What kind of Canada does the under-35 generation see themselves heir to? Do they consider themselves members of a Canadian nation at all?
The only way to find out, Myrna Kostash decided, was to travel across Canada and talk to young people in all walks of life. Her aim was to draw a map of the next Canada and see how its ideals compared to those of her own generation, which came of age and learned its politics in the sixties and seventies. In chapters on economics and the workplace, media and the arts, gender politics and sexuality, and racial and cultural identity, Kostash meets a diverse and outspoken set of young Canadians. Filled with wit, intelligence, and candour, this profound and insightful book will force a reassessment of the way we look at the 25- to 35-year-old generation.
Born and raised in Edmonton, AB, award-winning non-fiction writer Myrna Kostash is the author of nine books, including All of Baba’s Children and The Doomed Bridegroom. In addition to contributing articles to various magazines, such as Geist, Canadian Geographic, and Legacy, Kostash has written radio documentaries and theatre playscripts. Her creative non-fiction has appeared in numerous Canadian and international anthologies, such as The Thinking Heart: Best Canadian Essays, Edmonton on Location, Literatura na swiecie (Warsaw), and Mostovi (Belgrade).
A founder of the Creative Non-Fiction Collective, Kostash has taught creative writing workshops across Canada and in the US. She has served on several award juries, including those of the Governor General’s Awards, the CBC Literary Non-fiction competition, and the Writers’ Development Trust’s Pearson Award for Literary Non-fiction. In 2008 the Writers Guild of Alberta presented her with the Golden Pen Award for lifetime achievement, and in 2009 she was inducted into the City of Edmonton’s Arts and Culture Hall of Fame. Her upcoming book, Prodigal Daughter: A Journey into Byzantium, will be released in 2010.