WORDS TO WORK BY
New library tradespeople’s fave books
At long last, the new Central Library is poised to open its doors. While this landmark feat of architecture has been dazzling the city for quite some time, the interior has remained a mystery only to be revealed on opening day, Thursday, Nov. 1. But before we get distracted by its 240,000-square-feet of books, lounges, public art installations, play areas, meeting spaces and a sweet cafe (Luke’s), we want to give a shout out to just a few of the thousands of talented individuals who brought the space to life. From cabinet makers and drywall tapers to plumbers and labourers, a legion of skilled professionals are the unsung heroes of this extraordinary new building. We tapped 21 of them for their favourite book — the one that has inspired or entertained them in meaningful ways. Not surprisingly, their answers are as dynamic as Calgary itself, writes
KRISUNDA LYON, SITE ADMINISTRATOR Conscious Loving Ever After: How to Create Thriving Relationships at Midlife and Beyond by Gay Hendricks, PhD
“I love anything to do with selfhelp, self-improvement, energy work and how we can connect and communicate with one another.”
GRANT GUSHULAK, BUILDING AUTOMATION SPECIALIST Hyperion by Dan Simmons
“I like the sci-fi genre. This author developed a very immersive world that appealed to me. I didn’t really like some of the characters at first, but I stuck with it and grew to like them.”
ANNE CARRAUD, APPRENTICE CABINET-MAKER Le Petit Prince by Antoine de SaintExupery
“I’m from Paris and read this back when I was a teenager. This book has simple words and illustrations, but it’s a poetic metaphor for life. It invites adults to re-connect with friendship and with a child’s soul — we were all fun once before we became serious.”
KAREN SAVILLE, DRYWALL TAPER Build Your Own Earth Over by Kiko Denzer
“I remember checking this book out from the library years ago and saying to the librarian, ‘This is why I love you guys.’ I went home and built an oven in my backyard and made wonderful bread and tandoori chicken.”
ROBEL ABRHA, INSTALLER Wedi Rezan
“This is a classic Eritrean novel — it’s kind of a love story about getting together with friends and enjoying suwa, a drink that I miss from back home.”
ETIENNE LEBLANC, SKILLED LABOURER Velo! by Richard Moore
“It’s a book about the history and evolution of bikes. I was a bike mechanic in Quebec before I came to Calgary. I bike every day, year-round, and I love working on them.”
CHELSEA DELYEA, ON-SITE PARAMEDIC The Reaper by Blair J. Lindsay
“The author is a paramedic and a simulation educator at SAIT. It’s a sci-fi thriller about a woman whose chasing death — fitting symbolism for my own career.”
MAT HIRSCHFELD, ELECTRICAL SITE SUPERINTENDENT Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
“I liked this book as a kid and now I’m reading it to my daughters, Adrianna and Charlotte. We read one chapter a night together — I’m enjoying imaging that world in my head and re-living the memories.”
ADAM KAPALA, TILE INSTALLER Last Wolf of Ireland by Elona Malterre
“I remember crying in class when my Grade 10 teacher read it to us — it’s a true story about a wolf puppy that a boy tries to save. Now I’m reading it to my own kids who are six and 14.”
DHARMINDER SINGH, TILE INSTALLER Anything written by Grant Cardone
“I’ve been reading his books for years — he writes about how to deal with taxes, and not just work paycheque to paycheque. It inspires me to do things differently, to stop living the usual middle-class life.”
ADAM VAN DIEPEN, GLAZER, FIELD SUPERINTENDENT Inferno by Dan Brown
“This is the third book in the series — The DaVinci Code first got me hooked on Dan Brown. I like the suspense, it keeps me reading. I’m interested in historical novels because you can learn so much.”
RYAN FRIESEN, HARDWOOD FLOORING, SITE ASSISTANT To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
“It’s such good perspective on life, with meaningful lessons about how to treat others.”
KEVIN MCLAREN, PLUMBER Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aaron Ralston
“It’s an incredible true story. I like hiking and I’ve read all the books about Everest climbers. I really like stories of survival and learning about the things people do to stay alive.”
DAVID TAYLOR, SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER Younger Next Year by Chris Crowley and Henry Lodge, M.D.
“This book was recommended to me five years ago and it really made me realize that I don’t have to become an ‘old man’ just because I’m getting older. It has helped me find balance and stay vital, get more into biking and skiing, and learn to ‘trick’ my body into thinking I’m still young.”
JONNY FOLLIS, ELECTRICIAN 12 Rules for Life by Jordan B. Peterson
“I like reading anything that gives me perspective. The author, who is a Canadian psychologist, calls this book an ‘antidote to chaos.’ It’s shown me that the problems we have in our society today aren’t as bad as we think they are — I’ve gained the perspective that we have it good.”
JORDAN POLSON, PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
“This is a memoir by the creator of Nike. I was inspired by it because of how he manages people — he lets them run wild with their own ideas and encourages his employees to be individuals and learn from challenges on their own. That changed the way I deal with people — it made me take a step back and not micromanage.”
PAULO CAETANO, LABOURER, LEADER CREW Brilliant Parents, Fascinating Teachers by Augusto Curry
“This book is meaningful to me because I have a four-year-old son — Mateus — and it’s about how to be a better father and a better leader. It’s about finding inspiring ways to deal with your stressful day and never giving up.”
BLERIM ARIFAJ Textbooks
“I went to university in Kosovo and I remember a professor once saying to me, ‘Open your head, put learning into it, and it will stay there forever.’ He made me want to study. I love reading science and history books — that’s how we learn how to live. Education and intellectual pursuits will guide the next generation and keep them on the right track.”
SAMSON TEWELDEBRHAN, LANDSCAPER
“My favourite book would have to be a cookbook from back home in Eritrea. I cook that way here in Calgary now and the recipes are all in my head, but I’d like to see a cookbook with that traditional food and drink.”
ROBERT TOOTLE, CARPENTER The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
“I’m a big sci-fi guy and this book really got me into the genre — the author is a Vietnam vet whose writing is quite realistic and intriguing, and there’s a lot of knowledge behind what he writes about.”
SARA MALONE, FLAGGER Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
“Her books instilled my love of reading. The way she tells her stories makes me want to wear pigtails and run through the fields with Ma and Pa in a sun bonnet.”