In honour of Canada’s 150th anniversary, we have gathered a unique collection of “human books” so that you can enjoy a one-on-one conversation. Hear their stories, ask questions, and learn from a diverse set of experiences that have contributed to our country’s rich heritage.

The activity will take place during the Journées de la Culture, Saturday September 30, at the Central Library of Pointe-Claire.

Reservations required: 514-630-1218, ext. 1624

Here are the eight human books available:

• Desmond Morton, Order of Canada, is a historian and author of over thirty-five books on Canada, including the popular A Short History of Canada. He was the first Director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada and has a special interest in the history of the Canadian military.
• Clifford Lincoln, FCII, FIIC, FCIArb, is a retired Canadian politician who served as a Quebec cabinet minister prior to serving in the Canadian House of Commons. Born in Mauritius, he immigrated to Canada in 1958. Having also worked as a businessman, environmental consultant, and insurance executive, he continues to contribute to local projects which improve the lives of citizens.
• Alanis Obomsawin, Order of Canada, a member of the Abenaki Nation, is one of Canada’s most distinguished filmmakers. For over four decades, she has directed documentaries at the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) that chronicle the lives and concerns of First Nations people and explore issues that affect us all.
• Part-owner of the Tourne-Sol Co-operative Farm, Dan Brisebois has a B.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering from McGill University. He is also the former President of Canadian Organic Growers, a USC Canada Board Member, and a member of the Eastern Canadian Organic Seed Growers Network’s Steering Committee. He is committed to producing the highest-quality organic products in the most sustainable way possible to feed our local community and enrich the landscape.
• Nathalie Purchio is a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers. She is eager to introduce epicureans to the delights of Canadian wine. Emerging from obscurity, Canadian wineries are now winning awards in competitions at home and abroad for Chardonnays, Rieslings and the noble red varieties. They are testimony to the quality of the raw material grown in the vineyard and the techniques employed to turn them into fine wine.
• Ms. Tehrani immigrated to Canada with her husband through the skilled worker program in 2004. Holding a M.Sc. in environmental management from Iran, she and her husband, a mechanical engineer, started a renovation and construction company together. Mother of two children born in Canada, she will share the triumphs and challenges of building a life in a new country.
• Alan Dean came to Canada as an orphan after the Second World War. He became a commercial pilot working in the Far East. He speaks several languages including Malaysian, Indonesian and Cantonese. After suffering an embolism in the 1990s, he became totally blind. Continuing his dedication to the local community, he organized and launched the West Island Diabetes Association, the Low Vision Self-Help group, and entertains the residences at the Wellesley Retirement Residence with his piano playing.
• Alan Hustak is an author and journalist. He has written the hugely popular book Montreal: Then and Now. It describes Montreal’s development from a fur trading outpost on the banks of the St. Lawrence River to its present incarnation as the business and cultural center of Canada. Discover the people and stories that make us proud to be Montrealers in this 375th anniversary year during Canada’s sesquicentennial year.