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  • About
    • Calendar
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  • Blog
  • Books
    • Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold
    • The Thing with Feathers
    • Sunsets in Britt
    • The Writing Spiral
    • Once Upon a Rocking Chair: A Play
    • From the Cottage Porch
  • Mentorship
    • Creativity Spiral Series
    • Classes and Workshops
  • Podcast
  • Poet Laureate
    • Community eChapbooks
    • Weekly Poetry Present
      • Archive of Poets
    • Monthly Poetry Column
    • Poetry for Occasions
    • Poet Laureate Gallery
  • Stories of Place
    • Georgian Bay
    • Michilimackinac
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  • Georgian Bay

    Living in a Lighthouse

    March 11, 2012 /

    From 1885 to 1946 Lamondins lived and worked at Gereaux Island Lighthouse on Georgian Bay, Ontario.  One question that drives my family history research is why did my ancestors choose to live at the lighthouse?

    Read More

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jessicaoutram
This is my Métis grandfather's baptismal certific This is my Métis grandfather's baptismal certificate. He went through life with two names. The church recorded both. Normandin was his Métis name and Lamondin was his French name. His children would be the first generation to have one name: Lamondin. 'Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold' shares some of this history... #MétisHistory #BerniceandtheGeorgianBayGold #middlegrade #Fridayreads #novel
This morning I was looking up my book for someone This morning I was looking up my book for someone to see if it is in stock in Peterborough at Chapters (and it is)... and I was delighted to see that it's been selected as a Staff Pick! Thanks for sharing in the excitement with me.
It's nice to have time to write in the early morni It's nice to have time to write in the early mornings. I look out at the garden as the sun rises, sip my coffee, and reflect. I'm working on rewriting some old blog posts with new thoughts, updating one at a time. So much has changed in a few years, and I am grateful. https://www.jessicaoutram.com/post/time-for-a-change #5amwritersclub #mondaymotivation #change #amwriting #surrender #writerslife #writingcommunity
Delighted to find red roses growing in the front g Delighted to find red roses growing in the front garden. Any tips for how to care for them?
My great-grandfather (Louis) received this letter My great-grandfather (Louis) received this letter when he became a lighthouse keeper in 1901, including the same salary as his father (Joseph) received. $375 per year. 'Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold' shares some of the joys and challenges of this life. #GeorgianBay #GereauxIslandLighthouse #FridayReads
Tuesday morning brunch in the backyard. Tuesday morning brunch in the backyard.
Now that I feel more settled into my new home, it' Now that I feel more settled into my new home, it's time to build a new creative life here. Part of my process is to read, write, and reflect. This week I've been thinking about creative energy and how it can bring so much light into our lives. Like any other relationship, it requires time and attention. (Picture of the Otonabee River, steps from my yard.) https://www.jessicaoutram.com/post/bring-light-into-your-life-through-creative-energy #creativelife #creativespirit #writerslife #mondaymotivation
This is the painting that inspired the character o This is the painting that inspired the character of Tom Thomson in ‘Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold.’
Delighted by this new review by the Historical Nov Delighted by this new review by the Historical Novel Society of 'Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold.' https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/bernice-and-the-georgian-bay-gold/ #MiddleGrade #NewBook #TBR #SecondStoryPress #MétisHistory #BerniceAndTheGeorgianBayGold #Adventure #GeorgianBay #GereauxIslandLighthouse #HistoricalNovel
The day I finished writing 'Bernice and the Georgi The day I finished writing 'Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold,' I went for a walk. A few blocks from home on the ground was a sewing needle. For those who have read the book, do you think this was a sign? #MiddleGrade #NewBook #TBR #SecondStoryPress #MétisHistory #BerniceAndTheGeorgianBayGold #Adventure #GeorgianBay #GereauxIslandLighthouse
One of Bernice and her sister's chores was to go i One of Bernice and her sister's chores was to go into the bushes on the islands of Georgian Bay and fill baskets with blueberries. Their baskets didn't look like this, but they would certainly need to pick this many berries to help feed their family. How long would it take to find and pick this many blueberries in the wild? #MiddleGrade #NewBook #TBR #SecondStoryPress #MétisHistory #BerniceAndTheGeorgianBayGold #Adventure #GeorgianBay #GereauxIslandLighthouse
In our last episode, we talked about a summer with In our last episode, we talked about a summer with Rilke? How is your summer going? Have you had a chance to read Letters to a Young Poet? https://thehummingbirdpodcast.com/ #amplifyBTPMPODS #hummingbirdenergy #amwriting #writers #writingcommunity #spirit #poetry #poets #podcast #writingjourney
Each summer we drive past Lamondin Point many time Each summer we drive past Lamondin Point many times (named after my great-Grandpa Louis Lamondin). He inspired the father character in 'Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold.' He was the lightkeeper for 29 years! His dad, Joseph, piloted the first ship into the Britt harbour. Being on the water among these islands feels like home to me. Have you had a chance to read the book yet? Is there something you're curious about? #MiddleGrade #NewBook #TBR #SecondStoryPress #MétisHistory #BerniceAndTheGeorgianBayGold #Adventure #GeorgianBay #GereauxIslandLighthouse
Moving to a new house means trying new things. Had Moving to a new house means trying new things. Had fun putting this together today. Used a power screwdriver for the first time. I had no idea that they were so easy to use and made small projects like this a breeze!
Here is what it looks like traveling by boat to Ge Here is what it looks like traveling by boat to Gereaux Island Lighthouse (featured in Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold). What a workout it must be to row in these deep waters! #MiddleGrade #NewBook #TBR #SecondStoryPress #MétisHistory #BerniceAndTheGeorgianBayGold #Adventure #GeorgianBay #GereauxIslandLighthouse
Bernice and her family (including my grandpa) didn Bernice and her family (including my grandpa) didn't spend many winters at the lighthouse. They stayed in another house in town. Can you imagine how lonely it would be to live at a lighthouse in the winter with everything frozen around you and no boats passing by? #MiddleGrade #NewBook #TBR #SecondStoryPress #MétisHistory #BerniceAndTheGeorgianBayGold #Adventure #GeorgianBay #GereauxIslandLighthouse
Bernice and her sister make houses out of moss on Bernice and her sister make houses out of moss on the granite of Georgian Bay in 'Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold.' This is what the moss looks like... How would you make a house with this? #MiddleGrade #NewBook #TBR #SecondStoryPress #MétisHistory #BerniceAndTheGeorgianBayGold #Adventure #GeorgianBay #GereauxIslandLighthouse
Our family called the tall house 'the house on the Our family called the tall house 'the house on the point.' It's where they lived most of the winters (instead of at the lighthouse). The logging industry impacted everyone at that time. It was one of the biggest logging towns in Canada. Can you imagine paddling here? #MiddleGrade #TBR #SecondStoryPress #FeministReads #CurrentlyReading #MétisHistory #BerniceAndTheGeorgianBayGold #Adventure #GeorgianBay #GereauxIslandLighthouse #BrittOntario
I grew up hearing stories of the swinging bridge i I grew up hearing stories of the swinging bridge in Britt that stretched across the Still River. For those reading 'Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold,' this is what it looked like! #MiddleGrade #TBR #SecondStoryPress #FeministReads #CurrentlyReading #MétisHistory #BerniceAndTheGeorgianBayGold #Adventure #GeorgianBay #GereauxIslandLighthouse #BrittOntario
This beautiful book written by my podcast co-host This beautiful book written by my podcast co-host @catgrahampoet arrived in the mail today! What an accomplishment to have a collection of New & Selected. And, what a stunning cover. Book looks great, feels great to hold. Looking forward to diving in! Congratulations, Catherine!
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Sunshine in a Jar

