What’s the most Canadian thing you’ve ever done? If you asked author Janice MacDonald over a year ago, she’d tell you the story of the epic road trip across Canada she took with her mother to Expo ’67 in Montreal. And if you asked her now, she’d talk about how she recreated that road trip with her husband to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary and her mother’s life. She’s captured both experiences with humour and tenderness in her latest book, Confederation Drive.
Janice MacDonald is also the author of the popular murder mystery series set in Edmonton, starring amateur sleuth Randy Craig. MacDonald takes pleasure in giving shoutouts to her favourite local restaurants and businesses in her books, so they double as tour guides for the capital city. It’s fitting then that she would turn her literary skills to a memoir that works almost as a driving guide for our northern nation, with many incredible landmarks highlighted throughout.
Published by the new Edmonton press, Monto Books, this memoir is more than just a road-trip story—it’s a touching account of one daughter’s journey to reconnect with her mother. While meditating on her mother’s influences on her life, MacDonald will also bring out the patriot in any Canadian. You’ll find no better travel companion and may discover some new facts about our sprawling country—along with many laughs—as you read this epic tribute to a cherished mother and home.
