At the launch party of her new book Revelstoke-Creating a Community Brown Bag History Volume II, Cathy English joked that everyone was just there for the cake.
But the event was a celebration of community, and the role English has played.
“I really want to express my thanks to you for what you have been doing in this community, congratulate you on this new book on behalf of the city, city staff and all the residents of Revelstoke, thank you for your dedication to history in the community,” said Gary Sulz, city councilor, on behalf of the City of Revelstoke.
English’s first Brown Bag History book was published in 2015, 12 years after English began the Brown Bag History lunch hour talks on Revelstoke History.
READ MORE: Brown Bag History: Cathy English Q & A
“The challenges of writing a book, especially a book about the history of Revelstoke, is what to include and what to leave out,” English said last week. “And I am waiting for the dozens of people who will come up to me and ask ‘Why didn’t you include x, y or z?’ and my stock answer is going to be ‘I’ll try to get that in the next book’.”
Revelstoke’s vast history will never be written down in its entirety, English said.
“The important thing is that all of us here and all who have gone before us and all who have yet to come are part of Revelstoke’s story. And through our lives and our interactions and our words we create this community and make it the incredible place that it is.”
| Cathy English got Gillian Hewitt a bouquet as a thank you for editing the book and helping her with the creative process. (Jocelyn Doll/Revelstoke Review) |
“I’m not even lying when I say this book wouldn’t have been written without Gillian (Hewitt),” English said. “As well as editing, she did a fair bit of hand holding this time because it seemed to be a more painful process this time than the last book.”
English presented Hewitt with a copy of the book, saying that she didn’t expect Hewitt to read it, as she already had around 12 times, but if she did, English hoped there would be no mistakes.
After the thank yous and the photos, English finished the celebration by reading the conclusion from her book:
“Revelstoke is a remarkable community. Many people put down deep roots here and become passionately involved in the life of the city. There is a joke that unless you were born in the meat department of Save on Foods, which was the location of the hospital until 1970, you are not a true local. And I jokingly call myself an honourary local because I have only been here since 1978, although I am married to a true local. All joking aside I believe that anyone who comes here and wants to make Revelstoke a better place in some way is a local. New Locals have been instrumental in groups such as the Illecillewaet Green Belt Society, the North Columbia Environmental Society, the Local Food Initiative, Revelstoke Multicultural Association, Aboriginal Friendship Society and many others. By accepting new ideas and creative energy, and combining that with a deep local knowledge of long time residents we can create an ever better community where everyone has a place.”
The book is available at the Revelstoke Museum & Archives.
@JDoll_Revy
jocelyn.doll@revelstokereview.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
