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_ - particular interest in church broadcasting. He began teach- ing broadcasting skills to United Church ministers. Eventu- ally he was hired as director of broadcasting for the United Church in British Columbia, where he began a program called Checkpoint. But he wanted to broaden his work in religious Inter Pares which assists Third World countries with ture, cottage industries, and setting up much needed health clinics. Another is Horizons Unlimited which assists with health and agriculture concerns in South America. ae cular Dystrophy Association. One of his favourite charities is t cul “Religious should not be denominational,” Bonisteel pointed out sues, compassion, things we all have in com- Searclt of Man Alive (1980) recalls a number of “For every speech I get paid for,” he says, “I give one for chari in a banquet speech after becoming director of Works by A special project ‘of Bonisteel’s has been his for Canada the | Roy Bonisteel renovation of the old Johnstown Church, just United, Anglican, and Roman, Catholic denomi- In Search of Man Alive (Colins, around the corner from his home. It is now a nations). “It should be dealing with social is- 1980) very attractive place for special community events. “There is often an attitude now that é mon, things we can all talk about.” (Colins, 1983; second edition by | Old things don’t matter any more,” he says, It was for exactly this kind of broadcasting | fotem Books, 1986) “and that saddens me. We can't know where that he was hired by the CBC to host Man Alive. There Was a Time (Doubleday we're going until we know where we've been.” Bonisteel is the author of three books. In | Canada, 1991) Bonisteel knows exactly where he is going. He laughs about people asking him: “Are you the most memorable personalities he inter- viewed. Man Alive: the Human Journey (1983) is largely a con- tinuation of the first book, although stories and experiences have been combined in a thematic approach to social issues. Bonisteel was also co-author of Themes For All Times, a Grade 12 literature book. Over the years he has written articles and columns for various publications. He currently writes a col- mn for the United Church Observer and articles for other media on request. “I'm not a very disciplined person in my writing,” he smiles. “I need deadlines for discipline. If 1 ee up early and the birds are e alnainy: T'll go sii a wale in th his wife Jan TV production teacher at Loyalist caene Bonisteel ives an idyllic life in a circa 1920 farm home on 50 acres near Trenton, Ontario. Some of the land is leased to a farmer but the woods are a private conservation area, complete with a beaver dam in a place where it can't do any harm. “My grandchildren love it,” he says, “and the ani- mals in there know they when I walk in the woods.” Bonisteel is currently working on two more books: a follow up to There Was A Time, and a novel told from the viewpoint of a fifteen-year-old boy. The novel is based on the true story of the time Bonisteel lived and worked on a wealth Sisters who had inherited the place. “I recall the eerie feeling created by strange family secrets and tragedies. Unexplained deaths. Bad fires without reasons. Sees novel has been brew- ing in Bonisteel's mind for several y a novel is not more difficult U than journalism. But itis entirely different. You just let your mind go, and then the characters and emotions write the story. In journalism I can leave what I'm writing, do something else, then go back and carry on where ! left off. Not so with the novel. For that I need larger chunks of time to get re-immersed in the plot. “One never stops learning about writing. What I still need a ae I will learn by ee ang npr trusting editors to show anything wrong with m: | Bonet hesitates about, one advice to tos! age amen. it says simply, “Write about what you kn« any- g ... a diary, letters, blank verse, perhaps. a male _ writing benefits from judicious editing.” Boe dition to writing, Bonisteel has many other demands ci time. He expends a great deal of energy on humanitar- Works. For several years he has been active with the Mus- are safe. They don't even run away / enjoying your retirement?” His 22 years on Man Alive were an enriching experience, but now, he says, “It's time to write and write. I'm very busy now, but I can choose. So many people can't. I can set my own schedule. I can wake up in the morning and say, ‘I think I will write today.’ " Ruth HOWARD is a freelance writer who enjoys writing for magazines. She co- wrote an autobiographical book about a new Canadian and most recently was editor (and one of the writers) of a book war stories, a Canada Remembers project for 1995. Cover photo of Roy Bonisteel is by Rene Ruyg, Belleville MAGAZINE JUNKIES Announcing our'995 Canadian Magazines for Everyone Catalogue, with more than 250 magazines to choose from. Ecstasy. To get your copy, fill in the coupon and mail it today with $5 (including GsT, shipping, and handling), We are also happy to take VISA or Mastercard orders by fax or phon A 2 Stewart St. Toronto, Ontario MsV 1H6 Tel (416) 362-2546 Fax (416) 362-2547 SEND ME THE NEW 1995 CMPA CATALOGUE. 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