Toller Cranston: Ice, Paint, Passion

5 Star Review

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Editorial Book Review:

By TJ Brown

People don't usually leave behind something as bold and one-of-a-kind as this book. This book is about someone who wouldn't fit into a box and instead changed the rules of sports and art to suit their own needs. In these pages, a person who was more than just an artist or skater comes to life. This person was a force of nature who lived with intensity, emotion, and a strong desire to express themselves creatively.

What struck me most about the story was how well it brought together different parts of a deep life. There's more to this person's story than how good they looked in public. Their tough times, wins, and never-ending drive also made them special. Although these stories are about successful and brilliant people, they show what was going on in the mind of someone who had to deal with their own fears, expectations, and limits. It's not just a biography; it also looks at what it means to give your all to your work, to make sacrifices, and to push the limits even when everyone else doesn't.

The visuals in the book add an entirely new dimension. When you put the art next to the personal photos and memories, it's clear that this person had a unique view of the world and could turn feelings into movement, color, and life. The pictures don't just go with the story; they make it better by letting readers feel the emotion behind the art.

The thing I liked most about it was how honest it was. The flaws are not hidden, and the picture of success is not cleaned up. If anything, it's the flaws, problems, and times when you doubt yourself that make a person great. The story is deep, interesting, and full of personal details. This makes it feel less like a history and more like a trip through the mind of a creative genius.

For anyone who has ever felt the pull of artistic ambition, who has ever struggled with the balance of talent and expectation, this book is an inspiring, thought-provoking read that lingers long after the final page.

About the Author

Phillippa Cranston Baran

Phillippa Cranston Baran is a Canadian writer/producer of hundreds of film and video projects including Seekers, a 32-part national television series focused on youth issues from an indigenous perspective. She has written fiction for kids and adults, and non-fiction for public and private sector clients on subjects ranging from (NBC) Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defence in the Military to Best Practices in Early Childhood Education in indigenous communities. She is proud of particular expertise in employment and career development especially with marginalized and at-risk populations.

After graduating with a BA from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and an MA in Film Studies from UCLA, she taught film at Western University in London, Ontario. She and her professor husband, Dan, left the university to start a dairy goat enterprise. She became a licensed dairy goat judge, wrote for Harrowsmith magazine, and co-created the Canadian Goat Information Resource Centre. The Barans built the first dairy processing plant in Canada in forty years. They pasteurized and packaged goat milk; made ice cream, cheese, and yogurt; and delivered product to health food stores throughout central and southwestern Ontario.

She is a competitive Duplicate Bridge player and holds the rank of Ruby Life Master. She lives in the original Cranston family cottage on the Ottawa River near Arnprior, Canada.