Former PM Jean Chretien to spend an evening with Kingston WritersFest
It’s been 25 years since Jean Chrétien became prime minister of Canada, and 15 years since he resigned.
A lot has changed since those years, and a lot occurred during those years, as well. In a time where politicians tweet announcements and the public is inundated with ‘fake news,’ Chrétien has put pen to paper to reminisce and recount his memories of his many years in the public eye in his latest book ‘My Stories, My Times.’
Now, during the 10th anniversary of Kingston WritersFest, Chrétien will return to Kingston for ‘An Evening with Jean Chrétien.’ Presented by Kingston WritersFest, the special event will feature the former prime minister who was first elected to the House of Commons in 1963, sitting down in conversation with Senator Jim Munson. The shared history between Chrétien and Munson, along with Munson’s well-known journalist prowess and Chrétien’s knack for storytelling and dry wit are sure to make ‘An Evening with Jean Chrétien’ a night to remember.
“We were thrilled to be invited to host him in Kingston with this new memoir. We expect standing room only for this event; Mr. Chrétien was an extremely popular and memorable prime minister, and a gifted raconteur,” said Barbara Bell, artistic director for Kingston Writers Fest.
“No doubt the conversation with Hon. Jim Munson, his former director of communications, and now senator and chief opposition whip, will be lively and entertaining.”
‘My Stories, My Times,’ is a collection of essays that recount some of the most poignant and pivotal moments and times in his long life in politics. From making the call to give authorization to shoot down a passenger airline that had not responded to identification requests on 9/11, to canvassing with his father as a teen, Chrétien’s stories offer a glimpse inside the life of one of Canada’s most celebrated politicians. And, of course, through the breadth of his of his career, Chrétien’s stories include litany of notable names, including Boris Yeltsin, George W. Bush, and Bill and Hillary Clinton.
The evening will undoubtedly be entertaining and interesting, and is the perfect way to continue the 10th anniversary celebrations for Kingston WritersFest, Bell expressed.
“We continue to celebrate our tenth annual season into the fall,” Bell said.
“The five-day festival in September was such fun, so stimulating, so fulfilling, and everyone went away happy, but still somehow wanting it to never end. We’re delighted to be able to say that the celebration isn’t over yet!”
‘An Evening with Jean Chrétien’ will take place on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Bellevue Room of the Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront (located at 2 Princess Street). Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door. For more information, click here.