Annapolis Valley author tells Nova Scotia sports stories in new book
A prolific Valley author is launching a volume about Nova Scotia's sports heritage as his 18th book.
Dave Whitman, who operates Bailey Chase Books in Lawrencetown with his wife Paulette, has planned several book launch events to introduce the public to his 268-page Nova Scotia Sports Stories. It focuses on 10 sports, including lesserknown ones like lawn bowling, quoits, darts and conkers.
Whitman said in a recent interview he spoke to sports figures from the past and present, some of whom are in sports halls of fame around the province and some who have not been inducted, but probably will be in the future.
“These are the stories of male and female athletes who engage in the sport they love,
some into their 70s, 80s and even into their 90s,” he said.
Whitman said the idea for the book came from his work as the secretary of the Bridgetown Area Sports Hall of Fame.
“I wondered as I was doing up the minutes how many other places in the province honour their athletes, teams, volunteers as much as we do,” he said.
The book contains information and stories that may inspire young athletes in the province. For instance, Whitman said the North American championship of the little-known sport of conkers is held in Annapolis Royal every year.
As well, he learned about 20 NHL players played for amateur hockey teams in the province while stationed at the Cornwallis Naval base in the Annapolis Valley.
Joe Klukay played 600 games in the NHL, winning four Stanley Cups with the Toronto Maple Leafs after his military career. He was also on the 1944 Cornwallis Naval Senior Hockey Team when they won the Maritime Senior Hockey Championship.
A look at upcoming arts and entertainment events in the Annapolis Valley:
FUNDY CINEMA SCREENS OFFICIAL SECRETS NOV. 24
Fundy Cinema screens ‘Official Secrets’ Nov. 24 at 4 and 7 p.m.
The true story of a British whistleblower (Keira Knightley) who leaked information to the press about an illegal US National Security Agency operation designed to push the UN Security Council into sanctioning the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Fundy Cinema is also screening ‘The Irishman’ Nov. 27 at 7 p.m.
Martin Scorsese's epic crime drama portrays World War II veteran and Philadelphia truck driver Frank Sheeran who looks back on his life as a hitman and enforcer for the Bufalino crime family and Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa. Starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Al Pacino.
All shows at Al Whittle Theatre at 450 Main St., Wolfville.
Tickets are $10 and are available 30 minutes before screening. GoOnline: fundycinema.ca GoOnline: facebook.com/Fundy-Cinema-1692183731024542
Phone: 902-542-1050
KING’S THEATRE PRESENTS JUDY NOV. 22
King’s Theatre in Annapolis Royal presents the movie ‘Judy’ Nov. 22 at 7 p.m.
Winter 1968: Showbiz legend Judy Garland (Renée Zellweger) arrives in Swinging London to perform in a sell-out run at The Talk of the Town. It is 30 years since she shot to global stardom in ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ but if her voice has weakened, its dramatic intensity has only grown.
As she prepares for the show, battles with management, charms musicians, and reminisces with friends and adoring fans, her wit and warmth shine through. Even her dreams of romance seem undimmed as she embarks on a courtship with Mickey Deans (Finn Wittrock), her
The book contains a list of the existing sport halls of fame locations on mainland Nova Scotia and Cape Breton. There are about 20 sport halls of fame across the province, not including the university halls of fame or the Cape Breton Hall of Fame and the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame.
However, Whitman’s research took him to areas of the province where the achievements of local athletes are not commemorated in a hall of fame.
“I did find there are a few gaps in the province. So, I tried to go there and talk to individuals and teams not in a local sports hall of fame. But they should be,” Whitman said.
He was surprised when researching the stories of athletes at the number of individuals and teams throughout the province who have reached the international level in various sports.
“I didn’t realize how many athletes have performed at the world level and also the number
soon-to-be fifth husban.
Tickets: $11 Adult, $10 with Film Buff Card, $8 Youth. Doors open 45 minutes before showtime. Phone: 902-532-7704 GoOnline: www.kingstheatre.ca
THE LIGHTHOUSE SCREENS AT KING’S NOV. 23
‘The Lighthouse’ will be screened at King’s Theatre in Annapolis Royal Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Shot on 35mm black-and-white film, this psychological thriller from Robert Eggers (The Witch) follows the slow descent into madness of two lighthouse keepers (Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson) on a remote New England island at the turn of the 19th century.
Charged with tending to a lighthouse for a four-week term, the taciturn Ephraim Winslow (Robert Pattinson) spends his days toiling away with backbreaking upkeep, while during the nights it is only his elder cohort Thomas Wake who is allowed to keep the beacon in operation. Growing weary of menial tasks, Ephraim’s curiosity regarding Thomas’ hours alone with the big light burgeons. But is it just fatigue and envy that cause Ephraim to become increasingly paranoid about the loitering seagulls, to the point where he’s visited by strange apparitions?
‘The Lighthouse’ was shot partly in Yarmouth, NS.
Tickets: $11 Adult, $10 with Film Buff Card, $8 Youth. Doors open 45 minutes before showtime. Phone: 902-532-7704 GoOnline: www.kingstheatre.ca
CHURCH WOMEN GO ON STRIKE AT CENTRESTAGE
Women at Putney Church go on strike! ‘The Strike at Putney Church’ is playing at CentreStage, Kentville.
‘Putney Church’ will be performed on Nov. 22, 23, 24m, 29, 30, Dec. 6, 7.
Front of House opens at 6:45 p.m. for the evening performances and 1:15 p.m. for the matinees. of people still engaged in their sport.
Bruce Rainnie, president and CEO of the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame, wrote the forward to the book.
“Even though we are one of the smallest provinces in the country, we have so many athletes that achieved not only provincial and national acclaim, but international,” Rainnie said during a recent interview.
“Any time you can shine a light on that, I think it is hugely important. It’s great to know that you can punch above your weight, and no matter where you are from, you can achieve pretty special things if you are committed and driven.”
Whitman said he believes sport heritage is quite a valuable asset to a province like Nova Scotia.
“And we have quite a heritage,” he said.
Information about the upcoming book launch events is available at www.davewhitman. ca or by calling 902-824-0974.
Tickets are: adults $15; seniors/students $12; children, age 12 and under, $5.
CentreStage takes cash or cheques only. Reservations are recommended and are held until 15 minutes before show time.
Phone: 902-678-8040 for reservations.
GoOnline: www.centrestagetheatre.ca
LOVE, SEX, AND THE IRS AT KING’S THEATRE
‘Love, Sex, and the IRS’ is a classic farce set in the 1970s around tax time and it’s coming to King’s Theatre starting Nov. 29
Two out-of-work musicians, Jon Tractman and Leslie Arthur, are rooming together in New York City to save money. Jon files his tax return listing the pair as a married couple ... and then chaos begins when the Internal Revenue Service comes to investigate. Life becomes very, very complicated!
Join the Annapolis District Drama Group on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. when they present this rib-tickling comedy. It’s written by William Van Zandt and Jane Milmore and directed by Miles Leahy.
The cast includes all-time favourites from ADDG, as well as some surprises in casting, proving that ADDG has lots of talent when it comes to acting.
Tickets are on sale now at 902-532-7704, so reserve your seat early.
GoOnline: www.kingstheatre.ca