News
GDI Press First Virtual Book Launch
By David Morin & Desirae Barker
Jan 11, 2021
Posted in: Books, GDI Press, Métis
Photo Submitted by David Morin
In early December, GDI press announced their first virtual book launch. Under normal circumstances, book launches included a meet and greet with the author and invited others to gather in celebration of the book’s release. However, the pandemic prompted GDI Press to find a new and inventive way to celebrate this event.
The virtual book launch celebrated the release of Road to La Prairie Ronde written by Cort Dogniez with illustrations by Jade McDougall. The book is a historical fiction based on the life of Cort’s great-grandfather Frederick Dumont. Frederick’s grandfather was one of the founders of the La Prairie Ronde otherwise known as Round Prairie, and this story details his adventure from Batoche back to La Prairie Ronde. Cort explains that he hopes kids across the province will get the opportunity to read this book and feel the same sense of pride he has in being Métis. Road to La Prairie Ronde is available for purchase at shopmetis.ca.
The launch began with an opening prayer and introduction about Round Prairie by Métis Elder Senator Nora Cummings, and featured stories and excerpts from the book with the author Cort Dogniez. The virtual book launch premiered on Facebook (https://fb.watch/2rdMCRfNp_/ ) and YouTube (https://youtu.be/wDCw1pfA5D0) and is still viewable on both platforms.
