Women of Brave Mettle: More Stories from the Cariboo Chilcotin

by Diana French

In this much-anticipated second volume in the Extraordinary Women Anthology series, Diana French follows up on "Gumption and Grit" with more stories of the women who have contributed, or who are still contributing, to the vibrant mosaic that is the Cariboo Chilcotin. The area has more than its share of remarkable women, from educators to rodeo stars, doctors to playwrights, administrators to environmentalists, artists to politicians.
In earlier days, nurse Jane Lehman, the daughter of pioneers, traveled long, lonely miles by horseback in the West Chilcotin to reach her patients. Jessie Pigeon was Canada's first female Government Agent, and Gwen Ringwood was already an internationally known playwright when she came to Williams Lake with her doctor husband.
Later-day heroines include June Striegler, whose teaching career has spanned over seventy years and Joan Gentles, an outstanding courtworker, educator, and rodeo competitor. Former mayor Ethel Winger likes to relax by prospecting for gold, and Lynette Cobb serves the community from her wheelchair. Helen Haig-Brown is an award-winning filmmaker, Xeni Gwet'in Chief Marilyn Baptiste stands tall to protect her people and land from the latest gold rush. Pharmacists Adaline and Cathie Hamm are among the mother/daughter combos serving the community.
Diverse as they may be, the women of the Cariboo Chilcotinshare their ability to meet all challenges head-on and do what needs to be done with love, strength and humour.

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 2012

Reviews

[Anna]

I

[Andie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was wonderful to glimpse into what life was like for women in the Cariboo Chilcotin over the years. This book is more likely to be enjoyed by those living in the area. As someone new to Williams Lake who doesn’t know much about its history, this book provides insight into what was commonly a rough but also charmed life. Perhaps it isn’t extravagantly written, but I think its purpose is to fill a gap, and it’s a job well done. This is a good coffee table book.

Stories from the book which stuck with me:
Lily Kozuki
Marta Deak
Anna Roberts
The Bayliff Women
Marg Evans
Helen Haig-Brown
Coleen Duggan
Joan Palmantier Gentles
Vivien Cowan and Sonia Cornwall
Cathy, Robin and Crystal Verhaeghe
Phyllis and Ivy Chelsea
Susan Zirnhelt
Lynette Conb
Charanjit Rathor

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting but not as good as the first in the series, perhaps because it was written by a singular author and so we didn't have the different *voices* we were able to enjoy in the first volume.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat interesting book about some of the women from the Cariboo Chilcotin area of B.C.

[Yasmin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A brief look at the lives of some women of William Lake.