At 103 years old, former WWII bomber pilot Reg Crash Harrison is still reading about aviation adventures

Whenever I am in Saskatoon, which is about 250 kilometres north of where I live in Saskatchewan, Canada, I visit my friend and former book subject Reginald "Crash" Harrison. I wrote Reg's life story in the award-winning book Crash Harrison: Tales of a Bomber Pilot Who Defied Death, and I always enjoy our visits.

Now at 103 years and two months old, Reg admitted to me, "I think my old age is finally catching up with me."

"Oh my goodness, Reg. You're 103. I suppose it's bound to happen."

This feisty gentleman survived four plane crashes (none of which were his fault) as a bomber pilot during the Second World War. He has a remarkable recall of those events and was a pleasure to interview during the process of writing, editing, and publishing that book. Reg met his late wife as part of his war story, which turned into a beautiful love story and is also detailed in our book. 

Author-publisher Deana J Driver
and 103-year-old Reg "Crash" Harrison
Saskatoon, SK, Canada, Oct. 5, 2025

Reg still reads every day, even though he's lost some eyesight and some of his previous physical strength, despite lifting eight-pound weights daily for the last few decades. He still follows Canadian news and events, and enjoys watching Toronto Blue Jays games on TV.

During my recent visit, I brought Reg a copy of my latest book, Flying a Gooney Bird in Canada's North: A Bush Pilot's Adventures, which I co-authored with the book's subject, Dorrin Wallace. I knew Reg would enjoy the book because he has a vast collection of aviation and war history books that he still refers to in conversation.

Reg immediately took the book over to his screen magnifier and placed it under the viewing device. It was such a delight to watch this unfold!

Reg "Crash" Harrison, getting his first look at Deana Driver's new book
by Dorrin Wallace,
Flying a Gooney Bird in Canada's North: A Bush Pilot's Adventures

Reg "Crash" Harrison, looking at the cover page of
Deana Driver's new book by Dorrin Wallace,
Flying a Gooney Bird in Canada's North: A Bush Pilot's Adventures

Reg is a member of the renowned Guinea Pig Club because he received experimental plastic surgery on a wound he suffered during the Second World War. He was also named an Honorary Snowbird by the Canadian Forces aerobatic team, which presented him on his 100th birthday with the metal plaque seen behind Reg and me in the top photo.

Honorary Pilot, SPS Air Support Unit plaque for Reg "Crash" Harrison

Reg's latest accolade came from the Saskatoon Police Service, which named him an Honorary Pilot of their Air Support Unit on the day before his 103rd birthday. Reg was delighted to show off the award, which adds to all the others adorning his apartment walls.

Well earned, kind sir. It's always a pleasure to see you.

Deana J Driver and Reg "Crash" Harrison, age 103,
Oct 5, 2025

Fun book launches should always begin with an author pilot flying in on a Cessna

The latest book I've published has led to numerous "firsts" during my 24 years as an author, editor, and independent Canadian book publisher. Here is a snapshot of what happened during an exciting two weeks launching Flying a Gooney Bird in Canada's North: A Bush Pilot's Adventures with the book's subject and author, Dorrin Wallace.

This is the first time I've co-authored an entire book, although I've written five nonfiction books as the sole author and contributed pieces to more than a dozen other Canadian books. So that's been fun!

Dorrin's anecdotes about his 40 years as a bush pilot taught me a lot about what it takes to safely fly airplanes through inclement weather, landing on windy or frozen lakes or small airfields while avoiding trees, rocks, and the occasional animal that crosses the runway while the plane is landing! I've published four other books about aviation adventures (Flight: Stories of Canadian Aviation, Volumes 1 to 3, plus Crash Harrison: Tales of a Bomber Pilot Who Defied Death), but this detailed look at being a pilot and aircraft maintenance engineer has given me a first-person look at being a solo pilot. 

Evan Bray with Dorrin Wallace and Deana J Driver
Oct. 1, 2025

Dorrin and I were invited to talk about our book launch on the Evan Bray Show on CJME/ CKOM radio. I've been interviewed several times on the John Gormley Show, the predecessor to this talk show, but this was my first time as a guest on Evan Bray's show. What fun! Listen to the October 1st audio clip.

