A 5,000 km journey of love, loss and renewal
The Journey Home - A memoir by Ian Dickinson
A Memoir of Love, Loss, and a 5,000‑Kilometre Pilgrimage Across Eastern Canada
What began as a private journal written in honour of his late wife—who passed away during the pandemic, when no funeral was possible—grew into something far larger. It became a book shaped by a journey across Eastern Canada, carrying her ashes back to Newfoundland, the place she loved most and chose for her final rest.
The Journey Home invites you into that remarkable pilgrimage. It follows a winding coastal route through rugged landscapes, dramatic weather, abundant wildlife, and the quiet generosity of strangers. Intimate, visually rich, and deeply human, it explores grief with honesty—its weight, its unexpected beauty, and the moments of hope that rise along the way.
What You’ll Experience in the Book
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Icebergs, moose, whales, and vast seabird colonies
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Remote and abandoned communities that reveal the island’s past
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Newfoundland’s unique history and culture are unlike anywhere else in the world
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A French enclave on the island—and a journey to a piece of France just offshore
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Walks across some of the oldest rocks on Earth, and even a section of the planet’s mantle
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The oldest city in North America, where pirates once roamed
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Everything feels different here. This journey does too.
See what readers are saying about this book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐This book is an amazing tribute to an amazing lady. Not only did the author take Irene home on this beautiful journey, but it took us all through a husband’s personal reflection of bereavement, love and loss. Guided by the stars, spirits and earth’s wonders, it treks through Newfoundland’s rich history, both good and bad.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Just finished reading this book, excellent book, a great tribute to his wife, Irene, and a beautiful tribute to the province of Newfoundland. It’s a great read. I highly recommend this book
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Ian takes his readers through his journey of love, loss and grief. The tribulations and questions that are set before us after the death of a loved one. Woven into his story are educational tidbits concerning the history of the small Canadian island of Newfoundland and its unique relationship to the island of Jamaica. An enjoyable piece of history, blended into Ian's own. I will happily pass on a copy of this book to fellow islanders.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐This was the best love story ever. It took me through spectacular spots in Newfoundland, and the main character, who had actually created this story over many years, seemed to still be with us as the story was told. A very heartwarming story… a must-read… Good job !!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐The Journey Home is a raw, unfiltered account of love and sudden loss during the COVID pandemic, and how a husband fulfills his wife’s final wish—to take her ashes home to the shores of Newfoundland, her birthplace. This book really hits home - It’s honest and emotional, and I think it will resonate with anyone who has lost someone they love, and with those who feel connected to the East Coast and its stories.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐How does one move on from losing a soulmate? Ian Dickinson does it by returning his wife's ashes to her birthplace. In an epic trip starting from Ontario and ending in Newfoundland, Ian Dickinson takes us on a journey that includes familiar places where they camped, the friends they met, and the times they shared. Some memories are heart-wrenching and painful, but others are about the scenic beauty all around, the untold stories of the places they visited. There are many descriptions of birds and birding, an activity loved by both, as well as many pictures that give us a glimpse of the natural scenery. Finally, the author pays tribute to the ragged, natural beauty of Newfoundland and to the generous people who welcomed him with open arms when he emigrated to Canada. A truly enjoyable book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐The introduction is a capsule of an adult’s immigrant life. A Chemistry teacher’s trip to his assumption of a job in Canada; he was running away. Within a year, he meets and marries Irene, a Canadian woman, then, with her support, he settles into his new country, attends University, changes professions and raises a family. After a forty-five-year marriage, in her early retirement, she becomes ill and dies. The story is about a trip from Ontario to a town just west of St. John, Newfoundland. Irene and Ian have made this trip to the Burin Peninsula many times, to Irene’s family seat and the site of a Dickinson property. He is driving a comfortable car, and his only companions are Irene’s urn and his thoughts; It’s been a year since her death, and he has planned this trip. There are reminiscences that are clearly pleasant to him and others, and others in which he expresses regret about his self-evaluation. More than once, he refers to his traits of Baby-Boomer maleness and episodes of loneliness that Irene tolerated and understood. An increased post-mortem appreciation is difficult to ignore, especially when included with the sense that he wishes that he had reciprocated her unquestioned commitment. Interactions and expectations on the job did not help. The prevailing sentiment was gratitude to Irene, his chief supporter and facilitator in all of his Canadian undertakings. It was invaluable to have a detailed Newfoundland map as a print for this cross-island trip with peninsular wanderings. Arriving at Irene’s family’s homes affirms the deep appreciation and respect shared by this Kittitian and a Newfoundland family. Her parents’ unreserved welcome almost five decades earlier was still effortless to their children. Ian’s offspring and their families met him in Little Barasway. The Journey Home is about a lot more than the placing of ashes. Ian opens up a bit. Do not miss the post ashes event and return to Ontario.
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Ian Dickinson is a scientist and engineer who moved from St. Kitts to Newfoundland in 1976, where he met and married his late wife, Irene. His years in the province fostered a lasting connection to its landscapes and wildlife, and he later became an avid birder and photographer, with several of his wildlife images published. After relocating to Belleville, Ontario, for work in the telecom industry, he maintained close ties to Newfoundland and its natural spaces.
This book reflects his long engagement with the outdoors, travel, and the quiet details of the living world.