A startingly funny and deeply satisfying satirical novel that makes the Canadian political scene accessible from the female perspective, behind the scenes at the top of the hill. Torn from the headlines, Sussex Drive is a rollicking, cheeky, alternate history of big-ticket political items in Canada told from the perspectives of Becky Leggatt (the sublimely capable and manipulative wife of a hard-right Conservative prime minister) and just a wink away at Rideau Hall, Lise Lavoie (the wildly exotic and unlikely immigrant Governor General)—two wives and mothers living their private lives in public. Set in recent history, when the biggest House on their turf is shuttered not once, not twice, but three times, Becky and Lise engage in a fight to the death in a battle that involves Canada’s relationship to the United States, Afghanistan and Africa. The rest of the time, the women are driving their kids. From Linda Svendsen’s sharp and wicked imagination comes a distaff Ottawa like no other ever created by a Canadian writer, of women manoeuvring in a political world gone more than a little mad, hosting world leaders, dealing with the challenges of minority government, and worrying about teen pregnancies and their own marriages. As they juggle these competing interests, Becky and Lise are forced to question what they thought were their politics, and make difficult choices about their families and their futures—federal and otherwise.

Rideau Hall, the official Residence of Canada’s Governors General, has been host to some of the greatest leaders and dignitaries in history. Members of royal families, world leaders and heads of state have stayed there and have experienced, firsthand, the warmth and hospitality so often associated with Canadians. For those chosen to serve as Governors General, as well as for their families, Rideau Hall becomes their home for five years, and sometimes longer. To the outsider, a visit to Rideau Hall as an invited guest is like watching a theatre performance, with the supporting cast and crew somewhere in the background but always where they are supposed to be. This book provides first-person narratives and real accounts of memorable moments by those who worked with quiet dignity behind the scenes, and often for the greatest part of their working lives, to make Rideau Hall a home.

The latest book by Canada’s Trivia Guys is an entertaining where-are-they-now look at the fate of some 100 celebrities, newsmakers, and significant artifacts from this country’s past. Lake Ontario swimmer Marilyn Bell, CFL legend Russ Jackson, Canada’s first automobile, and Roger Woodward, a boy who survived the waters of Niagara Falls more than 40 years ago, are among those tracked down. Long after making headlines or burrowing their way into our collective consciousness, these Canadian icons have travelled different roads or in some cases kept more quietly to the path that gained them attention in the first place. Kearney and Ray spice up their stories with dozens of fascinating facts. With website links to further information, this book is a great resource to learn more about Canada’s heritage.

Since 1956 when Ontario’s historical plaquing program was begun, more than 1,000 markers have been erected throughout the province. The range of subjects commemorated is astonishing – from mining rushes in northern Ontario to the invention of the socket-head screw ... from Harold Innis to Stephen Leacock ... from the typhus epidemic of 1847 to the discovery of insulin. Popular culture is also well represented: "Beautiful Joe" commemorates an internationally successful novel about a dog; "When You and I Were Young, Maggie" celebrates a famous romantic ballad; "Jumbo" marks the spot where a beloved circus elephant died. The history of Ontario, like its geography and its people, is vast and varied. Whenever you drive the highways, hike the countryside, or stroll through your own neighbourhood, this book can be a guide. There is much to discover.

The many and varied threads of Canada’s national life come together in its capital region. Where the Rideau River flows into the Ottawa River, an Algonquin community was visited by French explorers and settled by British colonists. The town grew into a city, spilled over a provincial border, and now represents Canada to the world. Ottawa is a seat of government and has all the official edifices to show for it. But as Andrew Waldron shows you in Exploring the Capital, it’s a lot more than that. Follow the twelve guided-tours covering all corners of the region in Ontario and Quebec and you’ll encounter homes and schools, cultural sites and green spaces, houses of worship and shrines to commerce. Early houses, humble or magnificent, from the era of the lumber barons can be found steps away from the latest in sleek condominiums and office towers built for sustainability. Waldron takes you behind the doors of more than 390 diverse structures to learn who made them, how, and why. Exploring the Capital is for architectural experts and amateurs, and for residents and visitors alike. Visit Ottawa’s landmarks and neighbourhoods through its stories, maps, and photographs, and learn how great design and engineering turn landscapes into cityscapes.

From down-and-out years in Paris, to her romance with Canada’s prime minister Pierre Trudeau, to stages around the world, Liona Boyd has made a lifestyle of crossing boundaries, both musically and romantically. Whether with classical greats or folk legends like Gordon Lightfoot, she has always made music — and lived her life — in her own key.