Mary of Canada Joan Skogan The Banff Centre ISBN: 1-894773-03-9 Non-Fiction, Spirituality, History, Art Reviewed by Dr. Tami Brady

Mary of Canada is part art, part spirituality, part history, and part geography book. The author explores associations of the Virgin Mary throughout various aspects of Canadian culture. In undertaking these explorations, the author finds traces of Mary in some very unusual places. One would expect a religious symbol to appear in Catholic churches, cemeteries, and other religiously influenced locations. Statues, paintings, stained glass, and other related works do appear in such locations across Canada. However, the Mary influences I found most intriguing were in secular situations. For instance, the rose as a symbol of Mary or towns, rivers, colleges, and universities named for the Virgin Mary. I also found the use of Mary in advertising quite interesting.

Mary of Canada is beautifully put together with a little something for everyone. The pictures are incredible. I was also impressed by the amount and depth of research that the author put into this text. I had no idea that the Virgin Mary was so entrenched in Canadian history or culture. Many of the things the author mentions, I would not have even thought of as Mary influences until I read this book.

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