Former Axiom News writer publishes book
Novel aims to enhance nationalism and civic mindedness amongst young readers
Monday August 31, 2009 -- Deron Hamel
Roderick Benns, a former writer with Axiom News, says his time with the organization enhanced his belief that one’s work needs to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, and this is a driving force behind his new historical novel about the early life of former prime minister John Diefenbaker.

Benns says he hopes the book, entitled The Mystery of the Moonlight Murder: An Early Adventure of John Diefenbaker, will instil an enhanced sense of nationalism and civic mindedness amongst the young readers it’s aimed at.

“Canadian history and civic mindedness — those sorts of themes have always been important to me,” says Benns.

“(During) my time with Axiom, what it did was light a fire under me in the sense of realizing that it’s time to follow your passion and make sure that passion is meaningful enough to make a difference in the lives of others. . . . Axiom was very instrumental in changing my thinking.”

Benns, who is senior writer with the literacy and numeracy secretariat of the Ontario Ministry of Education, says he feels Canadians need to create a heightened sense of nationalism, and this book is his part in trying to shape that patriotism.

“I think the best thing that could happen would be to reach a critical number of kids, parents and grandparents to inculcate in them a sense of their country that I don’t think exists right now,” he says.

“(We need to) create that kind of nationalism that other countries have where we feel a strong attachment to our country and all the rights and responsibilities that go along with citizenship.”

Ideally, Benns says he would also like the book, which is the first in a series of Canadian historical fiction from Fireside Publishing House, to be a part of something even larger.

He says that not only children and their families can play a part in enhancing Canadian nationalism, but also corporations.

“We want to see this become nothing short of a movement,” he says. “We believe corporations want to have the opportunity to be involved in meaningful projects and we will give them the opportunity to come forward and play a role.”

The fictional account centres on a 12-year-old Diefenbaker, who would serve as Canada’s 13th prime minister from 1957-1963, and his younger brother as they try to clear the name of their neighbour in small-town Saskatchewan who has been wrongly accused of murder.

To learn more about Benns, click here to visit his website.

If you have feedback on this story, please call the newsroom at 800-294-0051, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.ca.

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