The writer of a new novel about a touchy subject for many people included Woodstock in his tour to promote the book. Jacques Poitras, author of the book Imaginary Line, came to Connell House on Thursday, October 27th, to discuss his book. Poitras is a journalist who has worked for The Daily Gleaner, and now serves as a provincial affairs reporter with the CBC.
Poitras' new book discusses a vast array of issues with the New Brunswick/Maine border, which is the oldest section of the dividing line between Canada and the United States. During his lecture, Poitras mentioned the affects of the international boundary on Woodstock and other border communities, along with New Brunswick as a whole. "Near the Esso station at the exit to Canterbury, there are power lines that cross the Trans-Canada. Last year, when I was on (David Alward's) campaign bus during the election, I said to some of the reporters and Mr. Alward as we went under that power line, 'That is what Quebec was after in the (NB Power and) Hydro-Quebec deal--those lines that carry power to Maine,'" Poitras explained. "When NB Power sells electricity into New England at a good price, that is the route it takes. What Quebec wanted was more connections to New England so they could sell their power through New Brunswick and into New England."
Poitras also recalled a trip to Monument One, the international boundary marker at Monument Brook. When surveyors from both nations were surveying the international border in the late 1700s and into the 1800s, Monument Brook was where they began. Monument Brook is also the source of the Saint Croix River. Poitras mentioned that other bodies of water would later be confused for the Saint Croix, which could have significantly changed the border's location.
There were many different border issues discussed during Poitras' presentation, including the drastic increase in security measures along the border following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Poitras discussed the Pedersen family, who lives on the Russell Road near Aroostook, NB. A mile and a half section of the Russell Road runs along the border, and the Pedersen family would enter the US illegally until they reached their driveway, when they would re-enter Canada illegally. It was never an issue until 2003 when border patrol officers set up roadblocks on Russell Road.
Attendees had the opportunity to share their own border stories following the presentation, and books were sold and signed by the author.
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| Jacques Poitras read a few passages about border issues out of his book, Imaginary Line,during a presentation for Connell House in Woodstock last Thusday. |
Poitras also recalled a trip to Monument One, the international boundary marker at Monument Brook. When surveyors from both nations were surveying the international border in the late 1700s and into the 1800s, Monument Brook was where they began. Monument Brook is also the source of the Saint Croix River. Poitras mentioned that other bodies of water would later be confused for the Saint Croix, which could have significantly changed the border's location.
There were many different border issues discussed during Poitras' presentation, including the drastic increase in security measures along the border following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Poitras discussed the Pedersen family, who lives on the Russell Road near Aroostook, NB. A mile and a half section of the Russell Road runs along the border, and the Pedersen family would enter the US illegally until they reached their driveway, when they would re-enter Canada illegally. It was never an issue until 2003 when border patrol officers set up roadblocks on Russell Road.
Attendees had the opportunity to share their own border stories following the presentation, and books were sold and signed by the author.
