May
23rd, 24th and 25th, 2008
A BRIEF HISTORY OF BOOK DISCUSSION IN CALGARY AND THE BEGINNINGS OF THE BANFF BOOK DISCUSSION WEEKEND
From Great Books to the Banff Weekend and other Gatherings of Readers
There seem to have been two starting points for book discussion in Calgary and the Banff Book Discussion Weekend. In 1953, Brian Thompson started a group called "Background Books." Brian was a young fellow in the oil business but his love of reading led him to start a book discussion group. The group met at the Central Library and various homes to discuss variety of complete selections including novels and nonfiction works.
The second discussion group started with Mac Coleman, Assistant Librarian at the Calgary Public Library. As Librarian in Brandon, Manitoba, Mac had led Great Books Foundation groups and he brought his love of reading and discussion of great literature to Calgary. He had long know of another Mac--Mac Moir, as a fellow writer when both moved to Calgary, they met and became fast friends. Of course, Calgary Mac joined Brandon Mac's Great Book Discussion Group. The first meeting of this group was held at the Allied Arts Centre and later moved to the University of Calgary. It was this group which eventually turned its registration work over to the Calgary Board of Education in the early 70s.
The group's program was accepted as a "course" by the Continuing Education Division of the Calgary Public School Board, who then handled publicity, registration and meeting rooms for a small fee from each member. Classrooms in Western Canada and Viscount Bennett high schools were used most. Other groups met for a year or two in Sir Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth High Schools, largely because of their location. But these groups died in a year or two, some members re-joining the Viscount Bennett group, which lasted well into the 80's. The Continuing Education Division named the course "Books in Conversation." It was felt that the name "Great Books Discussion Group" might be somewhat intimidating to some potential new members. Continuing Education gave the group the basic administrative help needed but did not advise or limit the group in any way. Reading selections were purchased in sets from the Great Books Foundation in Chicago. This Foundation is still in existence and has expanded into Great Books Discussion groups for children as well as continuing their provision of book sets for discussion by adults. Some members of this group over the years were, Drake Shelton, Leila Robertson, Jean Greig, Victor Minz, Pat Collett, Herta Przeczek, Clive Cardinal, Ad and Helen Chetin, Mary Asp, Aileen Cartwright, Ursula and Briggita Beckedorf, Charlotte Rich, Marj and Mac Moir, Muriel Naylor, Jennifer Peddlesden, Art and Ethel Balfour, Marge Crilly, Howard Gretton, Lee van Stelten, Helen Walker, Iris Mitchill, Barbara Cook, Anne MacDonald, Ernie Ludby Jack and Mary Anne Sparks, Jack and Margie Long (and many, many others...) According to Art Balfour, there were a lot of American oilmen’s wives who were members for short periods while their husbands were posted in Calgary. And in those early years there were a higher proportion of male members than are found in book discussion groups today.
And how did the weekend in Banff evolve? One person recalled that Mac Coleman got the University of Calgary interested in doing a weekend discussion. This was most likely the result of input from Art and Ethel Balfour who had belonged to a Great Books Group in Buffalo NW where they had a spring book seminar each year. The idea caught on and the first Banff Book Discussion Weekend was scheduled for the last weekend in May, 1961 at the Banff School of Fine Arts, fondly known as the BS of FA. Thanks to Enid Green who has attended the Book Weekend for many years, there is a very good archive of old brochures and memorabilia. The earliest record of the any of the books discussed is 1964. That year participants read The Fall by Camus, Fear and Trembling and Sickness unto Death by Kirkegaard, and The Creative Mind by Bergson, and St. Joan by GB Shaw. The books ranged in price from $0.65 to a high of $1.85 each and registration for the weekend was $3.00! At that time, the Banff Centre did not have, as they now do, a nice lounge and bar where participants could relax and socialize after the evening discussion groups. In those days, thirsty registrants would retire to the Ladies Section of the Cascade Hotel beer parlour for a recap of the evenings deliberations and an uncapping of the evenings libations.
For a number of years, starting in 1978, the University sent along to Banff a Professor from the Department of English to speak on one of the Books. Speakers over the years included Dr. Clive Cardinal, Dr. Bill Blackburn, Dr. James Black, Mr. Barry Isaac, Dr. Victor Ramraj, Dr. Janis Svilpis, Dr. John Sayre Martin, and other professors whose interest was relative to one of the books discussed. Later, organizers decided to invite the author of one of the books being discussed. The first author to speak at the Banff Weekend was the late Lauralee ( L R ) Wright in 1987. Other authors have been Aritha van Hirk, Rosemary Nixon, Hiromi Gotto, Peter Oliva, Marilyn Halvorsen, Gail Anderson-Dargatz, Lorna Crozier, Bill Richardson, Fred Stenson, Shannon Cowan, Sandra Birdsell 2003, Roberta Rees 2004, Catherine Simmons-Niven 2005 ( who was accompanied on guitar, at her reading by her sister), Alistair McLeod 2006, and Sid Marty 2007,
1995 was the final year for support of the weekend by the University of Calgary. For 1996 the weekend would either sink or swim, depending on volunteers to take over the duties of registration and coordination with the Banff Centre. Luckily a group of stalwart volunteers took over, with Janis Goll taking the helm as chairman for that first year. Registrations for 1997 were modest, but the following year showed a much greater number, especially people from small centres around Alberta and BC. 1998 registrations were higher yet at 81 participants probably due the increasing popularity of book discussion groups and the Internet site created by Bill Peddlesden with help from Janis Goll whose U of C contact eliminated the cost. This site was visited in 1997-1998 by over 200 people. Today the site is located at www.banffbookweekend@canadianwebs.com A link to the Chat Cafe Internet site held by the Calgary Public Library also increased visibility of the Banff Book Discussion Weekend in 1999 (since discontinued) as has the recent partnership with the Banff Centre, which, starting in 1999 took over arrangements for the author speakers. 1999 was the first year that the Book Weekend got national coverage on the radio. Due to the CBC strike, the noon hour program was being broadcast from Toronto. Luckily an e-mail press release for the event caught the eye of the program host, David Stephens, and he interviewed Jennifer Peddlesden for about 10 minutes in March 1999 about the weekend and its history.
