Interested in local history? Curious to explore new and old books alike? Wanting to dive into social, political and environmental topics of the past and present? Looking for a chance to have dynamic conversations with like-minded locals? Then The Stories of Canmore Book Club is for you!
By joining the The Stories of Canmore Book Club, you will be able to purchase the book of the month for 25% off in the Museum gift shop, virtually meet local writers and guest speakers, and have the chance to win monthly prizes.
In April we will be joined by Dr. Adriana Davies to discuss her new book From Sojourners to Citizens: Alberta’s Italian History. This book brings to life the untold story of Italian immigrants in Alberta from the 1880s to the present. It places them in the narrative of province building from work on railways, mines and other industries to breaking the land for agriculture. Oral history excerpts allow the men, women and children to speak for themselves. What emerges is an unquenchable desire to make good, and overcome intolerable working conditions and discrimination, which culminated with enemy alien designation and internment during the Second World War. The book also provides an exploration of the impact of Government of Canada’s multicultural policy on the process of assimilation for the post-war influx of immigrants. It offers a prototype of an immigrant community’s movement from marginalization to the mainstream.
Throughout April we will be joined by Dr. Davies for deep dives into the research process and coal mining.