Stories of Courage

Sally Armstrong & R.H. Thomson
Adrian Harewood, host

Sally Armstrong and R.H. Thomson, with host Adrian Harewood, will probe the bodies of their works and stories and explore the consequences of war and conflict on societies and individuals. They examine the demons that are summoned when the world is polarized, and the values that most of humanity holds dear and works to uphold.

Reflecting on ways we can cope with the consequences of conflict and war—at home and abroad—the discussion will include how we can find hope, act with compassion, and create positive impacts on ourselves and the world.

R.H. Thomson’s captivating memoir By the Ghost Light: Wars, Memories and Families exemplifies his talent for storytelling. He weaves personal and historical narratives of family, memory, and the enduring power of art, offering a unique perspective on the sacrifices and triumphs of those who came before us.

Using his family letters as a starting point, Thomson explores a century of folly, touching on areas of military history, art, literature, and science to express the tragic human cost of war. By the Ghost Light is a powerful examination of how we understand war and its aftermath.

Sally Armstrong’s body of work is distinguished by its unwavering commitment to women’s rights and social justice. Sometimes called “the war correspondent for the world’s women,” Sally is a passionate speaker and an inspired storyteller. Her latest book Outspoken: My Fight for Freedom and Human Rights in Afghanistan, with Sima Samar, illuminates the darkness in Afghanistan’s recent history with brilliant insight and analysis.

Through her other works—Veiled Threat: The Hidden Power of the Women of Afghanistan and Ascent of Women—she has brought global attention to the struggles, resilience and triumphs of women under oppressive regimes in many conflict zones around the globe.

Photo courtesy of author

R.H. THOMSON

R.H. THOMSON has appeared in film and theatre across Canada, as Matthew Cuthbert in “Anne With An E”, in the movie Chloe directed by Atom Egoyan, as Marshall McLuhan in “The Message” by Jason Sherman, and “This Was The World” by Ellie Moon. As well as being an advocate for the arts, R.H. has worked on many history and arts projects. For the First World War Centenary, he built The World
Remembers-Le Monde Se Souvient, an international commemoration exhibit now installed at the Canadian War Museum and explorable online at theworldremembers.org. He is a Member of the Order of Canada and was awarded the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.

Photo by Peter Bregg

SALLY ARMSTRONG

SALLY ARMSTRONG is an award-winning author, journalist, and human rights activist. She is the author of five bestselling books including Ascent of Women, The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylor, Veiled Threat, and Bitter Roots, Tender Shoots. Armstrong was the first journalist to bring the story of the women of Afghanistan to the world. She has also covered stories in conflict zones from Bosnia and Somalia to Rwanda, Afghanistan, Iraq, South Sudan, Jordan, and Israel. She is a four-time winner of the Amnesty International Canada media award, the recipient of eleven honorary doctorate degrees, and an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2019, she delivered the CBC Massey Lectures, Power Shift: The Longest Revolution.

Her most recent book, OUTSPOKEN: My Fight for Freedom and Human Rights in Afghanistan by Sima Samar with Sally Armstrong was a national bestseller.

ADRIAN HAREWOOD

ADRIAN HAREWOOD is an Associate Professor of Journalism at Carleton University. The former host of CBC Ottawa’s drive home radio show All in A Day, he was the anchor of CBC Ottawa News at Six from 2009 to 2022.

In 2020, Adrian won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Local Anchor, and was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Interviewer in 2017. He has been the guest host of national CBC programs The Current, As It Happens, Sounds Like Canada, The House, Counterspin, Hot Type, and Power and Politics. He was also the host of programs on BRAVO and PBS including Literati, The Actors, The Directors, Playwrights and Screenwriters.

Adrian has interviewed Angela Davis, Salman Rushdie, Eduardo Galeano, Bill Clinton, Wayne Shorter, Bob Woodward, Deepa Mehta, Naomi Klein, Ken Dryden, Alanis Obomsawin, Joy Kogawa, David Sedaris, Steven Pinker, Lawrence Hill, Barbara Gowdy, Austin Clarke, Andrea Levy, Branford Marsalis, Margaret Macmillan, Ken Burns, David Suzuki, Esi Edugyan, Malcolm Gladwell, Chris Hedges, Femi Kuti, Tariq Ali, Niall Ferguson, John Irving, Dionne Brand, Conrad Black and Donald Trump. Adrian is a board member of Journalists for Human Rights and of the Writers’ Union of Canada.​

Stories of Courage

Sally Armstrong & R.H. Thomson
Adrian Harewood, host

Sally Armstrong and R.H. Thomson, with host Adrian Harewood, will probe the bodies of their works and stories and explore the consequences of war and conflict on societies and individuals. They examine the demons that are summoned when the world is polarized, and the values that most of humanity holds dear and works to uphold.

