SSA 150 Lynette Richards

SSA 150 Lynette Richards Let’s remember and be proud! lynette richards

The community response to the disastrous wreck of the SS Atlantic is an important example of Canadian heroism like our response to the SwissAir disaster and 911.

I volunteered since 2013 in the communities of Terence Bay Lower Prospect…
04/15/2026

I volunteered since 2013 in the communities of Terence Bay Lower Prospect…

Thank you Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail for dropping off a copy of the Children of the Atlantic. Can’t wait to read it!
04/01/2026

Thank you Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail for dropping off a copy of the Children of the Atlantic. Can’t wait to read it!

One of the primary goals of the SSA150 was to tell the stories that were missing from the historic record - those of wom...
04/01/2026

One of the primary goals of the SSA150 was to tell the stories that were missing from the historic record - those of women, and the (mostly) Catholic rescuers. When I joined the SSA in 2013, we were all women. The SSA Society, Museum and Park EXIST because local schoolteacher Muriel Bartlett rallied her community to clear the gravesite and get to work. In no particular order, here are the names of SOME of the many women who are equally experts, organizers, and champions. Add your own!
Women of the SSA
Muriel Bartlett, TB school teacher, rallied her community to clear the gravesite, create the SSA Society, and build the SSA Centre, Park and boardwalk,
Connie Drew, memory-keeper, long-time and honourary member of the SSA
Valda Kemp, champion and long-serving chair of the SSA
Deanne Ryan-Meister, museums and graphic design professional, president of the Titanic Society of Atlantic Canada,
Margaret Sagar served many years as Chair of the SSA, designed and hosted SSA events, wrote SSA150 grant applications
Rosalee Peppard Lockyer musician, historian, wrote the song Women of the Atlantic
Thelma Ryan, mother of descendants, community builder,
Melinda Spooner has led many classes for children about the SSA
Donna Norris, folk artist, descendant of rescuers, and of folk artist Joe Norris, continues painting and storytelling.
Emily Burton, Historian, museums, designed the SSA Oral History Project,
Kathy Kaulbach led the SSA to be certified by the Association of Nova Scotia Museums, enabling the SSA150 grants.
Jane Stewart and her quilters designed and created the SSA Women’s Quilt
Shirley Jollimore, descendant, current SSA Chair
Sheila Lamplaugh, songstress, wrote a ballad about the SSA
Lynette Richards, author of Call Me Bill, SSA BOD 2013-2019, Project Lead and Artist of the SSA150 Monuments
Sheree Fitch, author of the Gravesavers
Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail, recently published a book about the Children of the Atlantic

03/21/2026

Friends of Dartmouth Book Exchange Book Reviews.
Call Me Bill by Lynette Richards
The reasonable assumption that Bill who died in the sinking of the SS Atlantic in 1873 (and was discovered to be female) is also the Bill "lady sailor" of various contemporary newspaper accounts sets up this historical graphic novel. Bill's story is an apparently much-needed reminder that q***r folks have always been around and don't bother anyone (except authority figures who enforce gender roles). However, as the author notes, all we know for certain is that Bill liked to wear men's clothing and generally live as a man - their gender identity and sexuality are unknown (and contemporary newspaper accounts lean towards the sensational). I also appreciated this accessible and entertaining bit of maritime history (though, like much maritime history, it's rather grim).

The Bill of this story is a progressive darling. There's a context of anti-slavery efforts (Bill is American) and Victorian feminism, and I suppose that's possible, though it leans toward preachy. However, that may be appropriate for the targeted YA audience, and it's historical record that Bill's last act was saving others from the shipwreck.

Keeping in mind that I read few graphic novels and have little basis for comparison, the artwork is good - appropriate to the overall story, tone, and scenes. The format allows easy blending of contemporary newspaper accounts, imagery, and imagined documents. The lettering was occasionally challenging to read.

Overall, an accessible, attractive, and valuable contribution to maritime history and q***r visibility.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8448227411

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