Corporate Testimonial (see Book and Art Testimonials below)
“Congratulations to you! … Excellent engagement. Thanks and well done. … This is fantastic! So well done and I love the attention to details.” (2016) – Anne-Marie Kee, Executive Director, Canadian Accredited Independent Schools
“It has been a great pleasure working with you – on major gifts, the Annual Campaign, and special events – over the past year and a half. A real privilege, the best time in all my years of working.” (2015) – Linda Abramsohn, The Leo Baeck Day School
“Thanks so much for your work on OCAD University development material over the past year, including our proposals and stewardship documents for some of our top donors and prospects. I always appreciate your focused crafting of the perfect word and the right image!” (2012) – Rose Anne McCants, Director of Development, OCAD University
“Arbopals connects international tree planting activities with internet-based activities for kids. I think the site is a great way to encourage young people around the world to get involved with important environmental activities.” (2009) – Tim Flannery, author of The Weather Makers, Chair of the Copenhagen Climate Council
“I want to thank you for the superb support provided on all counts under intense time pressure.” (2004)
– Heather Munroe-Blum, Principal, McGill University
“Great work. Your communications expertise – writing, editing and design talents, and your work with staff and consultants – has really helped improve and revitalize Argyle.” (2012) – Matthew Bassett, Bassett Media Group
“The work you did on our proposal – a major initiative for Goodwill – was terrific.” (2005) – Mitzie Hunter, Vice-President of Marketing, Goodwill
“I am absolutely thrilled with ‘your’ speeches – that became ‘mine.’ I received compliments all evening long, and for days to follow. Thank you.” (2001) – Natalie Little, Head, Bishop Strachan School
“Thanks for being so responsive and professional in your work for UOIT. I particularly appreciate your ability to quickly grasp what is needed, enhance it and produce polished work by or before deadline.” (2012) – Lisa Banks, Director, Communications and Marketing, University of Ontario Institute of Technology.
“The auction that you conducted last Wednesday was another ‘work of art.’ Furthermore, you have the distinction of raising more money than any other individual. Thank you sincerely for so willingly taking on the task, and for doing such a splendid job.” (2000) – Bill Welbourn, 100 Prints Committee, Open Studio
“You are awesome! How you can weave such a lovely garment with so little cloth is amazing!” (2009) – Ann Rosenfield, Executive Vice-President, Operations, Legacy Leaders
Book and Art Blurbs and Testimonials
“Delightful, clever and downright, laugh-out-loud funny. What a lucky daughter!” – Linda Nielsen, EdD, author of Between Fathers & Daughters and Adolescence: A Contemporary View. Former president of the American Coalition for Fathers and Children.
“I studied Latin as a kid. This book casts a warm light on a father and daughter enjoying some great times together.” – Gordon Lightfoot
“I found this book fascinating. I would recommend this book to any parent so that it inspires them to find a similar project to do with their child. I hope this book meets with much success.” – Dr. Ruth
“Enroll in Latin’s ancient class, find what its value still is: tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis. to hear a daughter’s smiling words and lovingly comment’em: dulce ridentem Lalagen amabo, dulce loquentem.” – Nicholas Ostler, author of Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World
“This is so interesting, and it’s great that you two were able to connect over this book.” – Matt Galloway, CBC Radio
“By turns funny, insightful, and moving, O’Brien connects ancient history to contemporary family life in a fresh and thoroughly engaging way. Cleopatra at the Breakfast Table not only makes me want to be a better parent to my own teens, but also inspires me to dive even deeper into the endlessly fascinating classical world over which he and his daughter bonded.”
– Vicky Alvear Shecter, author of Cleopatra Rules! The Amazing Life of the Original Teen Queen
“… savvy irreverence … bracing and unexpected combinations, this guide propels us down any number of dream paths we might travel … down-to-earth approach … chatty, accessible tone.” – The Hamilton Spectator
“Book clubs, say the authors of this guidebook, are one of the hot literary trends. … They’re right too. … Heft and O’Brien, book-club veterans both, offer a complete inventory, from finding the right mix of people to structuring meetings and inviting guest speakers. An appendix lists 200 thoughtfully chosen works of both fiction and non-fiction to get you going.” – The Globe and Mail
“… electricity, banter, stimulation – call it what you will …” – Westender
“Build a Better Book Club will prove indispensable … helpful advice on a surprising variety of topics.” – Chapters Indigo
“One of the hottest trends … is the book club and the authors offer advice on everything from the books themselves … to creating the right social dynamic among your members.” – The Vancouver Province
“… interesting and informative reading. … the interviewer / letter writer, Peter O’Brien, was well-matched with the authors. … So To Speak is, unfortunately, the kind of book too often consigned to library shelves, appreciated by students and not the general reading public. With any luck, though, its worthiness to the average reader will be recognized.” – Marc Côté, The Globe and Mail
“… illuminating in an intellectual way … these interviews are fascinating and immensely valuable for their informal views they give us of creative minds at work.” – George Woodcock, Books in Canada
“A refreshingly random literary tour … The random nature of the book is the most refreshing thing about it. O’Brien’s intention was to provide a cross-section of literary voices – male and female, new and old, poet and storyteller – and ‘let the traditions falls where they may.’ So To Speak succeeds in doing that.” – Joel Yanofsky, The Montreal Gazette
“These interviews answer a modern need to add document to creation – a form of oral history … into … writers, their artistic experiments, their strivings, sincerities, postures and endeavours.” – Leon Edel, Winner of the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize
“So To Speak: Interviews With Contemporary Canadian Writers has something for every reader: human interest, political comment, the creative process, and more. … Editor Peter O’Brien manages to avoid ivory-tower irrelevance.” – Quill & Quire
“[The interviews] have spontaneity and that sense of exchange, rather than of statement, normally associated with the form. Certainly this volume contributes handsomely to our appreciation of writers and writing. … There is an openness in attitude in So To Speak.” – Essays on Canadian Writing
“I found Fatal Recurrences very enjoyable. Reading through themes and styles was like walking through the city. …” – The Observer
“… a grab-bag of jarringly diverse styles and approaches, ranging from the stiffly conventional to the wildly experimental … the writers include in Fatal Recurrences are indeed accomplished, and their work is worth reading.” – Robert Stewart, The Montreal Gazette
“This is a collection of intriguing, some very good, writing, questioning themes and realities that escape the city limits. This breaking of borders seems to me a great and powerful advantage.” – Alberto Manguel, NOW
“Rubicon should be applauded for its international vision… it regales us with in-depth interviews … home-grown poetry and fiction (both of high caliber), an abundance of consistently well-written reviews and the further pleasure of visual art.” – Irish Literary Supplement
“Interesting and authoritative … one of the major literary magazines we have in this country.” – Christopher Dewdney
“Surprisingly well-organized.” – Poetry Canada Review
“ ‘Traditionally, the history of modern literature in Canada begins with The McGill Fortnightly Review,’ [David McKnight] says. … McKnight considers Rubicon (1983-1989), edited by Peter O’Brien … to be ‘the most ambitious and most national in scope.’ ” – The McGill Reporter
Peter O'Brien 