May 2026

Gwen Tuinman, Novelist

Gwen Tuinman is a Canadian author of historical fiction. Fascinated by the landscape of human tenacity, she writes about the lives and resilience of women navigating the social restrictions of their era.

Her storytelling is influenced by an interest in bygone days and the complexities of living a life. Born and raised in rural southern Ontario, Gwen writes from the small homestead in Little Britiain.

Her latest book “Unrest” is a gripping story of resilience, hidden love, and the fight for identity in a lawless Canada.

Bytown, 1836. A rough frontier town of corruption, rebellion, and survival.

Amid the chaos, Mariah, a scarred spinster hiding a forbidden secret, fights to protect the son she cannot claim. Drawn into the world of a ruthless rebel gang, Thomas-unaware of his true parentage-faces choices that could destroy them both.

For more information about Gwen and her books please go to her website: https://gwentuinman.com

April 2026

“I want to design and make beautiful objects in such a way that the beauty and craftsmanship speak for themselves.”

These six images are just a small sampling of some other beautifully designed objects that Don Stuart has designed.
For more images from his delightful collections, visit: www.donstuart.ca

March 2026

Rob Smythe – A Century of Famous Movies

An entertaining, multimedia, audience participation presentation showcasing the greatest movies of the past century.

Rob Smythe was a secondary school teacher of science, mathematics, computer science, and music, with a special fondness for physics. He has written several textbooks, including the astronomy unit for Ontario Grade 9 science, and six novels that, he says, few people have read. He has performed in such musical stage productions as Damn Yankees, West Side Story, and The Marriage of Figaro. He has directed close to a dozen high school musicals, and conducted bands and choirs. He is an enthusiastic movie lover, enjoying thrillers, musicals, mysteries, historical epics, and science fiction.

Rob has hosted multimedia presentations to audiences in venues ranging from homes, to auditoriums, to cruise ships, and during COVID, on Zoom. He invites you to join him with a nostalgic, entertaining look at the most influential movies of the past century.

Rob has B.Sc., B.Ed., and MSc degrees. He taught secondary school science, mathematics, and music for forty years, physics being his love. He conducted band and choir, directed musical productions, and performed in bands, choirs, and on stage. He is author of textbooks, novels, and iPad/iPhone apps. He lives in Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada.

Author, Editor, Educator

I found this photo in a tourist shop in Prince Edward Island, Canada. To me, it represents the three roles that have defined me. When I am not reading, I enjoy writing, helping others write, and teaching.

Rob has written books, and created a number of iPhone and iPad apps.

For further information go to: robertmsmythe.com

To contact Rob: robsmytheeditor@gmail.com

February 2026

Leah den Bok – Humanizing The Homeless

Leah den Bok is a powerful public speaker and award-winning photographer who has given countless presentations worldwide about her project, Humanizing The Homeless. Since 2015, she has traveled to cities around the world—including Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, Kolkata, Brisbane, and Mallorca to capture powerful images that highlight resilience, dignity, and shared humanity. She shares her impactful photographs and the stories of people experiencing homelessness, emphasizing the importance of humanizing and bringing attention to the issue. Leah’s connection to the point, with her mother having been homeless as a child and rescued by Mother Teresa in Kolkata, highlights that homelessness can happen to anyone, and action is needed to help those in need.

Her photographs and interviews are featured in the book series Nowhere to Call Home: Photographs and Stories of People Experiencing Homelessness. 100% of proceeds from the books are donated to local homeless shelters and organizations working to prevent and end homelessness.

Through exhibitions, public talks, and media appearances, Leah strives to challenge stereotypes, inspire dialogue, and amplify the voices of people too often ignored or misunderstood.

Nowhere to Call Home

Lucy

Lucy once had big dreams. “I’ve always been a writer, like, journaling and short stories and what not,” she told me and my dad. “But now, it’s hard to keep up with the stuff you even love, because it’s just survival.”

Lucy is an opioid addict. “I’ve been an opioid addict since I was 14, but it was always manageable. I, like, had a job, I was going to school. I had my own place to live. I had interests.” However, one day, she reached the point where her addiction took over her life. She foung herself with no job, no schooling to speak of. and no place to live. She had a hard time living on the streets, but has now been offered transitional housing. She is excited about this opportunity.

Homeless Man With Dog

I tried several times while photographing this homeless man and his dog to capture the obvious close bond between them. However, try as I might, all the photos between them seemed to posed. It wasn’t until we were walking away that my dad happened to look back and saw the man with his arms wrapped around the dog in a spontaneous, loving embrace, their foreheads resting affectionately against each other.

I quickly ran back and began snapping pictures. Later, when I walked away once more, I did so with the satisfaction of knowing I had just captured a special moment on film between a homeless man and his best friend.

John

When my dad and I first spotted John, he was sitting beside the Eaton Centre in Toronto. He was dressed appropriately for the weather in a blue winter coat and cap. With his shaggy grey beard and striking blue eyes, he reminded me of the characters in the novels by the Russian writer Solzhenitsyn.

My dad approached John and asked about modeling for me. “I was wondering if my daughter, Leah, could take your photograph?”

“Why?”

She’s planning to study photography at university and is trying to build up her photography.”

“Not good enough.”

“Well, lately, she’s been photographing homeless people in several North American cities, such as Kitchener, New York and Toronto.”

“Still not good enough.”

“She hopes with these photographs, to both humanize the homeless and draw attention to their plight.”

“Okay.”

Living on the streets has taken its toll on John.

“I look completely different now than I did even five years ago. My old friends wouldn’t even recognize me anymore,” he said, a note of sadness in this voice.

NOWHERE TO CALL HOME- PHOTOGRAPHS AND STORIES OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS

VOLUMES ONE, TWO, THREE, AND FOUR

For further information, go to: www.humanizingthehomeless.org

To contact Leah: leahdenbok@gmail.com

January 2026

Adam Shoalts – Professional Adventurer and Author

Adam Shoalts, Ph.D. is a professional explorer and one of Canada’s bestselling authors. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society for “extraordinary contributions to geography” and completed a nearly 4,000 km solo journey across Canada’s Arctic.

A geographer, historian, and archaeologist, he holds a Ph.D. from McMaster University, and undertakes solo expeditions in the most remote wilderness areas. He is the Westaway Explorer-in-Residence at the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and was named a national champion of the Trans-Canada Trail.

Named one of the “greatest living explorers” by Canadian Geographic, and declared “Canada’s Indiana Jones” by the Toronto Star, Adam Shoalts is one of Canada’s bestselling authors.

His career has included mapping rivers, leading expeditions for the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and Mountain Equipment Co-op, tracking endangered species, archaeological digs, and completing a nearly 4,000 km solo journey across Canada’s Arctic. On his expeditions he sometimes goes months without seeing another person. In 2022, he set off by canoe 3,400 km from his doorstep to the Arctic.

Shoalts grew up with forest surrounding his childhood home, where his father taught him about trees. Together, they built birch bark canoes and anything else that could be crafted from the woods.

Shoalts has written about edible mushrooms, deforestation, and watershed pollution in northern Canada. His writing career began with articles on wild animals and conservation, which later led to his #1 national bestselling and award-winning books, including Where the Falcon Flies.

Shoalts has a particular concern for preserving wild places and has been involved with many conservation organizations. In 2008, he received the Niagara Region’s environmental award for his work preserving local watersheds. When not on expeditions, Dr. Shoalts is one of Canada’s most popular public speakers.