To get from his home in Saskatoon to the radio studio in Regina for the interview, Dorrin asked his friend Murray Louden to fly him south to Regina in Murray's Cessna 180. That's the second time an author of mine has come to Regina on an aircraft to promote their book. In November 2023, Romie Christie flew to Regina from Calgary, Alberta, to launch her inspiring book about her parents' war story/love story, See You in Le Touquet: A Memoir of War and Destiny. But this was the first time a small aircraft was "chartered" for a radio show interview promoting one of the books I've published! So cool. 

I picked up Dorrin at the Regina airport, and away we went to the CJME studio. After the radio show, we returned to the Regina Flying Club, where we signed boxes of books to send to retailers. That was a first-time experience at that location! Thanks to Murray for arranging the space with the accommodating staff of the Flying Club. 

Dorrin Wallace with Deana J Driver
at the Regina Flying Club

As Dorrin and Murray prepared to go back to Saskatoon, I asked if I could walk out to the airplane with them, which I did. I took their photos in front of Murray's Cessna, to be used specifically in this blog post. Another first!

Murray Louden with his Cessna and author Dorrin Wallace

Dorrin Wallace with the Cessna C-FPXT

As we walked to the Cessna, Dorrin told me a great story about Murray's Cessna, which Dorrin flew as a bush pilot in northern Saskatchewan!

"When Murray told me he bought C-FPXT, I said, 'I know that plane. The last time I flew it, it was loaded with 1,000 pounds of moose meat." On that trip in 1974, Dorrin was flying from Uranium City to Prince Albert with the aircraft overloaded.

Dorrin smiled as he told me, 'Some guys on the dock wanted to make me a bet that I couldn't get airborne, because of the weight of the moose meat and the full tanks of gas. I told them to save their money, I would get airborne, and I did." But it wasn't an easy task, explained Dorrin. "I climbed for 150 miles to get up to altitude. I should have been at altitude at 10 miles. I was about 700 pounds overloaded for that airplane." Oh, my.

Dorrin Wallace, about to board Murray's plane

Flying a Gooney Bird in Canada's North - A Bush Pilot's Adventures
by Dorrin Wallace with Deana J Driver
published by DriverWorks Ink, DRIVERWORKS.CA

A few days after the radio interview, my beau, Marlowe, became my chauffeur and assistant for the book launch at the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum in Saskatoon, about 270 km northwest of Regina. This was the first time that I had Marlowe's presence and support at a book launch! I am grateful that he took photos and videos of the event so I could focus on the proceedings. I am also grateful to the Saskatchewan Writers' Guild for author reading assistance for this event and to Creative Saskatchewan for book publishing production assistance of Flying a Gooney Bird in Canada's North!

The Saskatchewan Aviation Museum and Learning Centre, Saskatoon, SK

Surprisingly, this was the first time someone took photos (or perhaps the first time someone showed me photos) of me as I was deep in conversation with the author before an event! Thanks, Marlowe, for that reminder of some of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into launching a book.

Dorrin Wallace with Deana J Driver

Dorrin Wallace with Deana J Driver

Dorrin Wallace with Deana J Driver
at the launch of their book
Flying a Gooney Bird in Canada's North: A Bush Pilot's Adventures

Thank you to everyone who came to our
Saskatchewan Aviation Museum book launch of
Flying a Gooney Bird in Canada's North!

Author Dorrin Wallace with book cover photographer Roberta Wells
and co-author/publisher Deana J Driver of DriverWorks Ink

It was nice to meet Roberta Wells, the woman who took the photo of Dorrin and the DC-3 (also known as a Gooney Bird) that we used on the cover of our book, but this was the first time I've been in a photo as a photographer pretended to kiss the book's author just for a laugh! So silly.

Book cover photographer Roberta Wells pretends to get fresh with author Dorrin Wallace
while co-author/publisher Deana J Driver of DriverWorks Ink just sits back and smiles

To end this terrific day, Marlowe added more firsts by suggesting that he could take a video (1) of Dorrin and me chatting in front of the DC-3 (2) that is a prized exhibit at the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum. Enjoy the video!

