I went to the Writers’ Trust annual Awards Night the other night. Very few members of the White Brigade were there (white-haired like me) and more and more new faces, eager and talented and NOISY. They greeted each nomination with screams and shouts , sounding more like teenagers at a high school football game than literati at a serious cultural event. But they knew more than I did. This year I knew only two of the nominees (personally) and I have not read any of the nominated books, though I do have a few in mind. Note: I am not an emerging writer, I am a submerging reader. The Trust party is always a nice party, one of the few these days with delicious hors d’oeuvres before the event and finger-licking, bite-sized desserts following, accompanied by generous (free!) wine.
This is all by way of introducing two people I met who are involved in a wonderful new project:
“Project Bookmark Canada
www.projectbookmarkcanada.ca
Project Bookmark Canada is a one-of-a-kind, Canadian cultural innovation. Though many countries have tangible tributes to literature and writers, no other initiative in the world creates a permanent series of site-specific literary exhibits using text from imagined stories that take place in real locations.”
I understood immediately without Google’s help because I regularly walk by one of my favourite sites—at the east entrance to the Bloor-Danforth bridge. The viaduct there is in Michael Ondaatje’s book, In the Skin of a Lion, and text inscribed on a concrete marker narrates the event that took place in that real location. Isn’t that a great idea?
My new acquaintances were delighted to learn that I was born and bred in Winnipeg. There’s a site, newly established I gather, related to the Winnipeg Strike (1917 I think). I’ll have to see it next time I’m there— maybe next April? Meanwhile. I’ll look it up, if they have a site map.
This is a delightful project and it presents a challenge to all of us —Canadians, anyway— something for you to think about. Do you have a favourite imaginary event that takes place in a real place? Tell Project Bookmark. Tell me, too.