Ted Barris

For its final event of the 2012 season, the Newmarket Probus Club finishes with a bang. On Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013, the club has booked Ted Barris for a talk and visual presentation based on his brand new book, The Great Escape: A Canadian Story. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Hollywood blockbuster movie The Great Escape, (with Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, etc.). But as Ted will demonstrate drawing from his book, the most famous WWII POW breakout was not a story of British heroes and Yankee know-how. The Great Escape was very much a story of Canadian leadership and courage. It’s more exciting than the Hollywood movie. And it’s all true!.

When: 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013.

Where: Seton Hall, 17955 Leslie St., Newmarket, Ontario.

Contact: Richard Furlong, 905-853-4625, furlongrj@rogers.com

At its annual “Honour Our Veterans” Luncheon in 2011, the Askennonia Senior Centre featured a visit from historian/author Ted Barris. This year, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013, he returns, bringing a talk and visual presentation based on his brand new book, The Great Escape: A Canadian Story. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Hollywood blockbuster movie The Great Escape, (with Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, etc.). But as Ted will demonstrate drawing from his book, the most famous WWII POW breakout was not a story of British heroes and Yankee know-how. The Great Escape was very much a story of Canadian leadership and courage. It’s more exciting than the Hollywood movie. And it’s all true!.

When: Noon, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013.

Where: Askennonia Senior Centre, 527 Len Self Blvd., Midland, Ontario.

Contact: Judy Contin, executive director of Askennonia Senior Centre, 705-526-7609, jcontin@rogers.com

Last fall, the Simcoe County Historical Association featured a visit from historian/author Ted Barris. This year, teaming up with the Barrie Royal Canadian Legion, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013, he returns, bringing a talk and visual presentation based on his brand new book, The Great Escape: A Canadian Story. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Hollywood blockbuster movie The Great Escape, (with Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, etc.). But as Ted will demonstrate drawing from his book, the most famous WWII POW breakout was not a story of British heroes and Yankee know-how. The Great Escape was very much a story of Canadian leadership and courage. It’s more exciting than the Hollywood movie. And it’s all true!.

When: 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013.

Where: Barrie, Ontario.

Contact: Earl Elliott, 866-734-3600, earl.elliott@rogers.com

On Monday, Oct. 7, 2013, the Burlington Historical Society will feature a visit from historian Ted Barris. Ted brings a talk and visual presentation about his brand new book, The Great Escape: A Canadian Story. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Hollywood blockbuster movie The Great Escape, (with Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, etc.). But as Ted will demonstrate drawing from his book, the most famous WWII POW breakout was not a story of British heroes and Yankee know-how. The Great Escape was very much a story of Canadian leadership and courage. It’s more exciting than the Hollywood movie. And it’s all true!.

When: 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 7, 2013.

Where: Burlington Central Library, 2331 New Street, Burlington, Ontario.

Contact: Ken Davy, 905-333-1345, kdavy@cogeco.ca

Each fall, for much of the past decade, Ted Barris has made special arrangements to be available to speak at the annual Southwold Township Remembrance observance. The organizers have invited Ted back to speak on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, as part of its annual tribute to veterans. This year, Ted brings a talk and visual presentation about his brand new book, The Great Escape: A Canadian Story. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Hollywood blockbuster movie The Great Escape, (with Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, etc.). But as Ted will demonstrate drawing from his book, the most famous WWII POW breakout was not a story of British heroes and Yankee know-how. The Great Escape was very much a story of Canadian leadership and courage. It’s more exciting than the Hollywood movie. And it’s all true!.

When: 9:30 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013.

Where: Southwold Township Centre, Shedden, Ontario.

Contact: Michele Lant, 519-769-2010, mlant@twp.southwold.on.ca

The North Burlington Women’s Probus Club has invited back Ted Barris as its guest speaker this fall. Members may recall (back in 2011) his presentation on the importance of getting veterans to talk. On Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013, Ted brings a talk and visual presentation about his brand new book, The Great Escape: A Canadian Story. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Hollywood blockbuster movie The Great Escape, (with Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, etc.). But as Ted will demonstrate drawing from his book, the most famous WWII POW breakout was not a story of British heroes and Yankee know-how. The Great Escape was very much a story of Canadian leadership and courage. It’s more exciting than the Hollywood movie. And it’s all true!.

When: 10 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013.

Where: Burlington Arts Centre, Burlington, Ontario.

Contact: Sue Auld, 905-632-6433, suzanne.auld@bell.net

The annual “Harvest Café” in Flesherton, Ontario, has invited Ted Barris as a special guest this year. On Friday evening, Oct. 25, 2013, Ted brings a talk and visual presentation about his brand new book, The Great Escape: A Canadian Story. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Hollywood blockbuster movie The Great Escape, (with Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, etc.). But as Ted will demonstrate drawing from his book, the most famous WWII POW escape was not a story of British heroes and Yankee know-how. The Great Escape was very much a story of Canadian leadership and courage. It’s more exciting than the Hollywood movie. And it’s all true!.

When: 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 25, 2013.

Where: Grey Highlands Public Library, Flesherton, Ontario.

Contact: Wilda Allen, 519-924-2241, flepub@bmts.com

On Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, Ted Barris speaks at The Albany Club in Toronto about the most famous Second World War prison break. In his renowned storytelling style, Ted brings a talk and visual presentation about his brand new book, The Great Escape: A Canadian Story. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Hollywood blockbuster movie The Great Escape, (with Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, etc.). But as Ted will demonstrate from his book, the most famous WWII POW escape was not a story of British heroes and Yankee know-how. The Great Escape was very much a story of Canadian leadership and courage. It’s more exciting than the Hollywood movie. And it’s all true!

When: 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013.

Where: The Albany Club, 91 King Street East,

Contact: Ed Sparling, Pres. Fort York Legion Branch 165, 416-398-0424.

During a return visit to speak to the Scarborough Historical Society, Ted Barris will pay tribute to a group of veterans whose unique experience changed the complexion of the Second World War. Based on his bestselling 2004 book, “JUNO: Canadians at D-Day, June 6, 1944,” Ted looks at some of the unheralded Canadians who made the greatest military gamble of the Second World War succeed. Operation Overlord depended on the lightning strike capability and efficiency of all three Allied armies – U.S., British and Canadian – on D-Day. Ted Barris’s definitive book on the Canadian story that day will be the focus of this year’s talk.

When: 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013.

Where: Bendale Library, 1515 Danforth Rd., Scarborough, Ont., 416-396-8910.

Contact: Jan Howe, 416-759-6052, janicelhowe@sympatico.ca

Ted Barris has hosted the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts “Books & Authors Night” for a quarter century. Shelley Macbeth and Blue Heron Books celebrate “B&A’s” 28th year on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013, by featuring Ted interviewing several popular authors and inviting questions from the audience, as well as a chance to meet the authors over the autographing table. But there’s something a little different this year. In addition to his hosting/interviewing duties, Ted will also be interviewed by fellow author Linwood Barclay about Ted’s latest book, The Great Escape: A Canadian Story. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the blockbuster movie The Great Escape, (with Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, etc.). But as Ted will demonstrate when he speaks and reads from his book, the most famous WWII POW escape was not a story of British heroes and Yankee know-how. The Great Escape was very much a story of Canadian leadership and courage. It’s more exciting than the Hollywood movie. And it’s all true!

When: 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013.

Where: Uxbridge Music Hall, 16 Main St. S., Uxbridge, Ontario.

Contact: Shelley Macbeth, Blue Heron Books, 905-852-4282, shelleymacbeth@hotmail.com