 

Throwback moments seeing several former journalism colleagues all on one day

It was Regina Leader-Post Day for me today! It began with a pre-birthday lunch for my dear friend Susan Craig (on the far right), who is known as "Auntie Sooz" to my kids, and my dear friend Maureen Baker (in the centre), who has been our group's "social convenor," and we appreciate that! Our husbands all worked together at the Leader-Post for decades.

At the table next to us, unplanned but cool, sat three former Leader-Post photographers - Bryan Schlosser, Don Healy, and Troy Foster. What a nice surprise. As the guys had a photo taken of them together, I was having a sip of water in the background! We had fun visiting and catching up with each other.

Then I travelled to another part of the city to get a haircut, and I ran into Darrell Davis, a longtime L-P sports writer I worked with on two books he co-wrote (Football in Focus and Jim Hopson's Running the Riders)!

My last stop of the day was to deliver some complimentary copies of the new book I co-wrote with Dorrin Wallace, Flying a Gooney Bird in Canada's North, to former L-P editorial journalist Will Chabun, who helped me and author Mary Harelkin Bishop edit this fascinating book of aviation tales.

What a great blast-from-the-past day! Proving once again that some work relationships can endure for decades.

As a fun aside, and I've never told Bryan this, I am still using the Dahle paper cutter I bought from him in 1983 when he shut down his photo processing lab because of his work at the L-P, and I decided to start my freelance writing and set up a photography darkroom in my house. The handle of the paper cutter finally came loose and broke off a couple of weeks ago, but it still works great and has been a sturdy, valuable (and inexpensive) tool in my home office for 42 years. Thanks, Bryan!

Signing books with 102-year-old Reg Crash Harrison

Few things are more enjoyable to me as an author and book publisher than watching someone take pleasure in sharing their story with others. I've had this privilege many times during my 20 years of writing and publishing books about Western Canadian people.

I've watched numerous authors read sections from their books, which I helped them publish, and I've sat beside several unsung Canadian heroes who have spoken about their inspiring lives and signed copies of a book I've written about them.

 
The most recent event like this was at the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum in Saskatoon, where I sat beside 102-year-old Reginald "Crash" Harrison and heard the silence as more than 100 people listened to me read excerpts from our award-winning book Crash Harrison: Tales of a Bomber Pilot Who Defied Death, and then listened even more intently as almost-103-year-old Reg expanded on his life story.

Reg grew up in rural Saskatchewan during the Dirty Thirties and went off to war in search of adventure. He survived four plane crashes while serving as a bomber pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force out of England (none of which were his fault). Reg commented on how Canadians did not know the real numbers behind the "moderate losses" reported of men lost during the war, because the British government did not wish to cause panic among its people, and Canada reported what the British media told them.

I read the story of Reg's first plane crash, where he woke up and thought he might be in heaven. Reg talked about losing his best friend "Buddy" during the training program in England, and how he met Buddy's fiancée when he was on his way home to the farm after the war. 

Although Reg Harrison does not consider himself a hero, his story is one of heroism, and it is one I am grateful to have documented for this and future generations to know and cherish.

I am thankful to the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum for hosting this author reading event and to the Saskatchewan Writers' Guild for its Author Reading Program support. Thanks to all who attended, to those who purchased books, and to Reg's daughter Laurie for her help at the event.

Much of my gratitude goes to Reg, of course, I will always be grateful to him for sharing his story with me, culminating in this book. 

You can learn more about the Crash Harrison book and Reg's adventures during the war on my YouTube page as well as on Facebook.

Meanwhile, enjoy these photos from the author reading event at the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum. 

