Ted Barris Speaks at WCDR Breakfast

Saturday, November 13, 2010 - 8:30am

Ajax Convention Center
550 Beck Crescent
Ajax, ON
L1Z 1C9

A common thread among Canadian families is the reluctance of their loved ones who have served in the wartime military to talk about their experiences. On Saturday, November 13, 2010, at the regular breakfast meeting of The Writers’ Community of Durham Region (WCDR), well-loved Canadian author and WCDR member Ted Barris will speak about how he has been encouraging veterans to tell their stories, and the interview techniques that led to his newest book, Breaking the Silence: Veterans’ Untold Stories from the Great War to Afghanistan. The meeting will be held at the Ajax Convention Centre, 550 Beck Crescent in Ajax. Pre-registration is required – deadline for registering is noon on Wednesday, November 10.

Ted Barris has made it his mission over the past 25 years to encourage veterans to speak about their combat, imprisonment and lost comrades from the World Wars through to Afghanistan. His newest novel is the result of his expert interviewing skills and the trust he has earned from his work on 15 previous books. Barris is an accomplished author, journalist and broadcaster (and a member of the WCDR!). As well as hosting stints on CBC Radio and regular contributions to The Globe and Mail, the National Post, and national periodicals, Barris is a full-time professor of journalism at Centennial College in Toronto. He has also written a weekly newspaper column (also a blog) – called The Barris Beat – for more than 20 years.

After the meeting, for an extra fee of $10 per person, breakfast attendees can take part in a mini-workshop entitled “Motivation.” Facilitated by WCDR member and past president Annette McLeod, this workshop is aimed at those who have a brilliant idea about a protagonist whose story deserves to be told, yet keep getting halfway into the story and running out of steam. Find out what’s driving your characters and use what you learn to keep your story moving until the very last page. The workshop is suitable for novelists, screenwriters and playwrights. Annette McLeod is an award-winning feature writer on staff at the Toronto Sun. She studied screenwriting with story editor Nika Rylski at George Brown College.

The WCDR monthly breakfast meetings are where experienced and aspiring writers gather, learn and connect. Everyone is welcome. The November meeting will run from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The cost, which includes a hearty breakfast, is $15 for members; $20 for guests. (Ask how by becoming a member, you can save!)

Pre-registration for the November 13th breakfast meeting and mini-workshop is required. Register online at www.wcdr.org, by phone at 905-686-0211 or by email at breakfast@wcdr.org, no later than noon on Wednesday, November 10.

The Writers’ Community of Durham Region (WCDR) is dedicated to raising the profile of writers of all kinds, and at all levels, by offering a forum through which they can find support, education and networking opportunities. As a non-profit umbrella organization, WCDR has worked since 1995 to draw together individuals and groups with common interests in promoting the art and skill of writing, fostering literacy, and providing moral support to members. Visit www.wcdr.org.