My First “Leith Peterson” WordPress Blog Post
Leith Peterson discusses what was involved in setting up her first WordPress blog and writing her first post.
My Intriguing Royce Relatives, Including Sarah, Marion and Jean Royce
A discussion of my intriguing Royce Relatives: “Frontier Lady” Sarah Royce (1819-1891) whose published account of life during the 1849 Gold Rush is still in print, Marion Royce (1901-1987) women’s rights advocate and Order of Canada recipient, and Jean Royce (1904-1982) the longest-serving registrar of Queen’s University (1933-1968).
Tomson Highway – His Memoir Permanent Astonishment and His Time in London, Ontario, Canada, 1975-1978
Cree writer and pianist Tomson Highway’s memoir Permanent Astonishment provides many insights into why he is a Canada Indigenous frontrunner. He successfully navigated his way through nine challenging years at a residential school. Then from 1975 to 1978, he got two B.A.’s from Western, coordinated the Festival of Native Music ’78 and became my friend.
Peterson Family Christmases, London, Ontario, Canada, 1952-1965
Peterson family Christmases from 1952 to 1965 were multi-faceted. My mother Jay Peterson (1920-1976) created unique Noel-inspired artwork. My brothers Stu and Chris (1954-2009) prepared Christmas cards at the Leith, Ontario print shop. I wrote an account of what London, Ontario’s Victoria Park Christmas displays were like in the mid-1960s.
Part Three of Three – John Baptist Askin (1788-1869) – The Askin Family’s Connection to Detroit, 1700s-1800s
London, Ontario Metis office holder, John Baptist Askin (1788-1869) hailed from Detroit, where his family were well-known citizens. His grandfather’s son-in-law Elijah Brush (1775-1813) advocated for the freedom of two Black slaves, Peter and Hannah Denison. The Denison’s daughter, Lisette Denison, helped establish a church in 1868 where people of any background could worship.
Part Two of Three – John Baptist Askin (1788-1869) – His Connection to My Eldon House Play
London, Ontario Metis office holder, John Baptist Askin (1788-1869) was discussed by the two characters in my Eldon House play. While Amelia Harris (1798-1882) considered Askin to be one of her “oldest friends,” John Wilson (1809-1869) did not share her enthusiasm.
Part One of Three – John Baptist Askin (1788-1869) – His Connection to London, Ontario, Canada
London, Ontario Metis office holder, John Baptist Askin (1788-1869) was a controversial figure in the Forest City. Journalist L N Bronson (1905-1994) described Askin in a 1968 London Free Press article as “Colonel to his friends, Indian to his detractors.”
Honouring My Cousin, RCAF Pilot Officer George Howard (Geordie) Fleming, Killed in Action, August 15, 1941
My mother’s cousin, RCAF Pilot Officer Geordie Fleming sadly lost his life when he was a bomber captain flying over enemy territory during the Second World War. I have assembled an 11″ x 17″ binder about his remarkable life. During a February 2020 London, Ontario Heritage Fair, I showed the binder to interested participants.
The Peterson Family Home at 283 Dufferin Avenue, London, Ontario, Canada, Early 1950s to Early 1970s
My post discusses Peterson family home life from the early 1950s to the early 1970s. It includes a poem my brother Don wrote about what life was like in our unusual household, e.g, my father’s “save the trees” campaign, and how “rock music coming from our house” gave “a headache to the sexton’s spouse.”
NWT Metis Leader Nick Sibbeston – Bringing About Positive Changes to the Catholic Church/Indigenous Spirituality Relationship
Metis leader Nick Sibbeston (1943-) was born in Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories. His memoir “You Will Wear a White Shirt” (2015) recounts his time as NWT premier 1987-1989. Since I worked with the Dene-Metis 1983-1987, I was there when he was premier. His views on Dene-cizing the Catholic church are of great interest to me.