Polar Explorer Wins a Gemini

I am so pleased to announce that the Polar Explorer documentary, on which I was proud to be credited as an Associate Producer, has won the Gemini Humanitarian Award. This incredible film, which the UN has designated environmental film of the year for 2011, has made a significant difference in the way climate change is viewed by UN countries. Filmmaker and explorer Mark Terry has proven, with his footage and comparisons of the Arctic and Antarctic, that the rate of polar ice melting is indeed accelerating.

Check out Mark's web site at:

http://www.polarexplorerfilm.com/

And for those you who still have not seen this amazing film, there are two screenings upcoming in the Durham region in November, one at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and an intimate evening screening at Ezra Annes Inn. I will post details of these screenings in future posts, or you can contact Mike Khashmanian at the Durham Theatre Festival at micheal@durhamtheatrefestival.com.

Congratulations to Mark Terry, and fellow producers and supporters for this important film, Dianne Schwalm, Jeff Steiner, Jordana Aarons, Mark Romoff, Shirley J. Mein Cox, Holly Lee, John Kelly, Sarah Haney, Mike Khashmanian and Bill Humber.

Ian Brown at WCDR September Breakfast!

The WCDR Breakfast Series is starting up on September 10, and the line-up this year is impressive!  Ian Brown, renowned non-fiction writer and author of The Boy in the Moon will be speaking in September.  We also have authors Wayson Choy and Suzanne Desrocher lined up for later in the 2011/12 season.  Check it out at: http://wcdr.ca/wcdr/  Hope to see you there!  You don't have to be a member to come out and have fun, and you don't have to be a writer to enjoy these events.

WCDR also has been busy this year forming partnerships and holding workshops designed to help emerging writers connect with a publisher.  The sessions with Robyn Read of Freehand Books in August proved inspirational to many, and the upcoming Algonkian Novel Writing conference at http://www.algonkian-niagara.com/ offers a $100 discount to WCDR members! 

There's lots more to see at the WCDR link above, including writing events, workshops, speaking engagements and other fun stuff, including Words of the Season on September 7 in Whitby!

Words of the Season Is Back!

Whitby is the site of the next Words of the Season, held by Mike Khashmanian of the Durham Theatre Festival, and sponsored by the Writers' Community of Durham Region.  I am delighted to be reading again on September 7, at Jimmy O'Toole's, 121 Brock Street South.  Hope to see you there!  Local writers and musicians will be offering you their words and entertainment, and if you wish to read yourself, contact Mike at DTF at michael@durhamtheatrefestival.com.  Looking forward to the event, and to seeing fellow writers and lovers of words and music!