Her village, husband inspired these books

You don't have to go far to find Canada's newest - and judging from the response on Sunday - most celebrated author. Just drop into the Camborne General Store.

Doris Emond, a Camborne resident for more than 30 years, unveiled two books at a large reception in her home Sunday afternoon. And more than 150 people heard Mrs. Emond dedicate one of her books to her surprised husband, Albert.

'I'm really flattered," he said of the book, Cash, Chargex, or Blueberries? "I've never had a book written about me before. Both works, Blueberries and I Wonder What Happened To Philip? took about six months of intensive research and writing by Mrs. Emond. The book dedicated to her husband is based on jottings and sayings she found in the back of his old cash books, collected over the years.

"Some of them I couldn't include, for certain reasons," Mrs. Emond said, laughing. "Like the day he went to Cobourg and got a parking ticket. I couldn't print that"

Wonder What Happened to Philip? is a painstaking history of Camborne and its people. The title comes from a story that still brings tears to Mrs. Emond's eyes as she , tells it.

“It’s a rather sad story,” she said, "about a boy who cried and cried when he had to leave Camborne."

Mrs. Emond found the story in a diary, kept by local farmer Albert Snelgrove in the 1890s and given to Mrs. Emond by his son, Olaf.

The diary tells the story of Philip, a young boy who was or- phaned in England. Boys and girls of similar fates, called home children, were sent to various farms in Ontario to start a new life. Philip lived with the Snelgroves at their farm, about two miles outside Camborne.

One day, Philip was seriously injured in a sledding accident and was taken to the Camborne Store to recover; a long, slow process. Almost as soon as he was healed,

"They bought him a new suit and put him on the train," Mrs. Emond says, "I can hardly tell the story even today, without crying." The publication of the books (Philip sells for $12.50 and Blueberries was Mrs. Emond's gift 10 those attending) honors two special occasions - the 100th anniversary of the store and her husband's 30th year as proprietor.

The Emond’s have been married for 34 years and met near Kirkland Lake, where Mrs. Emond taught school They have four children and four grandchildren.

Although she retired three years ago Mrs. Emond remains a well – known figure in Camborne, having taught school for many years, including several years as the principal of Camborne School.

Mrs. Emond said the bulk of her research was done through friends and the diaries and deeds they'd kept. She also did some work at the archives in Toronto and by post, in Ottawa.





AFTER 34 YEARS…… Author Doris Emond still has a smooch for her husband, Albert.