Hello,
On Thursday, November 30, more than 80 people gathered at Memorial University’s Marine Institute in St. John’s to attend the Newfoundland and Labrador Historical Society‘s Gilbert Higgins Lecture, an annual event co-sponsored by the Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Archives. The audience consisted of members of the kayaking society as well.
This year, author Rozanne Enerson Junker shared the story of her multi-year investigation to retrace the Inuit family her uncle Elwood “Woody” Belsheim had shared so many precious moments with while serving at a secret U.S. weather station in Hebron, Labrador, during World War II. Rozanne’s lecture traced the history of the Ferry Command, the secret weather station, and the Inuk hunter, Renatus Tuglavina, using a model sealskin kayak, made for Woody by Renatus, as her spirit guide.
Larry Dohey, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Historical Society, welcoming guests. Photo: Dave Lough.
John Griffin, President of the Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, remembering Gilbert Higgins. Photo: Dave Lough.
Catharyn Andersen, Special Advisor to the President of Memorial University and Nunatsiavut beneficiary, introduced Rozanne. Photo: Dave Lough.
Rozanne Enerson Junker – guest speaker for the 2017 Gilbert Higgins Lecture. Photo: Dave Lough.
The evening also served as the official launch of Rozanne’s book Renatus’ Kayak: A Labrador Inuk, an American G.I. and a Secret World War II Weather Station. Less than a week before, we had picked up from Imprimerie Gauvin, in Gatineau, the copies of the book people would be holding on that special evening.
Rozanne Enerson Junker and Patricia Latour, Assistant General Manager at Imprimerie Gauvin, in Gatineau. Photo: France Rivet.
Rozanne Enerson Junker with boxes of Renatus’ Kayak. Photo: France Rivet.
Rozanne Enerson Junker holding her new book, Renatus’ Kayak
Rozanne’s lecture received media coverage in Newfoundland and Labrador with two interviews on CBC, and one feature article in The Telegram. Here are the links where you can read/listen to her fascinating story:
- Star-crossed lovers and a secret weather station on the coast of Labrador, radio interview with Ted Blades, On the Go, CBC Newfoundland and Labrador (2017-11-29)
- Woman researches uncle’s experience as an American G.I. stationed in Labrador, text by Samual NcNeish, The Telegram (2017-11-29)
- A True Labrador Mystery, radio interview with Matt McCann of CBC’s Labrador Morning On-Demand show. The interview starts at 10:00) (2017-11-28)
People have been asking where they can get a copy of the book. At present, the following brick and mortar bookstores carry it:
Newfoundland and Labrador
- St. John’s: The Rooms’ Gift Shop
- St. John’s: The Heritage Shop.
Nunavik
- Kuujjuaq: Tivi Gallery
The book can also be ordered directly from the publisher: Polar Horizons.
That said, wherever you are in the world, the book can easily be ordered through many online retailers, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. Here is a list of the retailers that we have put together, and which we will try to keep up to date: Where can I purchase Renatus’ Kayak?
Over the last week, we are thrilled to see the book continue to climb in the Amazon rankings. On December 2, it was at rank #14 and #15
For all of you who already purchased, or will be purchasing, the book through Amazon, thank you for taking a few minutes of your time to rank the book by awarding it the number of stars you feel it deserves. Complementing your rating with comments would be a most generous bonus. It will help the book get discovered by more readers.
Thanks to all who have had a role to play in the successful launch of Renatus’ Kayak.
France Rivet
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