Human Library

Talk to people one-on-one about their lives.

Real People. Real Conversations.

Humanitarian, soldier, survivor—learn more about Canadians’ diverse responses to conflict through one-on-one conversations with individuals who have personal stories to share.

On January 28, 2012, the Canadian War Museum will be one of six locations for the Human Library, a program held in partnership with the CBC and the Ottawa Public Library.

Over 60 people from the National Capital Region have volunteered to be “books” and share their stories.   We’ve provided the list of the stories visitors to the Human Library will be able to check out at the War Museum. 

THE POLISH UNDERGROUND IN 1944! 

At age 14, Irena Szpak trained as a messenger for the Polish resistance. She was taken by cattle train to an “Arbeits” or work camp in Germany and survived to have a family and emigrate to Canada. Language: English

1974 MISSION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Marcel Lavigne spent six months in the desert with the UN, in temperatures soaring above 35C, with no internet and no cell phone—the only way to contact his friends and family was to write to them. Could you do it? Languages: English and French

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Ted Itani is a retired soldier and a Humanitarian Advisor for the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre. During his diverse UN missions in such places as Iraq and the former Yugoslavia, he has seen the human cost of conflict, but still believes that we change the world “one person at a time.” Language: English

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY COOPERATION

Warrant Officer Stéphanie Cyr has had an impressive career with the Canadian Forces Infantry. Deployed to Afghanistan for combat, she wound up working within the Afghan community. Come hear about her moving experiences. Languages: English and French

NO. 2 SPECIAL WIRELESS –SECOND WORLD WAR

Born in Lachine, Québec and of Russian descent, Hyman Yanofsky joined the Canadian army to fight Hitler. His job was to intercept messages from the enemy as he travelled through Europe. Language: English

MENTORING AFGHAN POLICE

As a Canadian military police officer, Reservist Adam Leclerc spent seven months with the POMLT (Police Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team) training Afghan police to deal with security issues. Languages: English and French

UNITED NATIONS EMERGENCY FORCES

Tim Smith followed his family’s proud military tradition and joined the army, ultimately rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Tim then left the Forces, but not before he had been on some very special missions, including his posting in Egypt with the first UN Emergency Force (UNEF 1). Language: English

AROUND THE WORLD IN 42 YEARS!

Throughout an impressive 42-year career with the Canadian Forces, Lieutenant-General Richard Évraire never once doubted his choice. He even wrote a play on the topic. Come and discover the motivation that drives him. Languages: English and French

SURVIVAL TOOLS

As one of eight boys in his family, Maurice Gauthier learned a lot about determination and confidence.  These lessons helped him survive fierce battles in the Netherlands during the Second World War. Languages: English and French

HUMANITARIAN MISSION TO HAITI

Four hours before he was to return to Canada from his nine-month humanitarian mission to Haiti in January 2010, Agent Jonathan Hatfield of the Sureté du Québec saw his whole world come tumbling down when the earthquake struck. He stayed and lived an unforgettable experience.  Languages: English and French

COMING OF AGE IN 1940

Nelson Langevin had always wanted to travel, so he signed up for the navy. He quickly learned the reality of war in Dieppe, Algeria and Sicily.Languages: English and French

MISSION AT SEA

Stephen Murphy is a Unit Chief Petty Officer who works in the Electronic Warfare Centre at National Defence. In 2006, Steve took part in numerous operations in the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and off the west coast of Africa. The operations included combating piracy and illegal immigration, Maritime Domain Awareness, drug interdiction, and hunting terrorists.Language: English

DEMINING IN BOSNIA

Master Warrant OfficerCarl Kletke, a Field Engineer with the Canadian Forces, deployed to Bosnia in 1998. As part of NATO’s Stabilization Force (SFOR), Carl worked eight to ten hours a day for eight months helping to clear areas known to be mined.  . Language: English

THE RELUCTANT WAR ARTIST

When she signed up to participate in the Canadian Forces Artists Program in 2007, Karen Bailey never expected to be sent to Afghanistan. Learn how her experiences there changed her life. . Language: English

A BOY’S 1936 VIMY PILGRIMAGE

In the middle of the Great Depression, 12-year-old John Bradley travelled with his parents to Europe, where he saw the Vimy monument, and mingled with First World War veterans and royalty. He has returned numerous times. Find out why John believes it is so important to go back.  . Language: English

A “WAR GUEST”

Life was exciting for 11-year-old Alec Douglas as he sailed from Liverpool to New York, and then travelled by train to Canada where he spent the next three years away from his widowed mother living with a family friend.  . Language: English

FROM CANADA TO ITALY AND THE NETHERLANDS, AND BACK AGAIN

Hunter Dunn’s remarkable journey took him from Montreal to the battlefields of Sicily and then to the Netherlands, where he was part of the contingent that participated in the liberation of Puten in 1945. . Language: English

A JOURNEY OF PERSONAL DISCOVERY

Yvonne van der Ven was shocked to discover that her father, a holocaust survivor, was considered a war hero. She grew up not really knowing her parents’ true story. This is about a daughter’s journey into her parents past. . Language: English

A CELEBRATION OF SURVIVAL

Abdulkadir Yussuf is a Somalian refugee. After he fled a civil war, he helped out in various refugee camps and with Médecins Sans Frontières. In 1997, he came to Canada. He shares his positive attitude with others every day in his role as settlement worker. . Language: English

 For the full list, please consult BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca/HumanLibrary. You can also participate in the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag  #HLOtt.