Reflecting on ways we can cope with the consequences of conflict and war—at home and abroad—the discussion will include how we can find hope, act with compassion, and create positive impacts on ourselves and the world.

R.H. Thomson’s captivating memoir By the Ghost Light: Wars, Memories and Families exemplifies his talent for storytelling. He weaves personal and historical narratives of family, memory, and the enduring power of art, offering a unique perspective on the sacrifices and triumphs of those who came before us.

Using his family letters as a starting point, Thomson explores a century of folly, touching on areas of military history, art, literature, and science to express the tragic human cost of war. By the Ghost Light is a powerful examination of how we understand war and its aftermath.

Sally Armstrong’s body of work is distinguished by its unwavering commitment to women’s rights and social justice. Sometimes called “the war correspondent for the world’s women,” Sally is a passionate speaker and an inspired storyteller. Her latest book Outspoken: My Fight for Freedom and Human Rights in Afghanistan, with Sima Samar, illuminates the darkness in Afghanistan’s recent history with brilliant insight and analysis.

Through her other works—Veiled Threat: The Hidden Power of the Women of Afghanistan and Ascent of Women—she has brought global attention to the struggles, resilience and triumphs of women under oppressive regimes in many conflict zones around the globe.

Photo courtesy of author

R.H. THOMSON

R.H. THOMSON has appeared in film and theatre across Canada, as Matthew Cuthbert in “Anne With An E”, in the movie Chloe directed by Atom Egoyan, as Marshall McLuhan in “The Message” by Jason Sherman, and “This Was The World” by Ellie Moon. As well as being an advocate for the arts, R.H. has worked on many history and arts projects. For the First World War Centenary, he built The World
Remembers-Le Monde Se Souvient, an international commemoration exhibit now installed at the Canadian War Museum and explorable online at theworldremembers.org. He is a Member of the Order of Canada and was awarded the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.

Photo by Peter Bregg

SALLY ARMSTRONG

SALLY ARMSTRONG is an award-winning author, journalist, and human rights activist. She is the author of five bestselling books including Ascent of Women, The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylor, Veiled Threat, and Bitter Roots, Tender Shoots. Armstrong was the first journalist to bring the story of the women of Afghanistan to the world. She has also covered stories in conflict zones from Bosnia and Somalia to Rwanda, Afghanistan, Iraq, South Sudan, Jordan, and Israel. She is a four-time winner of the Amnesty International Canada media award, the recipient of eleven honorary doctorate degrees, and an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2019, she delivered the CBC Massey Lectures, Power Shift: The Longest Revolution.

Her most recent book, OUTSPOKEN: My Fight for Freedom and Human Rights in Afghanistan by Sima Samar with Sally Armstrong was a national bestseller.

ADRIAN HAREWOOD

ADRIAN HAREWOOD is an Associate Professor of Journalism at Carleton University. The former host of CBC Ottawa’s drive home radio show All in A Day, he was the anchor of CBC Ottawa News at Six from 2009 to 2022.

In 2020, Adrian won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Local Anchor, and was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Interviewer in 2017. He has been the guest host of national CBC programs The Current, As It Happens, Sounds Like Canada, The House, Counterspin, Hot Type, and Power and Politics. He was also the host of programs on BRAVO and PBS including Literati, The Actors, The Directors, Playwrights and Screenwriters.

Adrian has interviewed Angela Davis, Salman Rushdie, Eduardo Galeano, Bill Clinton, Wayne Shorter, Bob Woodward, Deepa Mehta, Naomi Klein, Ken Dryden, Alanis Obomsawin, Joy Kogawa, David Sedaris, Steven Pinker, Lawrence Hill, Barbara Gowdy, Austin Clarke, Andrea Levy, Branford Marsalis, Margaret Macmillan, Ken Burns, David Suzuki, Esi Edugyan, Malcolm Gladwell, Chris Hedges, Femi Kuti, Tariq Ali, Niall Ferguson, John Irving, Dionne Brand, Conrad Black and Donald Trump. Adrian is a board member of Journalists for Human Rights and of the Writers’ Union of Canada.​