National Network for Equitable Library Service

"A tender, beautifully written essay collection that is about so much more than parenting a child with a disability." — Erin Pepler, author of Send Me Into The Woods Alone. A raw and intimate portrait of family, love, life, relationships, and disability parenting through the eyes of a mother to a daughter with Down syndrome. With the arrival of her daughter with Down syndrome, Adelle Purdham began unpacking a lifetime of her own ableism. In a society where people with disabilities remain largely invisible, what does it mean to parent such a child?

In this singular firsthand account, a former migrant worker reveals a disturbing system of exploitation at the heart of Canada's farm labour system. When Gabriel Allahdua applied to the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program in Canada, he thought he would be leaving his home in St. Lucia to work in a country with a sterling human rights reputation and commitment to multiculturalism. Instead, breakneck quotas and a culture of fear dominated his four years in a mega-greenhouse in Ontario.

A James Herriot for the 21st century recounts his adventures as a newcomer to Newfoundland. When Andrew Peacock made the move from Ontario to Newfoundland, he thought he was kicking off his career as a newly qualified veterinarian with an adventure in a temporary location. It was certainly an adventure, but there was nothing temporary about it. He practiced in Newfoundland for nearly 30 years and is still living there. In fact, he has lived there so long, the locals are starting to think of him as one of them.

Indigenous Peoples have always carried the knowledge necessary to heal. When our people heal, our families heal, our communities heal and our land will heal. You cannot have one without the other. These stories are teachings, prophecy and protocols shared throughout the years by elders, language speakers, medicine people and helpers. They have been the foundation to individual healing and learning self-love. They teach us how to make good decisions for ourselves and for all other aspects in our lives.

Beryl Potter was a reserved working-class mother of three living a decent life, or so it seemed, when a harmless slip and fall marked the unravelling of everything that she had known about herself and the world around her. Over the course of six years, she endured unimaginable pain. As doctors raced to save her life, her limbs and eyesight were taken from her one by one. In the span of a few years, she lost nearly half her body, her financial security, her home, her husband, and any semblance of a recognizable future.

The stories of Vancouver and its communities as experienced on various strolls through the city, by bestselling BC author Bill Arnott. Vancouver, one of the world's top travel destinations, is a diverse and complex city renowned for its proximity to nature, from Stanley Park and English Bay to the forests and mountains that surround it. Much has been written of Vancouver's many nature trails and paths for dedicated hikers, but what does the city have to offer to the casual urban stroller?

A step-by-step guide to developing superior tracking teams. For over 35 years, Clifford Samon has trained working dogs, including police and search-and-rescue K9s. In Training Working Dogs to Track, he shares his proven five-level approach to tracking, used daily in his work with the Ontario Provincial Police. This systematic method builds drive and gradually develops skills, progressing from rural to urban environments. Designed to enhance both the dog's ability and the handler's expertise, it ensures peak performance without shortcuts.

From Jim Crow to the Last Best West. In 1910, twelve African American families from Oklahoma journeyed north to claim the promise of a better life in the Canadian West. Among them was Julius Caesar Lane, a former enslaved man whose legacy, and that of his family, is intertwined with the history of Saskatchewan's first Black community. The settlement, anchored by Shiloh Baptist Church—now a designated Provincial Heritage Property near Maidstone—became a symbol of resilience, faith, and determination in the face of racial barriers.

Unlock the power of police service dogs in law enforcement. Modern police officers have an array of tools at their disposal, but few are as effective—or as misunderstood—as the police service dog. Whether tracking a fleeing suspect, locating hidden evidence, or detecting narcotics and explosives, these highly trained K9s are invaluable assets in the field. Yet many officers, both new and experienced, lack a clear understanding of how to work alongside them.

It was Christmas time, December 27th, 1950 — the Feast of Saint John. General Douglas MacArthur had just landed in Korea. Nat King Cole had the number one hit song with "Mona Lisa." A howling snowstorm was making its way through the Naugatuck Valley in Connecticut. A Waterbury Police patrol car had just received a radio call to proceed to St. Mary's Hospital a.s.a.p. The call was special to Patrolman Joseph J. Shea, as his wife had just given birth to their first child.