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  • Home
  • About
    • Books
      • Book Events
      • Earth Day: Call for Submissions 2021
      • From the Cottage Porch: An Anthology
      • The Writing Spiral
      • Sunshine in a Jar Press
      • Other Publications
    • Reiki
    • Schools
  • Arts
    • Morning Letters
    • Paintings
    • Photography
    • Stage
      • Playwright
        • Hunt Week
        • Once Upon a Rocking Chair
      • Theatre and Music
  • Blog
  • Creativity Coaching
    • Creativity Workshop
      • Eight Learning Spirals for Writing and Life
        • Creativity & Process Spiral
        • Honesty & Courage Spiral
        • Solitude & Self-Awareness Spiral
        • Community & Connection Spiral
        • Ambition & Audience Spiral
        • Perseverance & Diligence Spiral
        • Curiosity & Adventure Spiral
        • Love & Energy Spiral
  • Home & Family
    • Family History Stories
    • Georgian Bay Roots
    • Memoirs
    • Northumberland
  • Poet Laureate
    • Poetry Present
      • Archive of Poets
      • Submit a Poem
    • Poetry Invites
    • Poetry for Occasions
    • Poet Laureate Gallery
  • Georgian Bay Roots

    Lessons from the Métis Sash

    December 14, 2020 /

    In November I was invited to participate in some sharing in our school board for our Indigenous People’s Awareness Month. I decided to begin with my family’s story, showing how they moved and adapted from the fur trade to today. I wanted to post the talk here so my family would be able to easily access it.

    The talk was delivered on Google Meet and then posted on the board’s YouTube channel alongside the videos of other guests so classes could go back and access it when needed.

    The sash is a symbol of the history of the Métis. I am proud of my heritage and look forward to continuing to learn more.

    Read More

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    January 22, 2012

    Did My Grandfather William Lamondin Meet Tom Thomson?

    January 15, 2012

    Growing Up In Gereaux Island Lighthouse in the Early 1900s

    August 17, 2015
  • Georgian Bay Roots

    To Stand on the Family Rock

    October 20, 2020 /

    I wanted to stand next to Gereaux Island Lighthouse, my feet on the rock my ancestors stood upon for so many years. I dreamed to see Georgian Bay from their perspective. What did Grandpa notice here growing up as a child? How can I see through his eyes? How can I learn about living on an island?

    This summer everything aligned beautifully. We finally docked our boat and took a self-directed tour of Gereaux Island. For over 60 years my ancestors lived on this land, fed from these waters. My Grandfather grew up living here. Today, my parents live about 1 km away.

    Vibrant energy. Time disappeared. The sun, breeze, and waves all sang the same song: welcome home. How can a place hold so much?

    The island felt bigger on shore than looking at it from the water. It was hot when I thought it would be cool. My feet ached to memorize each step, each crevice in the granite. My eyes squished to gaze through the walls of the house and tower to imagine life inside. Unfortunately, the building was closed. The Coast Guards told us everything has been stripped inside and it’s unsafe for people to enter.

    I took home a piece a granite to remember this visit, to hold onto the energy. We will visit again. This island has more lessons and stories for me to learn.

    Here are some pictures from the visit:

    Gereaux Island Lighthouse
    Read More

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    Living in a Lighthouse

    March 11, 2012
    purple sunset

    Sunrises and Sunsets on Georgian Bay

    August 24, 2019

    Growing Up In Gereaux Island Lighthouse in the Early 1900s

    August 17, 2015
  • Georgian Bay Roots

    My Métis Family Story: A Video for Students

    June 20, 2020 /

    June is Indigenous History Month in Canada. To acknowledge and celebrate with my students this year, I created a video to share my family’s story.

    Read More

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    Family History in Britt, Ontario

    March 16, 2019

    Did My Grandfather William Lamondin Meet Tom Thomson?

    January 15, 2012

    Lessons from the Métis Sash

    December 14, 2020
  • Georgian Bay Roots

    What the Bay Saw: Poetry and Photography Video

    October 26, 2019 /

    Even though we knew this project was happening, it caught us by surprise this summer to see the new wind farm at Henvey Inlet First Nation. I’ve spent my summers among these islands my whole life. Our family picnics were in this area. The photo at the top of this post is taken just across the water from the lighthouse where my grandfather lived as a child.

    Read More

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    Our Métis Family Story: Reclaiming Our Heritage

    October 27, 2016

    Seasons of Britt: A Celebration of Georgian Bay Landscape

    December 29, 2014

    Lessons from the Métis Sash

    December 14, 2020
  • Georgian Bay Roots

    More About Gereaux Island Lighthouse

    September 8, 2019 /

    About the Building

    In 1996, my Uncle Bob wrote to the government requesting information about Gereaux Island Lighthouse. He knew this was a meaningful place for my Aunt Pat: her father grew up in this lighthouse and her grandfather was keeper. The government sent him the plans for Great Duck Island Lighthouse on Lake Huron (built in 1876) stating it was very similar in construction. They also sent a few other spec sheets and an article. Uncle Bob used this information to have a replica built for her as a gift. Fast forward many years later and Aunt Pat and Uncle Bob have shared that gift with me. I have the replica in a special place among family photos in my home.

    According to an informal building report from the Federal Heritage Building Review Office, published in December 1990, Gereaux Island Lighthouse is a square tapered wooden lighttower with attached dwelling. This form had living space in both the attached dwelling and in the tower. This model was used especially in remote locations.

    Read More

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    Growing Up In Gereaux Island Lighthouse in the Early 1900s

    August 17, 2015

    Family History in Britt, Ontario

    March 16, 2019

    Tattoo Your Grandmother’s Name

    January 22, 2012
  • purple sunset
    Georgian Bay Roots

    Sunrises and Sunsets on Georgian Bay

    August 24, 2019 /

    I wish I lived with a view of the water. When I am at the cottage I spend each morning and each evening watching the colours change. In the mornings, the stillness spreads across smooth waters, birds break the silence with their songs, and misty fog rises up and then rolls out from the river into the bay. By 9:00 am the bay is alive, trees dance in the sparkling wind, and voices crowd out the birds.

    Read More

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    Dad Finds a Peavey Log Roller

    October 25, 2017

    Parry Sound Fire 33: July 2018

    July 30, 2018

    Grandpa’s Clock Remembers Radio in the 1950s

    January 18, 2012
  • Georgian Bay Roots

    Family History in Britt, Ontario

    March 16, 2019 /

    Our family history in Britt, Ontario, is rich and goes back to before the town had its name. Britt stretches down one road off Highway 69 along Still River to Lake Magnetewan and out to the mouth of Georgian Bay. 

    Mom worked on a population study when she was in high school (in the late 60s) and reported five hundred people lived there then. Approximately, three hundred people live in Britt now.

    Read More

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    Lighthouse Keeper Louis Lamondin Celebrates VJ Day in Byng Inlet, August 1945

    December 27, 2013

    What the Bay Saw: Poetry and Photography Video

    October 26, 2019

    Grandpa’s Clock Remembers Radio in the 1950s

    January 18, 2012
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Hello! I’m Jessica. This is my personal blog with a range of posts from stories about my ancestors to thoughts on life to ideas about creativity and community.

I help people find creative abundance by teaching how we can learn from everything around us, especially nature.

I hope that by visiting you will find something that’s helpful. I’m so glad you’re here.

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