How much would you crave reading if your books took months to arrive? Did you know that "The Frantic Atlantic" and its ocean liners were an important part of Canada-UK literary exchange in the early 20th century? Kings College London says, "Books and periodicals were exported via sea routes, lent among passengers or through ships' libraries, and even bought and sold on board. Many authors and journalists travelled on the Atlantic, finding inspiration for their writing in these journeys." Professor Faye Hammill (University of Glasgow) will share more about this, and the reading and writing practices which transatlantic liners enabled, when she speaks at Kings College London in early December.

The Canada-UK Foundation is delighted to collaborate with the British Museum on their exhibition "Arctic: culture and climate" now on view. We are pleased to make available a small number of tickets for what the British Museum bills as a "free family private view inside the Citi exhibition Arctic: culture and climate" on October 28. We are also delighted that the British Museum will provide each attendee with a free craft goodie bag.

This all takes place next Wednesday morning October 28, so don't delay as free tickets are limited. On this morning, we will be showcasing the Arctic Alive map (seen below), a gigantic circumpolar map designed to provide a stimulating look at the Arctic region in an interactive manner. Sure to engage children and adults alike, Arctic Alive has now been seen by more than 70,000 UK school children who have learned about the Canadian Arctic.

Warmest thanks to the British Museum for making these complementary tickets available to our readers and Canadian community. Please register via the Foundation or the British Museum.

For more information on the British Museum’s Arctic exhibition, click here, and for more information about the Canada-UK Foundation’s Arctic Alive map please visit our dedicated website.

Photo of E. Pauline Johnson, ca. 1895. Courtesy Library and Archives Canada

On the occasion of Women's History Month, we took a closer look at author E. Pauline Johnson. We were fascinated with her for so many reasons, most notably the changing public perceptions of her and her work throughout her life and history.

E. Pauline Johnson was born on the Six Nations reserve, near Brantford Ontario, and spend her life (1861-1913) in performance and literature. In her early education, largely at home owing to poor health, and in later work, Johnson drew on the dual heritage of an English-born mother and her father, a Mohawk nations Chief. In performance, Johnson often went by her Mohawk stage name Tekahionwake, meaning literally 'double-life' or 'double wampum'.
Her first work, The White Wampum, was published in 1895 in London, England, and was followed by perhaps hundreds of articles, books, and performances. She was recognised for her dramatic intensity in performance and her skill in using the construction and style of English poetry to convey Indigenous stories and beliefs. Through her life, and through the lens of historical analysis, she was alternately criticised and lauded - criticised for the perception that she had commercialised her Indigenous roots, and lauded for creating greater awareness of prevailing conditions.

Today, through the lens of history, she is largely embraced as an early feminist and advocate for both women and Indigenous people. Her work and legacy is honoured by a monument in Vancouver's Stanley Park while her Six Nations home, Chiefswood, is recognised as a National Historic Site and she herself is recognised by the Government of Canada as one of only 500 Persons of National Historic Significance. She was one of 12 Canadian women longlisted to be featured on the vertical $10 banknote in 2016. Join us next week for a look at some of the other 12 notable Canadian women and please do download some of E. Pauline Johnson's work today.

In the spotlight this week is Steven Lowe, Board Chair at our sister charity, The Canada Memorial Foundation and Treasurer for the Canada-UK Foundation. Steven is a senior executive in the banking industry, currently at the fin-tech Tradewind Markets. Prior to joining Tradewinds, Steve was Global Co-head of Scotiabank's base and precious metals business, and had responsibilities including marketing and sales growth as well as developing and implementing the business strategy of ScotiaMocatta’s European operation.

Steven earned his Bachelor of Commerce, with honors, at Queen’s University. He went on to the University of Western Ontario, where he completed his Masters in Business Administration. Steven qualified with the FSA as a futures and options representative and became a fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute. He has served as a Director and Trustee on numerous notable Boards including Scotiabank Europe Plc, the London Bullion Market Association and the Futures and Options Association. Steven and his wife Kate, a well-known London artist, have two children.

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