alberta this summer.

She will sign copies of Stars Appearing: The Galts’ Vision of Canada (2006), at two Saturdays at the Fort: The first runs this Saturday, July 05, from 11:00am to 4:00 pm.

She will make a second Saturdays at the Fort appearance, August 16, 2008, 11a.m.to4:00p.m.

Harris Zsovan is delighted to be part of this program of art, book signings and events in one of Alberta’s most historic towns. “Fort Macleod played a significant role in the development of the Canadian identity. The image of Canada (in the minds of Europeans, Americans, and even Canadians themselves) was influenced greatly by images of Fort Macleod, The Northwest Mounted Police, and The District of Alberta, N.W.T,” says Harris Zsovan.

Stars Appearing: The Galts’ Vision of Canada is the first book in the Vision of Canada Series, which uncovers Canada's role in inspiring the reformation of the world's most powerful 19th Century empire (The British Empire) into a federation of democracies. Jane is currently researching the people who made up Alberta society when The Marquis of Lorne, Governor General of Canada, visited Fort Macleod, N.W.T. in 1881; Alberta’s role in the 19th century Social Reform Movement, and the part Grand Valley, Ontario settlers played in pioneering communities in central Alberta.

Harris Zsovan’s articles have appeared in more than a dozen publications including Alberta Views, Alberta Venture, Award, The National Post, Western Standard, Microsoft Home Magazine, The Anglican Planet, Christian Week, Maranatha News and Faith Today.

In April 2008, Harris Zsovan contributed ”Jessie’s Generation: Canada’s Firebrands of Mercy and Justice” to Hot Apple Cider: Stories to Warm the Soul & Stir the Heart, an anthology of Canadian writers. The chapter tells one strand of the story Harris Zsovan hopes to capture fully in future books and articles: the social reform movement to Canada’s poor that began well before confederation.


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For Information about Jane Harris Zsovan’s writing contact:
Jane Harris Zsovan
Email: janehz@telus.net
Blog: www.visionofcanada.blogspot.com

For Information about Saturdays at the Fort contact:
Kim Driscoll,The Fort-Museum of the NWMP
Fort Macleod, Alberta T0L 0Z0
Phone: 403 553 4703 Toll Free: 1-866-273-6841
Website: http://www.nwmpmuseum.com/

The Forgotten Vision of the Red Coat Trail

As I sat in the chapel at the Fort Museum in Fort Macleod on Canada Day, I felt like I was capturing a little of the vision that inspired our ancestors to create a nation out of wilderness. I realized that vision wasn't about furs, or imperialism, or even about making money.

The British subjects who created Canada were immersed in a culture that valued justice, compassion and grace more than making money. They viewed prosperity as the result of moral uprightness and a disiplined life. Staying true to their values mattered. The good fortune that might flow from adhering to these values was of secondary importance.

Many settlers, policeman, teachers, and doctors, who came to the plains to alleviate suffering and injustice, died with only a few dollars to their names. Even Justice James Macleod, the hero of the NWMP, died with only $8.00 to his name. It's popular to denounce the coming of the whites to the Canadian prairie and to point out evidence of greed, injustices and the inequality that still exists today.

But those injustices exist because we allow them to exist. And we forget the promises previous generations made to live in harmony and and justice.

The North West Mounted Police were not perfect. Nor was the man who named this province, Governor General Marquis of Lorne. Or John A. Macdonald. Or George Etienne Cartier. Or Louis Riel for that matter. They did the best with what they had. It is our turn to rediscover those ideals and make their vision a reality.

We are bound by honour to pick up their torch and finish their work.