New book explores northern Ontario perspectives around being 'Home for the Holidays'

There's a new book being launched in Sault Ste. Marie with a theme surrounding coming, finding and staying home for the holidays.

Aleisha Parr, the publisher behind Type A Media, has released Home for the Holidays: Northern Ontario Perspectives on Coming, Staying, and Finding Home. The 200-page book is an anthology of poetry, stories, art and cocktail recipes about different experiences living in the region.

It compiles the perspectives of 14 authors from Sault Ste. Marie, Goulais River, Timmins, Thunder Bay and other communities. It includes work from Tova Arbus, Patrick Aura, Brenda Barefoot, Samantha Everett, J.L. Fizzell, Casey Gallant, Cynthia Goguen, Olga Grapsas, Emma Hogg, Riley Korshin, Tom Mills, Kitty Nielsen, A.A. Parr and Katelyn Townsend.

"It didn't have to fit into the standard and the norm, of what's acceptable and interesting in these larger markets that are very regimented. I've put in a focus on telling people to send me your weird, send me your wonderful, send me something that is really, really special and unique and we can only find here," said Parr, explaining that the book covers everything from a childhood pursuit of magical elves to coming home for Hanukkah after a breakup.

Parr says the book provides a platform for regional writers and enriches the broader literary landscape by offering insights into life in these often-overlooked areas.

"Almost everyone I've worked with has shared their life experiences with that," explains Parr. 

"But it's healing for the people who read it too, with the people who are part of our communities that buy these books, who share these stories and come out and celebrate with us. They read these stories and they think, 'Wow I felt that too, or I didn't really ever think of it that way, but maybe I could.'"

According to Parr, each book is individually handmade, printed and bound. She also designs all the graphics.

About 20 per cent of the revenue from the book's sales will go to support Cafe 4 Good in Sault Ste. Marie. The organization offers employment and training opportunities for youth in the justice system as well as Indigenous youth. The money will go toward employee wages and overhead costs.

Rachel Silva, the social enterprise manager at sister company Employment 4 Good, says it's clear they share a similar mission with Type A Media, which led to the partnership.

"They're committed to making change in their northern communities and breaking down existing and law-enforced barriers, allowing more voices the opportunity to participate in the creation of our cultural legacy. When we look at simply their value statement and what they're like to work on, I just jumped two feet in," said Silva.

The book will officially launch on Jan. 2 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Cafe 4 Good. Copies of Home for the Holidays are on sale at Cafe 4 Good, Sault Ste. Marie Museum and at www.typeamedia.ca.

"Home for the Holidays explores that as a concept, where are we starting from? Where are we coming from? And how do we carry that forward with us in the change that we want to see moving forward in life," explains Parr.

"Home is what I make of it. Home is that part of me that is willing to be open and vulnerable and brave and fearless and all of these things all at once."