As a first-time author, I tentatively sought a publisher for my manuscript. Austin Macauley Publishers' glowing review was my first step with this committed publisher's interest in both new and established authors, bringing "Memories of "A Kid from the Heights" to production.

Although this book contains unique stories about one specific village in Canada, shortly after the Second World War, thousands of similar small towns experienced the same developmental struggles throughout Canada. Terrebonne Heights was one such village, located 25 miles north of Montreal, across the Rivière des Mille Îles, in the province of Québec.

While still a very young country, Canada at this time was also creating its own identity. Canada still did not have its own national flag, nor had scholars yet written our constitution. Although ‘Oh, Canada’ was composed in 1880, it was only to be acclaimed as the National Anthem in 1990.

Wherever we spent our childhood was always unique to each of us. This being said, perhaps it could be as simple as exchanging the name of this village and its characters for the ones you experienced. Let these pages and their often humorous stories transport you to a time and place that was so well spent for me living my youth growing up in our little cottage on Center Road, our little "Lucy" in the small hamlet of the Heights where the pace of life matched the 'clip-clop' of the horse's gait while delivering milk in the milk wagon.

And, if you had not yet been born during this period in the 50s and 60s, these stories may give you some insight into this time in rural Canada. Each decade produces its generations, and this book is simply about the one I experienced.