whitehorse

As I’m approaching an inevitable embrace of Canada (oh, sweet mystery of life at last I’ve found you!) I’m aware that I have very little knowledge of the Canadian literary tradition. A poor citizen is one who does not know his country’s stories. It is how we speak to one another–a cultural physiography and language that connects Canadians together. How can I become a citizen without learning this cultural language? I thought a more creative way would be for Yukoners to suggest Canadian books that meant something to them–then it would be more personal.

So I went on CBC with Dave White and we came up with a plan for book suggestions–a reading list of sorts–so that I could become more literate about Canada. We are getting great results, but please call in to Dave and suggest more books. I’d like to build a canon, of sorts, of Yukon-suggested Canadian literature. Right now I’m looking mostly for fiction, poetry and drama—but creative nonfiction would be appropriate too. I built a blog to read and discuss this literature. It’s called “A Year of Canadian Reading” and you can follow the link to see what I’m reading, what I’m up to, and what I thought about books you suggested. Follow along if you like. Read them with me. I want to get an idea about Canada from its literature. I want to understand you through your stories.

I don’t have any intention of stopping reading after the Year is over—but an actual year is a start. I’ve read some Canadian Literature–Mordecai Richler, Al Purdy, Tomson Highway, Alistair MacLeod, Alice Munro, Margaret Atwood and Michael Ondaatje (as well as some great science fiction and fantasy). But I’m aiming for a deeper understanding of Canada through breadth and depth of your suggestions.

Let me know if you want to play. Follow these links if you want to: SUGGEST A BOOK FOR ME, or find out WHAT I’M GOING TO READ.

A perfect day, and I’ve had them before, almost always contains a visit to Baked Café. Some days I just come to sit on the black couches and look out the windows at Whitehorse going by. Sometimes I bring a book to read. Sometimes I plan official meetings there. Other times I arrange to meet my friends. Often, I run into them there unexpectedly. Baked Café is a community hub, so naturally it’s a great venue for meeting. There’s a lot of ambience in the wide room, and a lot of ambient noise so that you can speak frankly without being overheard. Music on the radio. People standing around talking. It’s comfortable, and often crowded, but not in a jam-packed way, but more like having your best friends all over at your place, happy. It’s probably the largest coffeeshop that Whitehorse has.

At the corner of First and Main, Baked Café serves a large range of specialty coffees and teas, cold drinks, as well as a wide repetoire of scones and pastries. You cannot pass up a scone that is bigger than your hand. It is a meal. Cranberry Coconut, Cranberry Chocolate Chip, Blueberry Almond or Raspberry Walnut–they each come in three kinds: white, wheat and spelt. Awesome soups–my favorites are any of their hearty chowders and their Tomato Basil with or without chicken. They also serve sandwiches, beef pies, quiches, wraps, salads, cookies, and in the summer, several flavors of gelato. There is something for everyone. It is a hot tourist spot in the summer, and just a hop away from the Whitehorse Trolley across the street. Kids love it. And it’s close to everything on Main Street–a place to begin your perfect day of shopping and touring around. It’s a block away from the Museum, down the street from the Westmark, next to the river and the Whitepass Yukon Railway building.