Pat Carney will speak at the Museum at Campbell River this weekend about her new book.
Carney is well known across Canada for her illustrious political career. Former Member of Parliament, cabinet minister, and senator, she was the first woman appointed as Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, Minister of International Trade, and President of Treasury Board in the cabinet of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. A Progressive Conservative, she is a fierce supporter of a woman’s right to choose, and voted against the abortion law proposed by her successor. She has worked tirelessly to protect and preserve Canada’s lighthouses and maritime history, and has been an advocate for arthritis research in Canada for more than two decades.
Since her retirement from politics in 2008, though, Carney has been focusing more on an old passion – writing. In addition to several letters to the editor published in the Vancouver Sun, Carney has been working on her debut short story collection, On Island: Life Among the Coast Dwellers, which follows the rhythms of day-to-day life in coastal B.C. Featuring a revolving cast of characters instantly recognizable to small-community life, Carney’s witty and perceptive voice describes how the islanders weather the storms of coastal life while navigating the everyday dramas.
Drawing from her observations of the personalities and problems she’s encountered over five decades of living on an island, Carney simultaneously evokes the romantic landscape of the British Columbia coast and addresses the less-idyllic moments: power outages, winter storms, and isolation.
Carney will be talking about her new book at the Museum at Campbell River this Saturday, May 13, at 2 p.m. The public is invited to come to this free event. Books will be available for purchase through the Museum Shop. For more information or to register call 250-287-3103.