Atwood presentation a fundraiser for Al Purdy cottage and shoreland trust

Margaret Atwood – Canadian novelist, poet, literary critic, and environmental activist – will present “Bulldozing the Mind: The Assault on Cultural and Rural Heritage” at Picton’s Regent Theatre Wednesday, Nov. 23 in support of the Al Purdy A-Frame Purchase Fund and a Shoreland Management Plan Trust.
A meet-the-author catered reception will be held at Books & Company from 5:30-7p.m. Her presentation at the Regent begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available for the presentation only ($40) or for the combined event ($65) at the Regent Theatre box office.

The A-Frame Trust is dedicated to preserving the cottage built by celebrated Canadian poet Al Purdy and his wife Eurithe on Roblin Lake, Ameliasburgh. The cottage was a destination for outstanding writers of the era – including Ms. Atwood – at a time when Purdy became one of Canada’s most popular and important 20th century poets. He lived in Prince Edward County for 40 years until his death in 2000, but, the existence of the literary landmark is not well known. It has fallen to donors from across Canada to begin preservation of the cottage as an important piece of local and national heritage.

An Al Purdy A-Frame Purchase Fund is held and administered by the Hastings and Prince Edward Land Trust. A significant portion of the event proceeds will be used exclusively to assist in the purchase of the cottage to house Al Purdy’s legacy and be used as a poet-in-residence retreat. Ms. Atwood has already offered her support of the work of the A-Frame Trust stating, “the preservation of this home is akin to the preservation of Canadian literary history”.

While the A-Frame Trust seeks to preserve and celebrate a piece of cultural heritage, Friends of East Lake is working to help protect the natural heritage of their local community – and Prince Edward County as a whole – by initiating a Shoreland Management Plan Fund to ensure the health and well-being of the County’s inland lakes. The Shoreland Trust will be held and administered by Quinte Conservation and will be used to develop Shoreland Management Plans for East Lake and three of the County’s other inland lakes – Consecon, Roblin and West Lake – as identified in the County’s Official Plan.

A Shoreland Management Plan is an inventory of water quality, wildlife and fish habitat, species at risk, wetlands, shoreline vegetation, erosion zones, land uses and other values identified by stakeholders in the community. A report based on the data collected will identify important values to be protected and the key issues that impact the quality of life and the environment. It will also suggest actions for remediation and prevention of ecological impairment where required.

The Al Purdy A-Frame Purchase Fund and Shoreland Management Trust fundraising event is supported by the Prince Edward Stewardship Council and the Hastings Prince Edward Land Trust.