Juliana Horatia Ewing & Mary Alice Downie 
Canoes 
Early Voices — Portraits of Canada by Women Writers, 1639–1914

This selection of writings by twenty-nine women, known and unknown, professional and amateur, presents a unique portrait of Canada through time and space, from the seventeenth to the early twentieth centuries, from the Maritimes to British Columbia and the Far North. There is a range of voices from high-born wives of governors general, to an Icelandic immigrant and a fisherman’s wife in Labrador. A Loyalist wife and mother describes the first hard weather in New Brunswick, a seasick nun tells of a dangerous voyage out from France, a famous children’s writer writes home about the fun of canoeing, and a German general’s wife describes habitant customs. All demonstrate how women’s experiences not only shared, but helped shape this new country.

Circa l’autore

Elizabeth Jane Errington is currently dean of arts at the Royal Military College and also teaches at Queen’s University. Her research interests centre on life in 19th-century Upper Canada. She lives in Kingston, Ontario.