Tributes: Gatineau Personalities and Historical Events
by Ernie Mahoney
Tributes: Gatineau personalities and historical events presents a selection of stories from Ernie Mahoney's body of work, produced during his career as a writer in the Gatineau Hills between 1985 and 2009. The result is a 136-page book filled with colourful articles and pictures on the passing parade of local people and events Ernie found interesting and worthy of a place in his heritage collection. These stories also touch on the traditions and way of life which were beginning to change and enter the realm of history during his time in the Gatineau Valley (see table of contents below).
Ernie's subjects had wide ranging experiences and interests, some with memories reaching back to the early 1900s. Covered in the book are reminiscences of valley farmers, politicians, a film-maker, a northern explorer, a baker, a teamster, and an artist, a journalist, a priest, a miller, a musician, a medical doctor, a riverboat captain, and a wartime sailor. And there are stories about local entrepreneurs and their business ventures, and how community workers got together to protect our heritage and environment. Also, there is a discourse on the vital role once played by the log drive on the Gatineau river, as well as stories of the old ways in the valley in contrast to the changes that have occurred in our society since then.
