On This Day – Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School Library

Bob Marley

Reggae legend Bob Marley was born on this day in 1945 in Nine Miles, Jamaica. Sadly, he died far too young, at only 36 years old, in 1981. Marley was an international music superstar who helped catapult the Reggae sounds of Jamaica into the global consciousness. Marley was a revered symbol of the African Diaspora and was a strong voice for anti-racism and democratic rights. For more on the life of this amazing artist, take a look at some of the many books we have here in the school library.

Online you can also check out:

Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes was born on this day in 1901. Hughes would go on to become a renowned poet, playwright, novelist and social activist. Langston Hughes was at the center of the the intellectual and cultural phenomenon that was the “Harlem Renaissance” of the twenties and thirties in New York.

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Jackie Robinson

Pro baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson was born on this day in 1919. An outstanding player who would go on to win MVP awards and Championships, Robinson will forever be remembered as the first African-American to play Major League Baseball when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. He stood up to unspeakable racism with dignity and grace. In 1997, on the 50th anniversary of his breaking the colour barrier, Major League Baseball retired Jackie’s number, 42.

Margaret Atwood

Canadian writer Margaret Atwood was born on this day in 1939 in Ottawa. Atwood is a prolific writer of dozens of titles, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, graphic novels and children’s books. Margaret Atwood is best known for 1985’s The Handmaid’s Tale, a dystopian novel that is perhaps even more relevant today than it was when it won the Governor-General’s Award in 1985 and the Arthur C. Clark Award in 1987, and was a finalist for the Booker Prize. Atwood did go on to win the prestigious Booker Prize, for best English language novel, in 2000 for The Blind Assassin, and was a co-winner in 2019 for The Testaments, a much celebrated sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale.

Stephen King

American writer Stephen King was born on this day in 1947. King has been referred to as the “King of Horror” as he has written dozens of horror novels and hundreds of horror stories. Some of his best known works include Carrie, It, The Shining, and the Dark Tower series. Many of his novels and stories have been adapted for film and television.

King’s works aren’t limited to horror. He has also written books and stories that fit it many other categories or genres. Many lovers of the films “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Stand By Me.” don’t realize that these films were adapted from King’s books.

Find out more:

Stephen King.com

Fantastic Fiction

Vox: Stephen King

Alex Trebek

Canadian legend Alex Trebek was born on this day in 1940. For 37 seasons Trebek was the host and face of “Jeopardy,” the greatest quiz show in television history. Trebek passed away in 2020 at the age of 80.

Find out more:

Order of Canada

Canada’s Walk of Fame

Jeopardy.com: Alex Trebek

Biography.com

CBC.ca

Jeopardy.com: News

Chernobyl Disaster

_{DAVID HOLT, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons}

On this date in 1986, in what is now the Ukraine, what was then part of the Soviet Union, the Chernobyl Disaster began. This was the world’s worst nuclear power plant accident, resulting in incredible environmental destruction, hundreds of lives lost in the immediate disaster, and untold thousands of humans deaths as long term consequences unfolded over the years.

Find out more:

International Atomic Energy Agency

UNSCEAR (United Nations)

Chernobyl: National Geographic

World Health Organization

United Nations Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance

Is nuclear power a feasible alternative to fossil fuels? The contribution of the burning of fossil fuels to the crisis of climate change must be accounted for, but are the risks associated with nuclear power too great? Check out the websites and books listed above, and then look for more resources to dig deeper to find out where scientists stand on these issues. Get informed and be a positive part of the decisions that will affect our future.

April is Earth Month at your School Library. Visit us to find out more.

Thomas Cahill

Thomas Cahill, an American scholar and writer, was born on this day in 1940. Cahill was known for his “Hinges of History” series, including the much celebrated book, How the Irish Saved Civilization. Cahill died in 2022.

Find out more:

Thomas Cahill

NYPL: Cahill and Atwoo d

NY Times

Goodreads

Speaking Truth to Power: Valentine’s Day

Although much about the historical Saint Valentine is sketchy and obscure, it is traditionally believed that in the 3rd Century, Valentine, a Christian priest, was arrested by forces of the Roman Emperor. He was martyred for his faith and his defiance of Empire. Happy Saint Valentine’s Day.

Relic of St. Valentine
_{source: wikimedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 AT}

Find out more:

History.co m: St. Valentine Beheaded
NPR: The Dark Origins of Valentine’s Day
Mental Floss: The Saint We Call Valentine
Valentine’s Day by Mari C. Schuh. 394.2 SCH

Paul Newman

Actor and philanthropist Paul Newman was born on this day in 1925. Newman was arguably one of the greatest American actors of all time. He was both a movie star and a well respected actor. Paul Newman appeared in both box office smashes as well as critically acclaimed films, and he portrayed many iconic characters, including Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy, and Reggie Dunlop in “Slap Shot.” As impressive as his acting resume is, he made an even greater impact on the world with his many philanthropic pursuits. Just one of these endeavours, his food company, “Newman’s Own,” donated all earnings to charity, in excess of 500 million dollars. Newman died in 2008.

Paul Newman as Reggie Dunlop in “Slap Shot”

Guru Gobind Singh

On January 5, Sikhs in Canada and around the world celebrate Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti, a chance to observe and celebrate the birth of Guru Gobind Singh. The Guru was born in 1666 in Patna, India. He was the 10th and last of the (human) Gurus of Sikhism. He established the Khalsa, the organization of men and women baptized into the Sikh faith. He also established the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhism, as the final Guru for the Sikh people.

For more on Guru Gobind Singh and the Sikh faith, check out:

Norm Macdonald

One year ago today, the world lost a comic legend. Norm MacDonald died on September 14, 2021. Norm Macdonald, a Canadian born in Quebec City, was a stand-up comedian and a performer on television and in movies. Norm was a frequent talk show guest and was beloved by such luminaries as David Letterman and Conan O’Brien, both of whom regarded Macdonald as a comic genius. Norm Macdonald was 61.