| October
12, 2004
Contact: Dave Stephen Literary anthology mines rich stories of Fraser ValleyThe Fraser Valley is a land of contrast and variety in its cultures, religions, landscapes, and history. That mosaic is reflected in a new literary anthology to be launched Thursday, October 21, at a special reception starting at 7 pm at the University College of the Fraser Valley. The public is invited to attend the launch and meet the authors. Down in the Valley is an anthology celebrating the stories of the Fraser Valley, as told in poetry, fiction, and memoir by 38 writers from a variety of backgrounds, but all with a Valley connection. It is published by Ekstasis Editions from Victoria, with financial support from UCFV as part of the university’s 30th anniversary commemoration. The book will be available at the UCFV bookstore and other Fraser Valley booksellers.
Edited by UCFV English professor Trevor Carolan, the book was inspired by the successful Literary Café presented annually by UCFV Continuing Studies at the Harrison Festival of the Arts. “It really is a very good festival event and I was aware of a number of other writers who were very strong,” Carolan says. “I thought about how few people outside the Valley know these writers or the depth of talent that’s out here. I keep bumping into strong writers from throughout the area and it’s time they were published and publicized more widely.” Contributors include UCFV students, community elders, UCFV employees, and independent Fraser Valley writers. Students and recent students include Janet Vickers, Ranbir Banwait Martin Vanwoudenberg, Kristine Archie, and Cameron Little. UCFV faculty and staff contributors include John Carroll, Rose Morrison, Vicki Grieve, Wendy Burton, Ron Dart, Rick Mawson, Nola Accili, and Trevor Carolan. In addition, local contributors Marion Quednau, Elsie K. Neufeld, Crispin Elsted and Kuldip Gill have all been associated with the university as instructors in various programs and continuing studies courses. Dr. Andreas Schroeder, the longtime valley Mennonite writer, is a UCFV honorary doctorate holder. The strong heritage component is mostly from Fraser Valley seniors who write to remind younger readers (and old memory hounds) about what the valley was like back in older days. Among these are: Hilda Harder, Donald White, May La Chance, Leslie Bryant, Hilda Born, and Grace Lescheid. Their special contribution is acknowledged in the preface by UCFV president Skip Bassford. “There's some really striking work from these community elders,” noted Carolan. There's also a large group of independent valley area writers who are making their way in the literary world and who are enthused about being included in an anthology which will be acquired by libraries across the country. These writers include: J.M. Bridgeman, Trudi Jarvis and Peggy Sue Neufeld (all from Hope); Douglas Isaac (Mount Lehman); Robert Martens, Alvin G. Ens, Ranbir Banwait, Walter Neufeld (Abbotsford); David Bennett (Aldergrove); Michael Aird (White Rock); Lois Peterson (Surrey); and Shelley Haggard (Mission); Al Rempel and Julie Van Gorder are longtime valley writers who now live away. Some of the topics addressed in the anthology are: In prose: growing up Mennonite, tugboats and logging, farming and faith, the rugged intercultural history of the Fort Langley trading post, the Great Flood of 1948, working in agriculture, dairying and raising livestock in Rosedale, immigrant hardships after the second world war, domestic rural life, teaching in small communities, and piece on contemporary Fraser Valley life. In poetry: hip ideas, even within rural bohemia; malls, family, women talk; the power of landscape and sacred imagery; death and memory; love, endurance, and sacrifice; high school football; challenges within Punjabi culture; encountering divine mystery; memories of old days in Ridgedale. Carolan is extremely excited to have brought together such a range of voices from the Valley. “It's been quite an exhilarating ride trying to pull this whole thing off,” he said. “Did anyone realize we even had that many writers working away out here? This anthology brings together a real Valley mosaic: nationally-recognized writers like Marion Quednau, Crispin Elsted, Andreas Schroeder, and Kuldip Gill; plus community elders, fresh-faced up-and-comers, Indo-Canadians, Native and Metis, Mennonites, Dutch, and ethnic Canadians of all different immigrant backgrounds.” Many of the writers will be in attendance at the Down in the Valley book launch on Thursday, Oct 21, starting at 7:30 pm in the University House on the UCFV Abbotsford campus. Copies will be available for purchase. Admission to the book launch is free; parking at UCFV is $1. University House is located close to McKenzie Road at the east side of the UCFV Abbotsford campus. Here is a home-community breakdown of UCFV-linked contributors to Down in the Valley:
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