PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT January 30, 2020
In discussion with Jesse Thistle: Meet 2020 CBC Canada Reads contender and author of From the Ashes
OTTAWA - Library and Archives Canada, the Ottawa International Writers Festival, the National Arts Centre, and the Ottawa Public Library are pleased to invite you to an intimate discussion with author and scholar, Jesse Thistle (Métis-Cree-Scot), moderated by local author and mentor, Denise Chong, on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, at 7 pm.
In this extraordinary and inspiring debut memoir, Jesse, once a high-school dropout and now a rising Indigenous scholar, chronicles his life on the streets and how he overcame trauma and addiction to discover who he is.
From the Ashes is about hope and resilience, and a revelatory look into the life of a Métis-Cree man who refused to give up.
“If I can just make it to the next minute ... then I might have a chance to live; I might have a chance to be something more than just a struggling crackhead.”
Thistle writes honestly and fearlessly about his painful past, the abuse he endured, and how he uncovered the truth about his parents. An eloquent exploration of the impact of prejudice and racism, From the Ashes is, in the end, about how love and support can help us find happiness despite the odds.
Event details: Wednesday, February 26, 2020 7 pm National Arts Centre Rossy Pavilion 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario
Free admission. Limited seating. Registration recommended.
Event format: A 45-minute moderated discussion followed by a 20-minute audience Q&A. Book sale and signing following the Q&A.
With thanks to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation for its support of this event.