For four years (2001-05) my wife, Lorraine, and I made lecture tours from city to city across Canada speaking to organizations, as well as in homes and schools. We also invested quality time discussing, researching history and interviewing people of different cultures living outside of Quebec. We got to know people better as we accepted their call to peer at life through their window. We were shocked to learn that we hardly know each other. It was a fruitful investment, and a beautiful story developed.  

Each time I relate themes from this story, whether in Canada or as far away as sub-Saharan Africa on a similar theme, the outcome is eye-opening. The thought patterns of many people concerning the relationships among French, Native, English and immigrants (or. in Africa, among neighbouring tribes) were challenged and even transformed. One suggestion came over and over: “This is a message we need. Get this unusual story about Quebec, a grown up orphan living in Canada, a hurting blended family, written; it helps so much to look at history through this unique window.”