Book Launch for Donna Mann's Aggie's Voice: Agnes Macphail in Stratford

Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 2:30pm

Grandma's Half-way Stop
Burgoyne, ON

The Brucedale Press invites you to celebrate

with author Donna Mann the launch of

Aggie's Voice: Agnes Macphail in Stratford

Grandma's Half-way Stop*
intersection of Bruce Roads 3 & 17
Burgoyne, Ontario

displays, reading, refreshments autographed copies $20 each

* in the former Burgoyne General Store,
a place that Agnes Macphail knew well 1910-1911

Open to everyone ~ a special welcome to pupils of USS #7 Arran & Saugeen and families to share stories or mementos

If you cannot attend, call 519-832-6025 to reserve signed copies.

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Donna Mann’s third book about Agnes Macphail will launch next Tuesday afternoon, October 29, in a place that was familiar to Agnes during her first year as a teacher. Burgoyne General Store, at the intersection of Bruce Roads 3 & 17, now is home to Grandma’s Halfway Stop, a popular restaurant.

Released by The Brucedale Press, this book continues to recreate the youth of Agnes Macphail, who hailed from Grey County and became Canada’s first woman Member of Parliament. Aggie’s Voice takes place partly in Stratford during 1908-1910, while Agnes lived with an aunt and uncle. The opening of the Stratford Normal School attracted aspiring teachers from many parts of Ontario. “I want to be the best teacher I can be,” she tells her aunt.

At USS No. 7 Arran and Saugeen (the Gowanlock School), Agnes taught ancestors of today’s Burgoyne-area families. Gowanlock, Grieve, Geddes, Chappel, Webster, Lyness, Schwass, and Finnie are some of the names in old attendance registers. Publisher Anne Duke Judd says, "We hope people with memories of USS No. 7 will share their stories." A display of documents and photos will be part of the launch event.

Donna Mann is also the author of Aggie’s Storms and Aggie’ s Dream, which tell of Agnes`s childhood in Grey County and years attending Owen Sound Collegiate Institute. Now living in Elora, Ontario, Donna Mann says, "The trilogy is for young minds and the young-at-heart who want to learn more about or remember Agnes Macphail`s earlier years." She will read from the books and sign copies at the launch.

Aggie’s Voice is a quality softcover book, priced at $20.00 and available at area bookstores, museum gift shops, or from the publisher www.brucedalepress.ca