ROBERTGeorgePROUDFOOT

I am both a fiction writer, by interest and passion and a technical writer by profession in my career as an agrologist, forester and environmental scientist, since the 1970s. I was previously a member of the Writers Guild of Alberta in the 1990s, renewed my membership in 2017.

I grew up in Edmonton but lived in Lusaka, Zambia from 1969 to 1973, where my father worked for Canadian International Development Agency and I attended the International School of Lusaka and then University of Zambia. I completed my B.Sc (Agriculture) and B.Sc (Forestry) degrees at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, in 1978 and 1994, respectively. I worked for Alberta Agriculture & Forestry in Lethbridge from 1978 to 1987, followed by consulting in agriculture, forestry or environmental sciences with Soil & Forestry Consulting (1994 to 2002, 2015 to present) and Thurber Engineering Ltd. (2003 to 2015). I worked as an agroforester for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Nigeria, west Africa from 1988 to 1991. I have been married to Valerie since 1985 and we have two daughters, Annora and Alicia. Both daughters love music and various writing genres.

As one who has many interests, including the arts, sports, fair trade and social justice, I currently volunteer as a visitor in the Edmonton Institution for Women, help with Truth and Reconciliation, and serve on the Board of Directors of Mennonite Central Committee Alberta (MCCA) and MCCA Edmonton Thrift Store Operating Council.

1) Technical Reports:

I have written numerous technical reports as a professional agrologist and registered professional forester, including environmental assessment reports, site remediation and/or reclamation reports, or soil/terrain/vegetation classification reports for rural properties being developed for irrigation or intensive silvicultural plantations. Four of my most interesting professional publications are:

1) Ratings for White Zone Soil/Landscapes in the Peace River Region, as to Suitability for Growing Trembling Aspen and Balsam Poplar in Woodlots, for Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd., March 17, 2001;

2) Symbiosis between Trembling Aspen and Mycorrhizal Fungi: a Review of Scientific Literature and Expert Opinion to Assess the Feasibility of Research into Using Mycorrhizal Inoculants to Enhance Survival and Early Growth of Outplanted Aspen Seedlings, for Western Boreal Aspen Cooperative, December 17, 1997;

3) Baseline Soil Survey, Site Preparation and Establishment of Hybrid Poplar Plantations on 14 Agricultural Sites in Northeastern Alberta, for Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc., April 16, 1997; and

4) Procedures for Land Irrigability Classification in Alberta, for Alberta Agriculture & Forestry, 1983.

2) Creative Fiction or Nonfiction:

As a creative writer, I self-published "Enduring Art, Active Faith: 3 Generations Create!" through FriesenPress Inc. in February 2019. This book is a collection of short stories, essays, poetry, and photographic depictions of art work created by three generations of my family, all Edmonton residents. Our book discusses various topics, including: mental health; human relationships with God, others, and nature; changing agriculture in Alberta; reconciliation between settler and indigenous Canadians; importance of religious faiths; immigration; and friendships around sports. Robert and his wife Valerie also relate highlights of their cross-cultural experiences living in west Africa, as well as some poignant family history,

I am currently working on a novel trilogy, set in Lusaka, Zambia in 1974, which follows the friendships of several young people – African and white – when Zambia was coming of age as a dynamic, hopeful African-led society, while European colonialism and South African apartheid were fading away. "Seen in a Mirror Dimly", the first book of this trilogy named "Come By Here, My Lord" was published in October 2020 through FriesenPress Inc. It introduced the open-minded and adventure-seeking protagonist Orwell Hughes, a 20-year old expatriate lad who is expecting the visit of his friend Tracy MacDonachie, a fellow Canadian who is considerably older (35), life-experienced and more worldly, who he hopes will continue to mentor him about women, racism, and taking his place in the complex world, as Orwell shows Tracy the sights and sounds of southern Africa. Tracy's two teenaged sisters accompany their brother to visit the Hughes family; several new Canadian young people – sons and daughters of men and women joining the "Canadian contingent" serving in Zambia under leadership of Orwell's father James "Bwana" Hughes, also arrive in April, 1974. Their coming changes Orwell's idyllic life and causes him to learn as well as to give much.

In August 2020, I published "A Playful Policeman Meets the Citizen-making Teacher", a biography of my grand parents George and Olive MacDonald, who lived in Edmonton from 1906 to 1919, through PageMaster Publication Services Inc. This historical nonfiction was originally presented in May 1994, during Portraits from Family Albums segment of Come and Know Your History – a celebration of 200 years of Edmonton's history.

Since 1980, I published 35 essays on agriculture, environmental stewardship, or social justice for various church publications, newspapers, or business magazines. I also was researched and wrote the historic background summary of First Mennonite Church, Edmonton from 1959 to 2009, upon which a DVD was prepared, celebrating 50 Years of First Mennonite Church, in 2009. In March 2021, my historical article "During Covid 19, Remember How Our Ancestors Struggled Through Other Pandemics" was published in The Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta Chronicle.

I was Communications Director for College of Alberta Professional Foresters 2009 to 2011. I was editor of the First Mennonite Church, Edmonton congregation's "Communicator" newsletter from 2009 to 2015.

I am a member of the following organizations: Writers' Guild of Alberta; Edmonton Ten Thousand Villages Society; Alberta Institute of Agrologists; College of Alberta Professional Foresters; Environmental Services Association of Alberta; and Canadian Land Reclamation Association.

• Academic / Scholarly
• Autobiography / Biography / Memoir
• Creative Nonfiction
• Essay
• General Fiction
• General Nonfiction
• Historical Fiction
• Literary Fiction
• Short Stories
• Spiritual
• Technical Writing

• Book Reviews
• Copy Writing
• Copy Editing
• Developmental Editing
• Editing
• Freelance Writing
• Manuscript Reading / Consultation
• Mentoring
• Proofreading
• Readings - Adult
• Readings - Youth

telephone: (780) 465-6083;

address: 9228 – 60 Street NW

Edmonton, Alberta

T6B 1N1