by Alexia Hannigan
PROVIDENCE BAY—The Mutchmor Peace Café and Gallery is always abuzz with artists, locals and authors and last Friday evening’s book launch was a testament to the creative and pioneering spirit of the people who call Manitoulin home. Julieanne Steedman’s latest book release, ‘A Field Guide to Manitoulin Island,’ is like the mama bear to her first book ‘Manitoulin Hiking Guide.’
“I wanted to have a practical, real guide for people that told of where to find the amazing restaurants, venues, shops and all the Ma and Pa businesses Island-wide,” said Ms. Steedman. “There wasn’t anything family friendly and up to date to tell people about all of the must see pitstops, places, that mentioned things like washrooms, hours, artisans, which tells of the unique people and places. It was a challenge because not all the places have regular business hours up here, we had to go back and forth to a lot of places before we were able to visit them all. We hit every restaurant we could, we ate our way across the Island. It was great.”
Surrounded by friends and family, Ms. Steedman greeted her guests and friends and delighted in the anecdotes and field notes that would eventually spark the second in a series of practical and very detailed Manitoulin maps and guides.
She proudly recalled how her parents always had busy workshops and creative endeavours and projects on the go when she was a kid. “They are both very inspired, creative people,” said Ms. Steedman. “I told my dad I needed some frames and a stand for my launch tonight and he just popped into his workshop and made this one,” she said, motioning to the stand and book display near the fruit skewers and cookies her mother baked for the event. Her mom Annette and son Aidan Olver and good friends looked on, beaming with pride as Ms. Steedman emotionally read the land treaties then a few deep breaths of elation and happiness, she welcomed her guests and introduced her latest book.
“This book took two years of writing, three years of wanting to write with a lot of starting and stopping and so really it took me five years to create,” said Ms. Steedman. She inscribed and signed copies of the book, shared a fun and challenging Island inspired meet and greet game. “I used to teach and so this evening wouldn’t be complete without a little bit of a challenge.”
The winners of the game sheet draw were Providence Bay Curling Club members Marc Lefebvre and his wife Jeanne. They won a pair of terrific door prizes with a copy of both of Ms. Steedman’s books and some maps of Manitoulin.
Ms. Steedman is already looking forward to future writing projects, noting there is a third Manitoulin inspired book. “Oh yes, I’ve already got something on the go, but I can’t say what, it’s a secret.”
