Author: stjames-charlottetown

January 2018

Kirk Elder Jim Macnutt has published a new book; his first novel. Entitled On Five Dollars a Day: An Innocent Abroad in Europe 1965, the story is based loosely on his own travels in Europe that year.

“I have been telling stories about this trip I took in 1965 to family and friends, particularly people in the office,” Jim said. “And, one of the assistants there said, ‘why don’t you write a book about your travels.’” Jim decided to do just that.

According to publisher, Austin Macauley Publishers: “In the summer of 1965, Will MacIntosh, a naïve but highly inquisitive twenty-two year old from Canada, embarks on a life-changing excursion through Europe. Arriving there, he finds the trauma of the Second World War still fresh on every street and in every person’s mind. While his high-minded purpose is to investigate the political complexities of the region and envelop himself in its cultural treasures, Will finds himself drawn to more earthy pursuits – usually alcoholic but occasionally amorous in nature.”

Reviewer Pamela Borden wrote of the book: “On Five Dollars A Day is both an amusing and thoughtful trip down memory lane in which the author recounts his first solo backpacking trip to Europe in 1965. The skillfully crafted fictionalized memoir is very funny in places as we experience Will spreading his wings on the continent before starting law school. The descriptions of both the architecture Will sought out and his observations and insights into post World War II Europe are fascinating. As a result of his first taste of the continent Will grows and will never lose his zest for travel. I really enjoyed the book and the author’s portraits of Venice and Belgravia in particular were beautifully written.”

This is far from being Jim Macnutt’s first publishing adventure. His other credits include: Heritage Houses of Prince Edward Island: Two Hundred Years of Domestic Architecture; Inside Island Heritage Homes: Two Hundred Years of Domestic Architecture on PEI; The Historical Atlas of Prince Edward Island: The Way We Saw Ourselves; Building for Democracy: the Architectural History of the Legislative Buildings of NS, PEI, and NB; Building for Justice: the Historic Courthouses of the Maritimes; Historic Furniture of Prince Edward Island; and A Century of Service: Rotary on Prince Edward Island.

Jim is already at work on a second novel, this one, set in 2005, is about a road trip from Berlin to Moscow, and deals with the transition from the Cold War to the “War of Putin.” The trip, like the foray around Europe set in his first novel, is a voyage that Jim has also taken.

November 2017

Two members of the Kirk family have been honoured by the Senate of Canada for their volunteer work in the community. Both Jim Macnutt and David Hooley were among 24 Islanders recently presented with the Senate of Canada 150th Medal by Lt.Gov. Antoinette Perry and Island senators Diane Griffin and Mike Duffy, at a Government House ceremony.

The presentations are antiqued bronze table medals featuring the Senate badge on one side and a picture of the Senate chamber on the other. The medals were designed by Lt. Col. Carl Gauthier, the Director of Honours and Recognition in the Department of National Defence, and were struck by the Royal Canadian Mint.

Said Senator Serge Joyal, Co-Chair, Advisory Working Group on the Senate 150th Anniversary Medal: “As the Senate celebrates a milestone anniversary of its own, this is an appropriate time to celebrate the volunteer work of Canadians. Not only are the medals highlighting the contributions of Canadians – from coast to coast, from all walks of life and from varied backgrounds – they also highlight the wide diversity of the people whose efforts make Canada great.”

Jim Macnutt is a Charlottetown lawyer with the firm Macnutt & Dumont and is known for the many books he has authored on the Island’s built heritage, and for his active support of the Rotary Club. He was the recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002, the Prince Edward Island Preservation Award in 2011, and the Law Society of Prince Edward Island’s Distinguished Community Service Award during the same year.

David Hooley is the Senior Partner in the Charlottetown law firm Cox and Palmer and has pursued a variety of charitable undertakings over the years. He has received the Canadian Bar Association Distinguished Service Award and the Vocational Service Award presented by the Rotary Club of Hillsborough in 2015. He has served as President of the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce, President of the PEI Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Atlantic Provinces Chamber of Commerce and is a past Director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

Both gentlemen are Elders of the Kirk. We congratulate each of them on this outstanding achievement.