Ted Barris and Jayne MacAulay, his wife, at the Commendation ceremony in Mississauga, Ontario. Photo courtesy Kate Barris.
On July 27, 2011, the Minister of Veterans Affairs for Canada awarded 19 citizens his annual commendation. Traditionally, the award is “presented to those veterans … who, in an exemplary way, have contributed either to the care and well-being of veterans or to the remembrance of the sacrifices and achievements of Canadians in armed conflict.”
Most of the 2011 recipients are veterans. Ted Barris, a civilian, also received the commendation.
His citation read, in part: “Ted Barris has made such exemplary contributions by generously giving of himself and so both benefiting veterans and making manifest the principle that Canada’s obligation to all who have served in the cause of Peace and Freedom, must not be forgotten.”
Tour leader Ted Barris at the Vimy Memorial during the 2007 90th anniversary observances.
It was at Vimy Ridge, on Easter Monday, April 9, 1917, that 49 battalions – nearly 100,000 Canadian troops – rose from the trenches in front of No Man’s Land and accomplished the impossible. Where, for two years, neither the British nor French Armies had succeeded in overcoming the German Army occupation of the ridge, the Canadians – in a matter of hours – managed to seize and hold the most strategic heights on the Western Front. Some say the even signified the birth of Canada as a nation.
On April 9, 2012, (the 95th anniversary of the battle) thousands will gather to pay tribute to members of the Canadian Corps who achieved this significant victory and proved to the world that citizens of a young nation could serve King and Empire and the spirit of Canada. For those who join Merit Travel Group’s Ted Barris “Return to Vimy – April 2012” tour, we shall attend that special ceremony.
In addition to attending these historic anniversary events, those joining this 10-day tour (April 5-15, 2012), will make other First World War stops at Ypres and Passchendaele (in Belgium) and the Somme and Beaumont Hamel (in France). Then, to the French coast for stops at Dieppe and the D-Day beaches of Gold, Sword and Juno, where 15,000 Canadians spearheaded the Allied invasion to liberate northwestern Europe.
More information – itinerary, booking details, etc. – at the Merit Travel Group website:
D-Day veteran Don Kerr with Ted Barris, enjoying the reception following the presentations of the Commendation, July 27, 2011. Photo courtesy Kate Barris.
I walked among heroes, last Wednesday morning – eighteen of them. Several had fought in the Second World War. At least one was a veteran of the Korean War. A number had helped keep the peace in the Middle East, Africa and the Asia. Several others had served Canada as reservists. Almost all were veterans from a theatre of war or world hotspot. But nearly all – after serving Canada in uniform – had accomplished something more that had caught the attention of the Minister of Veterans Affairs.
“After serving,” Minister Steven Blaney said at a recognition ceremony on July 27, “[these] veterans have continued to provide outstanding service to their country, communities and fellow veterans.”
Walter Alward's "Mother Canada" statue at the Vimy Memorial in France.
Ted Barris has been invited to the Richmond Hill Historical Society on Monday, November 21, 2011, to deliver one of his most sought-after talks – his recounting of the “Victory at Vimy.” It’s a unique telling of the famous WWI battle at Vimy Ridge, that, he says, gave birth to Canada’s nationhood. Barris will offer insights and images gleaned from some of the individual accounts – old interviews, memoirs, letters and diaries of the Canadian Corps troops – he assembled in the research/writing of his book “Victory at Vimy: Canada Comes of Age, April 9-12, 1917.”
Ted Barris has spoken at least half a dozen times to the G.M. Salaried Retirees Association of Oshawa and area. This year he returns to speak about the forgotten war. With the re-issuing of his book “Deadlock in Korea,” he has been asked to tell the stories of the men and women who served in the first defence of the U.N. Peace Charter at the 38th Parallel on the Korean Peninsula. As always, he will have copies of his books for sale and autographing.
When: 1 – 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011
Where: Woodview Park Community Centre, 151 Cadillac Avenue North, Oshawa, Ontario
Contact: Joe Rubel 905-728-4060 jrwrubel@rogers.com
As part of its fall 2011 program, the new North Burlington Women’s Probus Club has invited Ted Barris to address the membership on Monday, November 7, 2011. He will speak about the job of getting veterans to speak about their experiences; his talk is based on one of his recent bestselling books, “Breaking the Silence: Veterans’ Untold Stories from the Great War to Afghanistan.” Copies of a number of Ted’s books will be on hand for sale and autographing.
When: 10 a.m., Monday, Nov. 7, 2011.
Where: Burlington Arts Centre
Contact: Mary Bedard 905-332-4191 marybedard@gmail.com
Ted Barris pays a return visit to the Beachville Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #495, as he offers a Remembrance Day address on Saturday, November 5, 2011. He will speak to members about the job of getting veterans to speak about their experiences; his talk is based on his bestselling book “Breaking the Silence: Veterans’ Untold Stories from the Great War to Afghanistan.”
When: 6:00 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011.
Where: Beachville Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #495, Beachville, Ontario
Contact: David E. Van Patter, Chaplain, Beachville Legion, 519-471-3045 vanpatter007@sympatico.ca
As part of its fall 2011 program, the Durham Region Genealogical Society has invited Ted Barris to address the membership on Tuesday, September 6, 2011. He will speak about the job of getting veterans to speak about their experiences; his talk is based on one of his recent bestselling books, “Breaking the Silence: Veterans’ Untold Stories from the Great War to Afghanistan.” Copies of a number of Ted’s books will be on hand for sale and autographing.
During visits, Ted reads, speaks and offers visuals.
When: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011.
Where: Oshawa Public Library, 65 Bagot St., Oshawa, Ontario (one block south of City Hall)
Ted Barris and Jayne MacAulay, his wife, and his commendation certificate. Photo courtesy Kate Barris.
On July 27, 2011, the Minister of Veterans Affairs for Canada awarded 19 citizens his annual commendation. Traditionally, the award is “presented to those veterans … who, in an exemplary way, have contributed either to the care and well-being of veterans or to the remembrance of the sacrifices and achievements of Canadians in armed conflict.”
Most of the 2011 recipients are veterans. Ted Barris, a civilian, also received the commendation.
A spiritual experience for some, the Sage Hill Writing Experience takes place each year at St. Michael's monastery at Lumsden, Sask.
Whenever I talk with writers, there are plenty of taboos. They don’t often speak about how much money they make. Not many writers will divulge the nature of any publishing contracts they’re negotiating. And some are even superstitious about not revealing either the title or the content of a new book they’re working on. But you can always tell a group of writers is really getting into a heavy discussion when one warns:
