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TAKING CARE WITH Ben Galeski How important is it to you to convey a Catholic message through your books? I’m a Catholic, and so my books are Catholic fiction, but it’s subtle. I’ve always felt that inviting people to faith should be like a whisper and not a shout. So the Christianity, especially in my first two books, really whispers. You don't have to be a faithful per- son to enjoy the books, but the worldview is there, and if you're keen to it, you'll pick it up. Do you have plans for future novels? Maybe. If there is another story waiting to be excavated, it’ll be about one of the characters from my previous novels. I’ve created a bit of an alternate universe where my characters live. When I write again, I’ll go back to that universe. You always have a fiction book and a history book on the go. What is your favourite from each of these categories and why? I love everything by Stephen King. He’s such a good storyteller and I can’t read enough of his work. I also love Michael O’Brien, a Catholic novelist from Ontario. His work really inspired me to become a writer myself. Regarding nonfiction, there is just so much! I just finished Cornelius Ryan’s three classics, The Longest Day, A Bridge Too Far and The Last Battle . They may be the best nonfiction I’ve ever read. Drawing on your historical knowledge, when do you think the Calgary Flames will finally win another Stanley Cup? This year! I’m an eternal optimist. Every new be- ginning can end in victory. Regarding the Oilers, I really tried to cheer for them during their run to the Stanley Cup Final, and my logical brain said I should, as a fellow Canadian team. Unfortunately, my emotional side made it difficult. My love for the Flames is too deep and forged in the fires of the 1980s Battle of Alberta.
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Within a week he received a reply requesting his manu- script. He sent it. They liked it and published it. “I was just floored. I just couldn’t believe that that had happened. One guy in Ottawa who owns this little publishing company ... liked my story and took a chance on me.” Galeski went on to write two more novels, which Justin Press also published. He’s sold a few hundred copies of each book. “I’m just grateful that I have books on a shelf with my name and ... my voice can trickle down to my children and grandchildren even when I’m gone,” Galeski says. “I know I’m never going to become a famous author and I never did it to do that. I had stories to tell … if people enjoy the books, that’s just gravy.” TAKE CARE Looking back at the changes he’s experienced since leaving the principalship, Galeski can see clearly that the move was necessary for his own wellness. “I had to go back to my passion, which is teaching, and I'll tell you, in these last seven years, I’ve done more things than I ever could have imagined, and I would never have been able to do them had I stayed in the principalship because it just demanded too much of me.” Going forward, Galeski has taken it upon himself to share his own story of self-care, advocating for teachers to do what’s best for them even if it feels like failure. “I just want to encourage people that they don’t have to stay in situations that they know they can’t sustain, that they know are taking too great a toll.” ATA
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ATA Magazine Fall 2025
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