Airdrie reads

TOMORROW BY MERILYN RUTH LIDDELL

A misguided experiment. A devastated world. A chance for rebirth. In a world decimated by a killer virus, an isolated mountain community is left more dysfunctional than dystopian. Martha, a reclusive doctor seeking a solution to the mystery of the pandemic, Jake, a cab driver seeking his birth mother, Sophie, a young, desperate pregnant woman seeking safe haven from abuse. Brought together by violence, these unlikely friends forge an alliance that may help reshape the world.

WATERSHED BY DOREEN VANDERSTOOP

It is 2058, and the glaciers are gone. A catastrophic drought has hit the prairies. Willa Van Bruggen is desperately trying to keep her family goat farm afloat, hoping against hope that the new water pipeline arrives before the bill collectors do. Willa’s son, Daniel, goes to work for the pipeline corporation instead of returning to help the family business. When Daniel reveals long-concealed secrets about his grandfather’s death, Willa’s world truly shatters. She’s losing everything she values most: her farm, her son, her understanding of the past — and even her grip on reality itself.

FLYING THE NEST BY JOY NORSTROM

Lonely millennial Chad MacEwan can’t seem to get it together. While his boomer Uncle Martin sails through his twilight years with a full social calendar, Chad’s weekly highpoint is dutifully visiting Martin at the Eldernest Assisted Living Lodge. As Chad becomes further entangled in the lives of Eldernest residents and staff, each person must decide how much to risk in their pursuit of companionship and connection. Flying the Nest is a heartfelt examination of our assumptions on aging and sexuality, the strength of family and the enduring power of community.

IN VERITAS BY C.J. LAVIGNE

Led by her synesthesia, Verity Richards discovers a hidden world inside an old Ottawa theatre. Within the timeworn walls live people who should not exist – people whose very survival is threatened by science, technology and natural law. Verity must submerge herself in this impossible reality to help save the last traces of their broken community. Her guides: a magician, his shadow-dog, a dying angel, and a knife-edged woman who is more than half ghost.

THE HILL BY ALI BRYAN

In the near future, a group of girls survive by their own wits and follow the laws of the Manual on the Hill, a reclaimed garbage dump they call home. The cardinal rule? Men and boys spell danger. After a Departure Ceremony releases the 11 oldest girls back to the Mainland, Wren becomes their new leader, and she’s desperate to do a good job. So when one of the girls goes missing only a few hours into her new position, Wren makes the fateful decision to leave the Hill in search of the girl — only to encounter boys for the first time in her life. In order to survive and lead her community, Wren must sort fact from fiction, ally from enemy, and opportunity from threat.

STORY & PHOTO BY TAMMY PLUNKETT

Meet the Airdrie Reads 2021 Contenders

This past year taught us about the importance of books as we all turned towards stories for escapism. Books take us to faraway lands or propel us into the lives of heroes, astronauts, monsters and more. They educate, inspire and entertain. Will Airdrie read more books this summer? Can Airdrie readers agree on which book is the best?

Big Sky Author Services is running the inaugural Airdrie Reads competition this summer. Think of it as The Bachelorette for books! Five Airdrie champions will pitch their book selection to a group of panellists in an online show. At the end of July, one book by an Alberta author will be crowned this year’s Airdrie Reads winner.

The champions and their chosen books are • Community enthusiast and candidate in the City of Airdrie fall election Heather Spearman champions The Hill by Ali Bryan. • Band teacher extraordinaire at George McDougall High School Jordan Harris champions Tomorrow by Merilyn Ruth Liddell. • Volunteering devotee and finalist for Mrs. Galaxy Airdrie 2021 Sarika Mehta champions Watershed by Doreen Vanderstoop. • Gender diversity and inclusion consultant and Airdrie Pride Society president Kiersten Mohr champions Flying the Nest by Joy Norstrom. •City of Airdrie library board chair and voice actor Daniel Nelles champions In Veritas by C.J. Lavigne.

The books will be available locally at Shoplift Deals in Airdrie and Owl’s Nest in Calgary if you want to read along with the champions. The debates will take place online on both the Airdrie Reads Facebook and Instagram accounts this July. They will be hosted by the Big Sky Author Services team of Kim Cheel and Tammy Plunkett — local authors, writing coaches and publishing consultants.

Be sure to follow Airdrie Reads on social media and share your reading experience with the hashtag #AirdrieReads life

READ THE GUIDE AND FIND MORE IDEAS FOR YOUR AIRDRIE SUMMER AT EATPLAYSTAYAIRDRIE.COM

ALBERTA ON THE PLATE – CULINARY FESTIVAL AUG. 6 – 15, 2021

The City of Airdrie is pleased to be a Destination Partner this year for Alberta on the Plate, the province-wide celebration of the incredible bounty grown and produced across our beautiful province.

The 10-day dine-around festival highlights local restaurants and products and connects consumers to agriculture by partnering with initiatives like Alberta Open Farm Days (Aug. 14-15).

Participating restaurants offer multicourse, fixed-price menus highlighting local producers, growers, distillers and brewers. These restaurants range from casual to fine dining and everything in between. Each menu has recommended local pairings to be sure you get the perfect match for your meal (not included in pricing).

We look forward to celebrating our local food chefs and product makers, sharing our food story with media and consumers, and hosting you for this delectable visit to our city.

Follow #ABOnthePlate, and see which local chefs are participating at airdrie.ca/ABonthePlate