Colwood resident Troy Townsin loves all things Canadian.
He has three published children’s books that marry his love of both Canada and Christmas.
While Townsin shares his love of Canada with anyone who picks up a book, he hasn’t always been Canadian.
He is originally from Australia, but after falling in love with a Canadian girl, he got married and decided to become a Canadian citizen.
He has released two new books just in time for the holiday season. The book The Night Before a Canadian Christmas is a twist on the famous poem A Visit from St. Nicholas.
“It’s a great family book,” Townsin said explaining he has included humour for both kids and adults.
For the children he has included beavers having snowball fights and for adults he had Santa replace the traditional reindeer for beavers named Gretzky, Trudeau, Shania and Loonie.
His second book released this year is Canadian Jingle Bells.
“It meant to be sung to the tune of jingle bells,” Townsin said.
The book follows Santa as he travels across the country delivering gifts to each province.
He wrote his first children’s book, A Moose in a Maple Tree, during the holiday season in 2008, when he became a Canadian citizen.
A Moose in a Maple Tree is Townsin’s reworked version of the Twelve Days of Christmas, Canadian style.
All of his children’s books are filled with Canadian referenced such as chesterfields, asking for a double-double, and toques.
“When I first came here I had no idea what a toque was,” Townsin said. In Australia a toque is referred to as a beanie.
On top of his books Townsin has also created a holiday compilation CD. All three of his books and been turned into songs. The album has 12 songs on it from artists such as Tegan and Sara, K.A.S.P. and The Turnpike Bandits.
Townsin has embraced Canadian culture and celebrating a Canadian Christmas each year with his family.
“Canadians celebrate Christmas so differently. In Australia Christmas is in the summer so we have a barbecue at the beach,” Townsin said.
One year he threw an Australian Christmas party in June that included a barbecue and holiday music.
For more information on Townsin and his work go to www.amooseinamapletree.com
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com