University News

Veteran Globe and Mail Columnist to Speak at Bishop’s University

March 10, 2011

SHERBROOKE, QC—Christie Blatchford, one of Canada’s most high-profile journalists, will speak at Bishop’s University as part of the Donald Lecture Series on Wednesday, March 16 at 7:00 pm in Bandeen Hall.

A veteran reporter and columnist, Christie Blatchford began her career with The Globe and Mail in 1972 while still in university. Since then she has spent much of her career covering current affairs and crime. She has also written for the Toronto Star, the Toronto Sun and the National Post—returning to The Globe and Mail in 2002.

Blatchford will discuss her latest book, Helpless: Caledonia’s Nightmare of Fear and Anarchy, and How the Law Failed All of Us, a fascinating and controversial investigation into the Caledonia occupation by protesters from Ontario’s Six Nations Reserve and the ensuing response by police and government. The book is an eye-opening account of police action and inaction. As Blatchford herself writes, “What Helpless is about is the failure of government to govern and to protect all its citizens equally.”

“Blatchford is one of Canada’s best read and highly respected columnists because she is a brilliant writer who fearlessly shares her opinions and insights with her readers,” said Bishop’s Principal Michael Goldbloom. “She brings her clear sense of right and wrong to bear in all of her work, including her latest book, which raises the important question of whether we have struck the proper balance between public safety and the right to protest.”

Blatchford is a winner of the National Newspaper Award for column writing. Her 2008 book, Fifteen Days: Stories of Bravery, Friendship, Life and Death in the New Canadian Army won the Governor General’s Literary Award for non-fiction as well as the Ross Munro Media Award by from the Conference of Defence Associations in concert with the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute.

The lecture is free and open to the public.

-30-