Overview

"Living in the Arctic in the early 1960s took courage, strength, ingenuity-and a whole lot of grit. With candour and insight, BONNIE McGHIE revisits the years she spent in the Canadian Arctic as she transports us back to the newly built town of Inuvik, Northwest Territories, where she and her pilot husband work to establish their charter air service, Arctic Wings. To grow the business, Bonnie and her young children move to the tiny Inuvialuit community of Tuktoyaktuk, on the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Along with continuing her work for Arctic Wings, she creates yet another business venture by opening a trading post, supplying trappers and buying furs. Bonnie quickly earns a place as a ""trusted outsider"" among her Inuit neighbours, whose lives are being increasingly disrupted by the federal government's agenda of enforced and rapid change. HARD LANDINGS conveys the realities of life and caring for a young family in challenging conditions; it also describes the joy and wonder the author found in relationships, in unexpected experiences, and in the austere beauty of the North. One day, the ever-present risks of bush flying catch up with her and her husband. A hard landing on an isolated island in the Mackenzie River endangers their lives and ultimately threatens the dream they worked so hard to realize."

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9781738795000

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Reviews

"""This memoir deals with elements of Canadian history, especially with regard to the changing role of Indigenous Canadians and their place in Canada's past, present and future. In addition the reader is reminded about expansive northern Canadian geography, entertained with stories of aviation adventures and overall left with admiration for Ms. McGhie's strength and tenacity."" Linda Bartz, reader ""A gripping memoir that grabs your attention and pulls you right into the adventures of an extraordinary woman in the 1960s Western Canadian Arctic. The people and places really come alive on the page."" Crystal Hunt, author of Build Better Settings ""A fascinating read detailing the realities of life in the Western Canadian Arctic during the 1960's. The author's clear eyed assessment of the realities of life during the period of early development in the region: her determination to bring up her children, run a business and deal with the challenges that the north presented resonated with me."" Anne Everett, reader ""This well written account of life in Canada's ""The North"" in the 1960s is definitely worth the read. It gives the reader enough background to understand the history of the people and their struggles to protect their traditions while coping with changes being forced on them. Its also a story of an amazing woman who had courage and determination to succeed over unthinkable obstacles. I highly recommend it."" Barb Ironside, reader"

Author Information

BONNIE McGHIE spent her early years in California, where her independent and adventurous spirit, along with difficult family circumstances, fostered a lifelong resilience. Undaunted by the endless challenges of being female, she found employment in the movie business, including promoting (on horseback) the westerns of Wild Bill Elliott.Her thirst for adventure took her, in 1954, to Juneau, Alaska, where she met a handsome young Canadian planning to become a bush pilot. A dream, and a partnership, was born. In 1960, Bonnie moved to the Canadian Arctic, where she helped run the couple's air service, Arctic Wings; operated their trading post, Tuk Traders; and offered entertainment in Tuktoyaktuk's first movie theatre. She gained personal satisfaction from becoming a respected and valued member of this unique-and often frozen-Inuit community.Unfortunate circumstances required that, together with her three young children, she leave her husband and the North to start, from scratch, to rebuild her life. With characteristic focus and determination, she overcame her husband's questionable but deliberate decision to retain all the family assets in his name, thus leaving Bonnie and her children penniless.With the same grit that got her through her Arctic challenges, Bonnie earned a graduate degree in psychology, which led to her becoming a faculty member and then an administrator at a British Columbia provincial college. She served in leadership roles with numerous boards, among them Surrey Memorial Hospital, the BC Health Association, Canuck Place, and the BC Cancer Agency and Foundation. Later she worked as a private consultant to the boards of hospitals and other health-care organizations.Prior to retiring, she served on the board of governors for the University of the Fraser Valley as it transitioned to a full university.In retirement, Bonnie and her second husband-who she married in 1972-became respected breeders of Labrador Retrievers and qualified as Hunting Retriever judges in Canada and the USA. Bonnie lives with her husband Gord in Chilliwack, B.C., still seeking adventures, to learn and to share skills gained over her multi-faceted career.Visit Bonnie online at HardLandings.ca

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