Reading at Fort McMurray

The National Public Readings Program, administered by The Writers Union of Canada (TWUC), sponsored my Reading presenting Bear With Me, on May 6^th, 2024 at the library in Fort McMurray.

In the novel, I portrayed my visit to Fort McMurray in 2014, when it was at the peak of its prosperity.

I had been invited by VIP negotiator, Lisa Schaldemose because of the popularity of my previous novel City Wolves,  about people, wolves and dogs in the Klondike Gold Rush. Lisa’s friend, David Bouchier, the Indigenous entrepreneur who is still President of the hugely successful Bouchier Group, gave me an insider’s view of the industry and people of Fort McMurray as he generously flew me over the city and the oil sands in his small airplane.

Amongst its other themes and settings, Bear With Me gives a realistic and favourable portrayal of the people and industry of Fort McMurray and the epic struggles they have come through in the past decade.

It’s a timely portrayal, as Canada now plans corridors of energy going west and east from Fort McMurray to supply our nation and to reach the markets of Asia and Europe.