   
102-year-old Reg "Crash" Harrison with author-publisher Deana J Driver, July 6, 2025 

Saskatchewan Aviation Museum, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

Author Deana J Driver, left, with Shelley Jensen
of the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum, July 6, 2025

Part of the audience for the Crash Harrison author reading,
at the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum, July 6/25

The other half of the audience that filled the room
at the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum author reading event

Author Deana J Driver listens as 102-year-old Reg "Crash" Harrison
tells the audience about his adventures during the Second World War,
July 6, 2025 

Author Deana J Driver and 102-year-old Reg "Crash" Harrison
during the author reading at the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum, July 6/25

102-year-old Reg "Crash" Harrison with author Deana J Driver
and Reg's daughter Laurie and sister Sylvia (standing), July 6/25 

Author Deana J Driver and 102-year-old Reg "Crash" Harrison,
Saskatoon, SK, July 6, 2025

Author Deana J Driver and 102-year-old Reg "Crash" Harrison
signing Crash Harrison books, July 6/25

Reg Harrison and author Deana J Driver chatting with audience members, July 6/25

Speaking Out and Standing Out with Canadian Children's Authors at CANSCAIP Prairie Horizons conference

The 2025 Prairie Horizons conference of the Saskatchewan chapter of the Canadian Association of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers was a great success! Set in beautiful downtown Saskatoon, conference attendees explored the theme of Don't Drop Out: Speak Out, Stand Out. I am grateful to organizers Yvonne Denomy, Mary Harelkin Bishop, and Maureen Ulrich for inviting me to speak as part of a publishing panel and to share notes on manuscript evaluations with three of the attendees.

The publishing panel addressed these topics (some of my responses are in parentheses):  

- What are the challenges for publishers and editors? (Cost of production; selling and marketing the books; lack of financial support for indie publishers & authors)

- What helps an author or manuscript/illustrator stand out, and what is a publisher looking for in a manuscript? (A unique topic/storyline/approach to a subject; great writing that tells the story and helps the reader care about the characters; for DriverWorks Ink books, a story that readers can learn something from, to help make the world a better place)

-  What are tips to encourage aspiring authors and illustrators to stay the course? (Keep going; try to not be discouraged by a rejection letter; try to look at comments or criticisms of the written work as opportunities for improvement; keep searching until you find an editor/publisher who is a good fit for you and your work)

- What do authors/illustrators need to know about Artificial Intelligence (Be careful; use it sparingly and cautiously; add an AI clause in your contracts to protect yourself and your publisher; know that AI  copies sources without permission or compensation to the originators of the ideas; check for the source of the information to confirm it is correct and not plagiarized; be cautious that you are not stealing the creations of others)

The conference had numerous sessions and events in addition to those in which I participated. It's always nice to learn something new and connect with other writers, authors, and publishers. Thanks again to CANSCAIP Saskatchewan for hosting a great conference.

Enjoy these photos from CANSCAIP's 2025 Prairie Horizons Conference.

Blogger and Book Editor Brian Henry, Deana Driver of DriverWorks Ink, Emma Sakamoto of Groundwood Books, and Edward Willett of Shadowpass Press 

Author and Spoken Word artist Khodi Dill inspired the audience to speak out against injustice

Author and Storyteller Cort Dogniez shared why authors should speak out about history and injustice

Three award-winning DriverWorks Ink authors (left to right) Mary Harelkin Bishop, Deana J Driver, and Jennifer S Wallace at the 2025 Prairie Horizons conference

A view of downtown Saskatoon and the South Saskatchewan River, May 2025

Eat Dessert First and Fly into the Grand Canyon

Plenty of people create a "bucket list" of activities they want to do or achieve in their lifetime. I am not one of those people. During a recent vacation, however, I did remember a couple of things I thought would be fun to do. And I was delighted to be able to do them! 

Both happened because of the new man in my life, which also makes me happy to report.

Even more fun-loving and adventurous than I am, Marlowe acted quickly when I commented to him and some friends that I've always wanted to eat dessert first.

Although my friends thought it was a good idea and were game to try it, I chickened out when the server brought us menus at a restaurant in Oceanside, California. I felt like I should not force my whims onto everyone else at the table. But I should have remembered who I was with.

My friends and Marlowe are not people who are prone to backing away from a fun experiment. I am grateful that they can be silly like me.

The server was befuddled when our dessert requests came first, but we convinced him we were serious, and away he went to place our orders.

The chocolate mousse, mudpie, bananas foster, and crème brûlée were delicious!

