June produced most of these pieces during a writing course she took in Mahone Bay in 2012. We hoped they would be the beginning of many more, as they were the seeds of the memoirs she had hoped to write.
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By June This image is of a retouched original photo from the 1890s. William McKenzie was a farmer-fisherman, as were most people with farms right along the coast. His farm was on the Cavendish Bluffs, P.E.I., very close to where … Continue reading
Shortly after World War 2 started in 1939, Agricultural workers for the P.E.I. government visited farmers and said, “Try this new product, D.D.T. on your crops. It will increase your yield and give you more income, it is not harmful.” The … Continue reading
The Charlottetown Guardian was started before 1900 by a Scotsman named Mr. Burnett, and it was now run by his four sons. I had read the newspaper growing up so I was thrilled when my application for employment was accepted. … Continue reading
My brother was three years older than me. I had twin sisters who were two years younger. My mother was a small, gentle woman. She had read widely, travelled, lived in New York, and written poetry. My father received brutal … Continue reading
The little house at the Crossroads was the home of my great-grandfather, Alexander McKenzie, who was a boot and shoe maker, and employed four men; which was a large business for a country area in P.E.I. The house was on … Continue reading
The phone rings. Sunday. My sister Shirley. “June, I have some bad news, there has been an accident.” ‘An accident, someone hurt?’ “Helen. She and George and Scott in the car.” ‘Are they all hurt?’ “No, just Helen.” ‘Merciful God. … Continue reading