Walks With A Three-Legged Cat & Other Observations

From his vantage point in the historic hamlet of Upper Woodstock, Ken Homer cast a curious gaze on the natural world around him and the rich heritage of the area. His observations inspired captivating essays that he broadcast throughout the Maritimes on CBC Radio. In Walks With A Three-Legged Cat, a selection of Homer's essays from the 1970s and '80s are available in print for the first time.

In these essays, Homer curates the treasures of our shared history and unearths our cultural values. He does so in friendly and imaginative language, reflecting his own humour, grace, and humility, while reaffirming the power of the written word.

Illustrated by Michael McEwing and including a moving portrait of the author by his son, Stephen, Walks With A Three-Legged Cat demonstrates Homer's skill as an essayist and cements his vital legacy within the history of the St. John River Valley.

Ken Homer (1915-2003) was a graduate of Mount Allison University where he taught English before becoming a CBC broadcast journalist based in Halifax. He became well known for his feature stories, his interviews, and especially for his sensitive reporting of the 1958 Springhill Mine Disaster. He married Dees Clarke, daughter of author, George Frederick Clarke, and lived the rest of his life in Upper Woodstock and Woodstock NB. He continued to do freelance work for CBC and began recording and broadcasting his radio essays. As a history and social studies teacher at Woodstock High School, he is remembered by many students as a great instructor. Homer was a founder and first president of the Carleton County Historical Society and published a book on the history of the Carleton County Council. He was a friend of Maliseet elder, Peter Paul, and worked with him on preserving Indigenous cultural heritage. Ken Homer is especially remembered for his interest in the natural history and cultural life of the St. John River Valley and his dedication to celebrating and preserving the region's heritage.