I highly recommend eating dessert first. You end up ordering a lighter meal afterward while still getting the deliciousness of dessert into your tummy. Win-win! 

Thanks to Roy, Carla, and their daughter Alicia for playing with us!

A couple of weeks later, on this same vacation in the USA, a second item on my non-existent bucket list was fulfilled - my desire to go on a helicopter flight into the Grand Canyon.

When I mentioned this idea to Marlowe, he was also interested and made it happen! Yes, I am a fortunate woman.

During a trip to Las Vegas to see some shows, we booked a flight to the Grand Canyon with Maverick Helicopters. It was my first time flying in a helicopter, but I was assured that the flight would be smooth and safe, so the nerves were quickly gone as soon as we took off.

We were lucky enough to be seated beside the pilot on the first leg of the trip, so we had a fabulous view as we flew into the canyon. Wow!

We landed at the base of the canyon, beside the Colorado River, and had a small snack plus photo opportunities before taking off to head back to Vegas.

Such a wonderful, memorable experience. 

 

As widowers, both Marlowe and I know that each day should be treated as precious. We are committed to doing what we can, together, to enjoy each moment as best we can. I am grateful to Marlowe for coming into my life and for helping me live my life to the fullest.

I hope you can travel your road and check off items on your bucket list with a fun-loving someone too.

A Surprise Connection to Reg "Crash" Harrison's Family Farm

Selling my books at craft and trade shows on the Canadian Prairies is usually a fun and fascinating exercise in which I meet avid readers and get ideas for future stories to write and/or publish. Sometimes, people praise my publishing efforts and the nonfiction or historical fiction books they particularly enjoyed. But the lovely surprise at a craft show in Swift Current in October 2024 was a unique experience.

A few minutes before the show closed on its final day, a woman came running up to my booth, clutching her copy of my book Crash Harrison: Tales of a Bomber Pilot Who Defied Death. "I made it!" she said. "I told my husband I met you yesterday and it was too bad I didn't have my book with me. He asked when the show ended today and told me I still had time to get back here!" Which she did, and I promptly autographed the book for her.

But that wasn't the only reason for her return visit. This time, she brought her cellphone, which contained photos she wanted to show me of an important farmhouse.

You see, Arlie (Dreger) Neufeld was raised on a farm at Lorlie, Saskatchewan, just down the road from Reg "Crash" Harrison, the 102-year-old subject of my book. Reg was a bomber pilot in England in the Second World War who had survived four plane crashes and numerous close calls. I wrote the biography about Reg's childhood on the farm at Finnie, SK, his adventures during his war years, and his life afterward, including being made an Honorary Snowbird by the famed Canadian aerobatics team.

Author-publisher Deana Driver and Arlie (Dreger) Neufeld

When Arlie first spoke with me, she said her sister Loretta was a friend of Reg's youngest sister Sylvia, so she wasn't sure if Reg would know her. Arlie then asked when Reg had last been to the area where they grew up - a question I did not have an answer for. She talked about how she'd been out there recently and had taken photos of the farmhouse. She would have shown them to me except she'd left her phone at home.

So here she was on Day Two of the show, posing for a photo with me and the book, and showing me photos of the farmhouse - the Harrisons' farmhouse, not the house her family lived in!

I was astounded and pleased. I had thought Arlie was talking about photos of her family's farmhouse, not Reg's. This was a great surprise!

Harrison family's farmhouse, Finnie, SK, 2024
Photo by Arlie (Dreger) Neufeld

Side view of Harrison family's farmhouse, Finnie, SK, 2024
Photo by Arlie (Dreger) Neufeld

Harrison family's farmhouse, Finnie SK, 1960
(one of the 98 photos in the Crash Harrison book)

I wish I'd had those recent photos for the book, but I didn't know the house was still standing or I probably would have driven out to take some photos myself.

Oh well. The things you learn after a book has been published.

Thanks, Arlie, for coming back to the craft show and sharing those images with me.

Reg and his daughter Laurie, and his sister Sylvia were all tickled by the reconnection and the photos. They all say, "Hi, neighbour! And thank you!"

Reginald "Crash" Harrison and author Deana J Driver, 2023