David Goss

Background

I have been a freelance writer since 1975, published more than 3500 pieces. I have led a community Walk n’ Talk program since 1978. I have done enviromental and educational walks and programs at Provincial Parks on the Fundy since 1990. I specialize in sharing local stories that I collect from area residents and I have a vast collection of these from all over New Brunswick that I have shared through newspaper columns, walks n’ talks, conference situations, training days, etc. I have 30 years experience in the Recreation field, and 20 years full time running my own business titled Words, Walks and Workshops. I can adapt programs to almost any requirement educators might have with advance notice.

Winter bookings from January to March must be within half an hour’s driving distance of Saint John. This is due to storm day closures making it impractical to travel to overnight locations and tying up two days time and the resultant higher costs to the program

Email me or call 506 672 8601.

Publications

Saint John West and its neighours; Saint John West Volumne 11; West Side Stories; Old Tyme Christmas in New Brunswick; It happened in New Brunswick; Tall Tales and Curious Happenings; Brighten the Corner Where you are; The Centracare Story -150 Years of Caring; St George and Its Neighbours with Elizabeth Toy; Saint John East with Harold Wright; Historic Saint John Streets with Harold Wright; Saint John 1877- 1980; Only in New Brunswick; Saint John Curiosities; Saint John Ghosts, Facts and Folklore of Saint John; Not by Bread alone, Saint John Snippets. Christmas in Atlantic Canada.

What I Offer

A typical day for me at schools is to involve as many of the students as can be accomodated in three session during the morning where I share various stories from my books, or from my other collections on whatever theme the school has chosen. It could be season, like Halloween, or Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or it could be Sea stories, or Lumbering tales, or Railroad sagas. I explain why I’m there, what I do and how I do it using a variety of techniques. Sessions usually being with the k classes and 1 and 2 for half an hour, and get longer as the day progresses. In the afternoon, I work with up to 30 students that are chosen by the teachers and we work on writing skill development for about 2 hours.