1 month ago

Sunshine in a Jar
So delighted to see ‘Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold’ included here!New books for Children, Teens and Young Adults, from your favourite bestselling Indigenous authors and illustrators!*Apli' kmuj's Journey (Pre-Order for Sept 25/23). Written and illustrated by Braelyn Cyr, a status member of the Listuguj Mi'kmaq band.*Auntie's Rez Surprise (Pre-Order for Sept 19/23). Author Heather O'Watch is a Nakota and Nehiyaw woman from Okanese First Nation, located in Treaty 4 Territory. The illustrator is Ellie Arscott.*Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior (Pre-Order for Sept 19/23). From New York Times bestselling picture book author Carole Lindstrom and illustrator Bridget George comes Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior, an inspiring picture book biography about indigenous water warriors Autumn Peltier and Josephine Mandamin - with a forward from Autumn Peltier herself.*Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold (2023). Jessica Outram is a citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario. "A compelling novel about an adventurous girl who finds that the real gold on Georgian Bay is right where she lives." — Parry Sound North Star, June 2023*Maggie Lou, Firefox (Pre-Order for Oct 3/23). Arnolda Dufour Bowes is a Métis writer. She is the author of 20.12 m: A Short Story Collection of a Life Lived as a Road Allowance Métis, which won the Danuta Gleed Literary Award and the High Plains Book Award. Illustrated by Karlene Harvey an illustrator and writer who lives on the unceded and ancestral home territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tseil-Waututh people. *Nish: North and South (Pre-Order for Sept 05/23). The first book in Isabelle Picard’s bestselling coming-of-age series about Innu twins, Léon and Éloïse.*Tyowennatyerénhton First Words. Tyowennatyerénhton - First Words is an introductory Kanyen’kéha (Mohawk)/English vocabulary book celebrating the language, land, and culture of the Mohawk people. An audio download is included to support word pronunciation. Gail Brant-Terry (Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory) is an educator with over 34 years experience. Dianne Sedore-McCoy is an educator with over 25 years experience.Please visit our online catalogue for more: goodminds.com/collections/2023-new-releases ... See MoreSee Less

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Sunshine in a Jar

1 month ago

Sunshine in a Jar
This is my Métis grandfather's baptismal certificate. He went through life with two names. The church recorded both. Normandin was his Métis name and Lamondin was his French name. His children would be the first generation to have one name: Lamondin. 'Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold' shares some of this history...#MétisHistory #BerniceandtheGeorgianBayGold #middlegrade #Fridayreads #novel ... See MoreSee Less

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