National Network for Equitable Library Service

A Tale of Two Divas tells the story of two Canadian singers who began as soloists in church choirs, but eventually moved on to spectacular careers. Soprano Jean Forsyth and contralto Edith Miller knew each other well. They met when nineteen-year-old Edith studied vocal music with Jean, almost twenty-five years her senior, in Winnipeg in 1894. After that their paths crisscrossed. This tale of two voices contrasts the ways in which Jean and Edith achieved success. Edith Miller's path was clear and committed.

From biographer Joe Mackintosh comes a second work of non-fiction, an inspirational and heart-rending story of an icon in the world of running. As an elite All-America runner from Oklahoma, Chris McCubbins won the gold medal in the 3000-metre steeplechase at Winnipeg’s 1967 Pan American Games attaining a time that placed him among the world’s best. After serving as a member of the U.S. Army’s Modern Pentathlon Team, Chris moved to Winnipeg in 1970 bringing his passion for running, his enthusiasm for coaching and his rigorous training regimes.

War, genocide, rape, looting, violence – the makings of nightmares is the daily reality for millions in contemporary Africa. To survive often means abandoning everything in a quick escape. If it were you, what would you do to survive? Could you flee? Could you leave behind belongings, memories, valuables, children, mothers, fathers? In 2012, more than a thousand refugees to Manitoba, most from Africa, did just that. They are the lucky ones.

Why do people join gangs? Once entrenched in a life of crime with its realities of incarceration, addiction, power, and money, is it possible to ever walk away? This triumphant collection of ten personal life stories from ex-gang members enlightens, surprises and inspires. These first-person accounts illuminate the harsh reality of living as a marginalized person, often neglected and in poverty. Unexpectedly, their stories share heartfelt commentary on topics such as peace, joy, forgiveness and hope.

Charlotte Ross (1843-1916) belonged to the first generation of women to practice medicine in Canada and was Manitoba’s first qualified woman doctor.

A biography of Dr. Elinor Black (1905-1982), the first Canadian woman to gain membership in the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in London.

« Le Canada a engendré plusieurs héros. La série de la bande dessinée historique Personnages illustres du Canada met de l'avant quelques-uns des Canadiens qui se sont illustrés sur la scène nationale et mondiale, en contribuant de manière importante aux arts, à la politique, à l'éducation, au développement d'une conscience humaniste, à la culture canadienne en général et à son évolution. »--

Playing the White Man's Games tells the extraordinary tales of Native American athletes who overcame tremendous obstacles to dominate the NFL, CFL, PGA, Olympic Games, NHL and professional wrestling.

The Caetanos move into a doomed house in the highway village of Happyland before an inevitable divorce pulls Cody’s parents in separate directions. His mom, Mindimooye, having discovered her Anishinaabe birth family and Sixties Scoop origin story, embarks on a series of fraught relationships and fresh starts. His dad, O Touro, a Portuguese immigrant and drifter, falls back into “big do, little think” behaviour, despite his best intentions. Left alone at the house in Happyland, Cody and his siblings must fend for themselves, even as the pipes burst and the lights go out.

"Hilarious and engrossing."--People * "Fearless candor and vulnerability."--Time * "Funny, emotional, and insightful." --Good Morning America * "Honest, addictive." --HelloGiggles * "Wonderful ... sparkle and intelligence." --Booklist * "Hilarious and eye-opening." --CNN * "Dazzling." --Publishers Weekly.