By Carol Shaben
Random House
Polar Winds
by Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail
Dundurn Canadian authors Carol Shaben and Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail are women whose recent books delve into the world of aviation, small planes and the pilots who often risk their lives to pursue their passion. Shaben’s debut book — Into the Abyss — is a national bestseller, a B.C. Book Prize finalist and winner of Canada’s Edna Staebler award for creative non-fiction. Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail is Edmonton’s Historian Laureate and author of two books — For the Love of Flying and Polar Winds: A Century of Flying in the North. Both writers will be teaming up for the Vancouver launch of Polar Winds on Dec. 2.
Q Why did you each decide to write these books?
A My interest arose after my dad survived a small plane crash in northern Canada. I was 22 and working overseas when I found out about it reading a local newspaper. When I returned home months later, I saw that the tragedy had transfigured my dad. He’d seen six people die, including friends and a close colleague, and had struggled, along with three fellow survivors to stay alive until rescue came. He forged extraordinary bonds with these men, including a convicted criminal and the rookie pilot. I sought out that pilot almost 20 years later and it was he who educated me about the pressures and risks young pilots faced — and continue to face — flying for smaller commuter airlines. These airlines are a lifeline for Canadians in isolated communities both in B.C. and in Canada’s north. I started to investigate the industry and was shocked to discover that small plane safety is still a concern more than a quarter century later. That investigation morphed into an award-winning article, and later, my book. Danielle came to write about aviation through her fascination with the North. Whereas I grew up in northern Alberta, she was raised in southern Ontario, so had a curiosity about this vast region and its people. With her first book, she learned how aviation is an amazing window into Canada’s history and has been connected to almost every development in the North, from resource exploration to public health and even residential schools. In her second book she really draws on her background in social and cultural history to shine a light on the lived experiences of northerners in the air and on the ground, especially using the often hidden voices from women, indigenous peoples and visible minorities.
Q Tell me about the event on Dec. 2 in Vancouver.
A We’re calling it Turbulent Tales: The Ups and Downs of Writing About Canadian Aviation. It’s going to be a relaxed evening of conversation between Danielle and I about our research and writing journeys, and on the theme of aviation. We bring different backgrounds to the table, which will be really interesting. I’m someone who left a career to return to school for an MFA in creative writing, and then pursue investigative journalism and writing. Danielle is a historian who started out as a creative writer and is now trying to marry the two in rigorously researched popular history. Neither of us are pilots, but both feel we’ve been adopted into the aviation community. We also each had personal connections that led us to write the books we did. The event is open to the public and will take place at the Billy Bishop Legion in Kitsilano. There will be free refreshments, beverages for sale and, of course, we’ll be selling and signing books.
Q You’ve both chosen to write about aviation. Any thoughts on the theme?
A I think Danielle and I would agree that its astonishing how much has changed and how little has changed in over a century of flight in both northern Canada and when flying with smaller carriers. Pilots have gone from no navigation aids — no maps, or beacons and imprecise human systems such as dead reckoning — to GPS. They’ve gone from freezing open-cockpit planes they could only fly by visual contact with the ground (and no way to call for help), to planes with the latest instruments, safety features and communications technologies. And yet, any pilot flying into Canada’s northern or remote reaches will tell you that people and airplanes are still at the mercy of the weather and human error — be it from inadequate risk analysis or poor pilot decision making — and that these factors can still have surprisingly tragic results.
Turbulent Tales: The Ups and Downs of Writing About Canadian Aviation will take place Tuesday, Dec. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Billy Bishop Royal Canadian Legion, 1407 Laburnum St. The event is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be provided. Drinks will be available for purchase. Space is limited, so please RSVP by Sunday at info@daniellemc.com.
- Source: http://www.thestarphoenix.com
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