2011 Jack Matthews Fellow and award-winning Canadian author Nicolas Dickner presents "Writing with a Paddle", an evening of thought-provoking discussion about Canadian canoeing legend Bill Mason at the Canadian Canoe Museum.

Here's what Dickner says about his presentation:

"Much has been said about the influence of Bill Mason on canoeing and environmentalism, but could his influence reach other audiences too? Could his legendary Chestnut Prospector (on display at the Canadian Canoe Museum) be considered a mere (but potent) metaphor as well as a canoe?"

Nicolas Dickner was born in Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, in 1972 and travelled extensively in Europe and Latin America before settling in Montréal. His first novel,Nikolski, won five awards in Québec and France, and was the winner of Canada Reads 2010. He is currently a literary columnist for the weekly magazine Voir and is working on his third novel.

The Canadian Canoe Museum, in partnership with Lakefield College School and Trent University, created the Jack Matthews Fellowship to honour the distinguished founding contribution Matthews made to all three institutions.

Join Nicolas at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, January 26th at the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, Ontario. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged.

For more information about Dickner's presentation at the Canadian Canoe Museum go to www.canoemuseum.ca