Newfoundland man publishes patriotic word-search puzzles
Gros Morne, Peggy's Cove, Banff. Trailer Park Boys, Anne Murray, Michael J. Fox. They're all Canadian and they're all words to seek and circle in Nick Cranford's word search books.
From Canadian sights-to-see to songs or meals, the 27-year-old from St. John's, N.L. is putting Canadiana onto the page and in the process, putting his stamp on his family's publishing business.
'I felt it was my duty,' he said, noting Canadian's love and pride for their country has deepened recently. 'I am happy to play my small part in making this country great.'
Cranford's grandfather started Flanker Press, based in St. John's, more than 30 years ago in the family living room. But it was his late great-grandmother who inspired him to create a word search book.
'I noticed one of her absolute favourite things to do, was doing word searches,' he said.
His 'great-nan,' who lived into her nineties, always had a pile of them.
'They were her breakfast, lunch and dinner.'
Nick Crawford
Nick Crawford and his 'great-nan'
But there was no Newfoundland & Labrador-specific word search puzzle book, said Cranford. In the summer of 2023, he decided to change that.
His first book became a template for others. He highlighted sights to see, such as Cape Spear, Signal Hill and Terra Nova.
He created a Newfoundland-centric puzzles with themes like Jigg's Dinner, a traditional Newfoundland dish, Mary Brown's and home brew. Then there are Newfoundland words and pieces of local communities such as retirement homes, churches, businesses and parks.
Next came Nova Scotia, Alberta, P.E.I., Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Cranford has made a word search book for Toronto and Ontario and recently published one for New Brunswick with pages dedicated to Acadian words and tourist destinations such as Hopewell Rocks and Fundy National Park.
Crack open Alberta's puzzle book and you'll find puzzles on the Oilers, Flames, Banff and Nickelback.
His Manitoba puzzle will send searchers to scan pages about the Forks, Churchill and The Guess Who.
He's sold more than 50,000 copies of his books so far.
Cranford was always planning to complete his collection by publishing more province-specific word search books, but the recent surge patriotism urged him to speed up his printing deadline.
'I want to strike while it's hot,' he said.
He aims to complete a Quebec, B.C. and a Canada-centric puzzle book by Canada Day.
The territories will come next.
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The move is a sharp turn from the vision in the region's five-year operational plan endorsed in 2021, which included $8 million for a new "heritage centre" for the department that was never built. "Regional staff will implement a process for dispersing the collection – that is, removing these items from the region's ownership and responsibility," stated a confidential staff memo that came before council that day, which was later made public by the region. "Regional staff will make every effort to continue public ownership of the items and to keep the items located within Halton." Collection includes 20 'potential Indigenous belongings' The memo says the collection includes "tools and equipment, uniforms and clothing, furniture, personal items, medical tools and equipment, communication tools and equipment, natural history specimens, archeological materials, works of art, and other miscellaneous items." It also contains about 20 "potential Indigenous belongings," such as "beaded objects, bark and quill boxes, footwear, and gloves." The region will attempt to return those items to the communities they came from, the memo states. It lists potential partners to receive items from the rest of the collection as Conservation Halton, the Halton Regional Police Service, Royal Botanical Gardens, Country Heritage Park, the Milton Historical Society, local municipalities and local libraries. "Transfers to these organizations would be strictly voluntary and will differ based on the level of interest and how items from the collection align with their individual mandate and capacity," it states. But, it adds that some items may go to auction. "There are objects in the collection that do not have a clear value or direct relationship to Halton or its heritage. In these cases, public auction may be a valid method for dispersal. Where this approach is taken, advance public notice will be provided. "Given the size of the collection and the complexity of deaccessioning and dispersal processes, it is anticipated that this will be a significant undertaking with an extended timeline." 'I am hoping that Halton valued these objects' Halton Region communications specialist Isabel Contin shared more details with CBC Hamilton about what the collection includes. She said there are: About 18,400 "objects": Tools, uniforms and clothing, furnishings, personal and medical items, communication devices, natural history specimens, archeological finds, and artworks. About 3,100 photographs. About 13,000 archival materials: Maps, documents and other materials. "The items span from the 19th century (e.g., court artifacts and family farm tools), through the 21st century (e.g., medical equipment, police service items, and items related to the COVID-19 pandemic)," she wrote in an email on Thursday. "While some items in the collection have a clear link to Halton's local heritage, many do not." 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He was thankful the region will reach out to first nations before auctioning the items — something he said shows progress in the relationships between Canadian institutions and Indigenous communities. "There is some consideration given to the people who might have something at stake with these objects, so that's a positive step." In the same call, MCFN councillor Erma Farrell said she hopes to arrange a meeting to see the items soon. She also noted her disappointment with the closure of the department, noting it seems several area municipalities are cutting back on support for heritage services. Heritage advocate concerned items will be 'dispersed everywhere' A consultant's report about potential options for the collection issued in April included numerous potential scenarios for the collection, with shutting down the division entirely the only one for which it found more "cons" than "pros." The Museum Collection Administration Study, written by Canadian cultural planning firm Lord Cultural Resources, notes "the Region made a commitment when accessioning an object to care for it in the public trust. "The public's reaction may be particularly negative if the matter is not communicated properly, or if a large portion of objects are not transferred to other institutions and thus are removed from the public realm," it states. It gives an example of objects from the collection that have already been transferred to the Royal Botanical Gardens, but instead of being accessioned by the RBG – which means they'd have to steward them in perpetuity – they were used as display props. That means they can be accessible to the public in way they weren't before — but the change in status removes the "requirement for permanent preservation and conservation. "As props they may be discarded when deterioration becomes an issue," the study states. 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Hamilton, who teaches at Western University, says it is also unethical to deaccession the collection prior to consulting the public, noting she's worried this move could start a trend. "If it happens in Halton, it's going to be a ball rolling down a hill and others will follow," she says.