The process for choosing the books has changed a great deal over the years. Initially the selections were picked by the Department of Extension, in 1964 that was under RS Chapman, Supervisor. Later a group of regulars would meet over a bottle of wine and hash out the four selections. Today the process is much more democratic—and much more complicated. From a “long list” of selections put forward by participants, a “short list” of 8-10 is selected by volunteer readers. The “short list” is posted during the weekend and participants vote on their four favourite books. In most cases, these four become the selections for the following year. At least one book chosen is usually a “classic”, and at least one by a Canadian author. The choice of a Canadian selection often depends on whether the author would be able to attend to speak on the book. It seems that Canadian literature is very popular so there are often several Canadian books on the reading list. Although cumbersome, this method engages more people in the process and has given readers a feeling of ownership in the Banff Book Discussion Weekend—especially if they do not live near enough to be on the organizing committee
The discussion format has changed little since 1961. Leaders or Facilitators volunteer to keep the discussion on track, and the number of volunteers needed depends on the registration. Groups of 10-12 people are randomly chosen for each discussion group. One seldom sees the same people at each of the four discussions so this makes each discussion a unique opportunity to meet many of the other participants. Although the BBDW has been housed in other buildings at the Centre, most of the time the groups are in classrooms in Donald Cameron Hall. The discussion rooms have beautiful views out over the valley and this gorgeous vista adds to the atmosphere of camaraderie and inquiry. Questions are prepared by the Leaders and in the same manner used by the Great Books Foundation, the group seeks for the author’s meaning and intent in the book through these questions. In 1979 moderator training sessions were held in May in Calgary—but these were not popular, so Friday evening Leaders are given a short seminar on the leadership process, and are also provided with sample questions. Jennifer Peddlesden has led this seminar for a number of years, but a new format ( see below under special events) replaced it in 2005. Discussion of books are held Friday evening, Saturday morning, Saturday evening, and Sunday morning. The visiting author usually speaks on Saturday with a public lecture at the Banff Centre, and on Sunday to the participants following discussion of his/her novel.
Special Events - In 1986 a 25th anniversary celebration was held. Pictures show Jean Greig and Drake Shelton cutting the special cake provided by the University. Leila Robertson was also honoured for her many years of leading and organizing the book weekend under both Ron Cole and Al Holt of the University of Calgary.
In 2001 the 40th Anniversary was celebrated by giving every participant a book bag, a souvenir pin and souvenir bookmark. The book bags were organized by Kathryn Sloan. Souvenir book marks been printed every year since then.
In 2003 the group incorporated with the Province of Alberta, under the guidance of Sandi Churchill who led the group through the intricacies of forming a society.
In 2005 Jennifer wrote a skit “ The Three Little Pigs; a lighthearted look at how not to run your book discussion!” which was performed on Friday evening, by Beth Lipsett, Sandi Churchill, Janis Goll, and Marg Gillis. The group enacted a scene from a book discussion group where participants tried to discuss The Three Little Pigs, but got it all wrong! Wonderful costumes provided by the participants, and spontaneous one-liners had the audience laughing and enjoying their lesson. The skit was reprised in 2006 to an equally pleased audience.
Over the years one person, the Chair of the Banff Book Discussion Weekend, has had to organize volunteers, oversee the selection of books and make sure there are leaders for the discussion sessions. This job has not changed much since the first discussion weekend and has been done very capably by a number of men and women. Some of those who have chaired the weekend over the years are; Larry Hobson, Janis Goll, Leila Robertson, Marjorie Taylor, Janet Gill, Jennifer Peddlesden, Bill Peddlesden, Charlotte Rich, Kathryn Sloan, Wendy Simpson, Lisa ( Jacobson) Llewellyn, and others. Unfortunately, records are incomplete, so the names of some very worthy chaipersons are missing.
Written by Jennifer Peddlesden, with help from Drake Shelton, Charlotte Rich, Marj Moir, Art Balfour, and the Thursday Afternoon Book Discussion Group.
First edition, March 1999
Updated March 2000
Updated March 2002
Updated May 2007