Book signing a reminder that the past makes a perfect present

The past is the perfect present, says Chris Edwards.

The UWindsor grad (BA 1983, MA 1985) and his life and business partner Elaine Weeks (BA 1985) have already sold 4,000 copies of their nostalgic coffee table book, 500 Ways You Know You’re From Windsor. They will sign copies as a pre-holiday promotion at the University Bookstore kiosk in the CAW Student Centre on Wednesday, December 12, from noon to 2 p.m.

The book takes a fun and interesting approach to the history of Windsor, with hundreds of full-colour photos of everything from Bob-Lo Island amusement park to drive-in movie theatres and suburban shopping centres.

Edwards says the period covered by the book made an interesting change of pace.

“We thought it would be fun to sell books that the baby boomers would be interested in,” he says. “We thought people would relate to it.”

Weeks interjects: “We wanted it to be fun for readers, too.”

The couple established Walkerville Publishing in 1998. Their previous books include Windsor Then: A Pictorial Essay of Windsor Ontario’s Glorious Past; Postcards from the Past: Windsor & the Border Cities; and Best of the Times, a collection of historical pieces drawn from their Times Magazine.

Weeks says she appreciates the continuing support of the campus community, noting that the University Bookstore has stocked each of the company’s books. Wednesday’s signing will offer copies of 500 Ways You Know You’re From Windsor at the price of $30.

Learn more about the book and see a video related to Windsor history on the Walkerville Publishing website.

— by Autumn Tousignant