Sch-Beyond Forget

Montreal freelance writer Abley grew up in the Canadian West and here describes a journey he took in 1985 through the Prairie Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Most interesting are his accounts of the various colonies of immigrants who put down roots in this area, ranging from national groups like Icelanders to religious sects like Mennonites and Hutterites, to blacks seeking freedom they could not find in the U.S. He also discusses Indians, treated as badly in Canada as in this country, and the countryside itself, from the frozen frontier of Churchill, on Hudson Bay, to the West Edmonton Mall, a monument to consumerism and bad taste. Excellently written and intriguing to read. (March 28)