2021 Heritage Calgary Awards

Howdy, I’m John Ware (Red Barn Books)
Winner of the 2021 Heritage Calgary Award: Heritage Storytelling

When an Alberta mother couldn’t find suitable books for her cowboy-crazed son, she decided to flex her news reporter skills and write her own. A moment of serendipity occurred for Ayesha Clough when she visited the Glenbow Museum and learned about John Ware.

Clough discovered Ware’s life was a true hero’s journey, and she set out to tell his story in a way that would resonate with children. Leveraging the talents of illustrator Hugh Rookwood, Ayesha created a lovely book that is adored by readers of all ages, while sharing an important story about a legendary Black cowboy. We met up with Ayesha and Hugh and asked them to tell us about the project in their own words.

HC: Tell us a little bit about your project.

Ayesha: “Howdy, I’m John Ware” is a children’s book about Canada’s legendary Black cowboy, who left behind a life of slavery and became one of Alberta’s most loved and respected ranchers.

The paperback edition was released in May 2020, followed by the animated-edition in February 2021. The book is published by Red Barn Books, a Carstairs-based micro-press owned and operated by Clough, with a focus on stories of western heritage and diverse histories.

HC: What’s your background in this area?

Ayesha: I have a news background, with a Masters in Journalism from UBC. While I had never written a children’s book before this one, I was able to put my research skills to work to tell an accurate story about a compelling hero.

HC: What inspired you to do this work?

Ayesha: When my son was three or four years old, we went to the library, and I couldn’t find any suitable books for little boys about cowboys and horses. I decided there was an opportunity to tell some stories about some of our province’s great heroes, particularly those who may not be as well known.

HC: Why is sharing stories about heritage important to you?

Ayesha: I think it’s important for our kids to know stories about great Albertans, and I try to tell those stories in a way that lets the reader understand that person’s strength of character and positive impact they made on their community.

I’ve since had the opportunity to share my book over Zoom to Alberta students, and then had a chance to bring the book to life on YouTube with a video version.

HC: What’s something specific you would like people to know about your work?

Ayesha: The book has received a lot of positive attention from schools, ranchers and Albertans. The book was illustrated by Hugh Rookwood, and he did an incredible job at showcasing John in a way that engages all people.

HC: What’s something people might be surprised to know or learn about your project?

Ayesha: People think Red Barn Books is a big operation, but it’s really just a few people! We are a small operation, but we have big hears and we believe in our projects. We really care about telling great stories.

HC: Describe what “heritage”means to you in one word.

Ayesha: Identity. Who we are, how we got here.

Hugh: History.

Howdy, I’m John Ware is written for ages 8-12. It aims to bring the real-life story of John Ware (1850-1905) to a new generation of Canadians, with a focus on elementary school students. It is written by Ayesha Clough, a former news reporter on a mission to create Alberta stories for Alberta kids. It is illustrated by comic book artist Hugh Rookwood, and animated by Steve Gervais.

HONOURABLE MENTION: GlobalFest OneWorld Spotlight Series

The Heritage Calgary Awards recognize the diverse heritage of our shared home. Every second year we honour those who have made efforts to identify, preserve, and promote heritage in Calgary to help enrich our communities.