Memorable Images from Maritimes Book Tour

October 19, 2013

thebravestcanadian Bookmark, Charlottetown, Cunard, Frederic Thornton Peters, Indigo, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Maritimes, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Operation Reservist, Operation Torch, Peters, Prince Edward Island, Royal Navy, Saint John, The Bravest Canadian, Uncategorized, Victoria Cross Leave a comment

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Magnificent Cape Breton coast

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Enchanting covered bridge in New Brunswick

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The author signing books at Indigo East Point in Saint John (photo taken by Kathy Wilson of the New Brunswick Historical Society, who came by to chat and bought copies of the book as gifts)

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With help from the PEI Genealogical Society, we were able to find the tombstone of Fritz`s grandfather, the Father of Confederation Col. John Hamilton Gray, at Sherwood Cemetery near Charlottetown Airport.

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Next to the Col. Gray tombstone was one for his daughter Rosie, who died at age 4 in 1874.

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Spectacular pumpkin farm between Fredericton and Alma, NB.

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Legislature at Province House in Charlottetown, where Fritz`s father Frederick Peters and uncle Arthur Peters served as premier and attorney general

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Meeting room in Province House where Col. Gray and other Fathers of Confederation met in September 1864 during historic Charlottetown Conference.

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Views of the extensive collection of models and memorabilia of Fritz`s great-grandfather Sir Samuel Cunard at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

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McBride doing a slide presentation on the Fritz Peters story at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.

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sam at fredericton on phone

Author McBride doing interview with CBC radio reporter while signing books at the Chapters Fredericton

Maritimes Book Tour Generates Surge of Interest in the Story of War Hero Fritz Peters

October 12, 2013

thebravestcanadian Bookmark, Charlottetown, Cunard, Frederic Thornton Peters, Indigo, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Maritimes, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Oran, Peters, Prince Edward Island, Royal Navy, Saint John, The Bravest Canadian, Victoria Cross, war heroes Leave a comment

by Sam McBride

My two-week book tour through the three Canadian Maritime provinces was a wonderful experience, and exceeded all expectations in publicizing “The Bravest Canadian — Fritz Peters VC: The Making of a Hero of Two World Wars“ throughout New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as well as Prince Edward Island, where Fritz was born and his story is best known.

It was a thrill to meet so many people who came by my book signing sessions and either bought copies of the book or expressed interest in Fritz and the book.  These included several current members of the Canadian military, as well as relatives who told me about the heroes of their own family.

I particularly enjoyed meeting several third cousins for the first time, as well as leaders of the PEI Genealogical Society, the New Brunswick Historical Society and the Cunard Steamship Society who I have corresponded with extensively in the past, but not met in person.   Extremely pleased that my enthusiastic supporter in St. John`s, Newfoundland, Dr. David Peters,  came to my presentation at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, and we had a good chat afterwards.

Several people I talked to noted that next year, 2014, will be present opportunities to raise awareness of the Fritz Peters story across Canada. These are 1) the 150th anniversary of the historic Charlottetown Conference, in which Fritz`s family had a central role; 2) the centennial of the start of World War One, where Fritz Peters earned three major honours for valour; and 3) the 75th anniversary of the start of World War Two, where Fritz again received three awards for valour, including the Victoria Cross and the highest medal of the United States.

I have attached scans of a sample of print publicity from the book tour, and the links below have some, but not all, of the TV, radio and social media coverage.  I did about 10 interviews by phone before i travelled, and then about another dozen while in the Maritimes between September 24th and October 5th, 2013.

 

http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1013315&binId=1.1145463&playlistPageNum=1

http://thechronicleherald.ca/book/event/1154374-the-bravest-canadian-fritz-peters-the-making-of-a-hero-of-two-world-wars-by-sam-m

https://www.facebook.com/myWaterfront

http://www.armyrats.com/posts/tag/battalion/

http://www.news957.com/category/listen/rick-howe-show/page/2/

http://www.cbc.ca/player/Radio/Local+Shows/Maritimes/ID/2408922242/

https://twitter.com/ns_mma

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front page of Moncton newspaper, with long story on inside pages

 

 

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from PEI events BUZZ

 

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one of many newspaper listings publicizing the book tour events

 

Maritimes Book Tour of “The Bravest Canadian — Fritz Peters VC“ Begins Wednesday, Sept. 25th in Charlottetown

September 20, 2013

thebravestcanadian Bookmark, Charlottetown, Cunard, Frederic Thornton Peters, Indigo, Maritimes, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Peters, Prince Edward Island, Saint John, The Bravest Canadian, Victoria Cross Leave a comment

Here is the updated schedule of the upcoming 10-day book tour.

 

Prince Edward Island (pop. 140,204)

Wednesday, Sept. 25, 12-1pm – Charlottetown Bookmark store, book signings; 172 Queen St., Confederation Court Mall, Charlottetown, PE  C1A 4B5.  (902) 566-4888

Saturday, October 5, 11am-noon – Charlottetown Indigo, book signings; 465 University Ave., Charlottetown, PE  C1A 4N8  (902) 569-9213

 

New Brunswick (pop. 751,171)

Friday September 27, 3-4:30pm – Chapters Fredericton. book signings; Regent Mall, 1381 Regent St., Fredericton, NB E3C 1A2.  (506) 459-2616,

Saturday September 28, 12-2pm – Chapters Moncton, book signings; Crystal Palace, 499 Paul St., Dieppe, NB  E1A 6S5

Sunday September 29, 12-2pm – Indigo Saint John, book signings; East Point Centre, 41 Fashion Drive, Saint John, NB E2J 0A7. (506) 693-6987

 

Nova Scotia (pop. 921,727)

Tuesday October 1, 12-1:30pm – Chapters Bayers Lake, Halifax, book signings; 188 Chain Lake Drive, Halifax, NS  B3S 1C5.  (902) 450-1023

Tuesday October 1, 2:30-4pm – Chapters Mic Mac Mall, Dartmouth, book signings; 41 Mic Mac Boulevard, Dartmouth, NS B3A 4Y8.  (902) 466-1640

Tuesday, October 1, 7:30pm – presentation, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic; 1675 Lower Water Street, Halifax, NS  B3J 1S3.  (902) 424-7490

Wednesday October 2, 12-1:30pm – Coles Truro Mall, book signings; 245 Robie St., Truro, NS B2N 5N6. (902) 895-4929 

Wednesday October 2, 3:30-5pm – Coles Highland Square Mall, New Glasgow, book signings;   689 Westville Rd., New Glasgow, NS  B2H 2J6


 

“The Bravest Canadian — Fritz Peters VC“ author tour in P.E.I., New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Sept. 25 to Oct. 5, 2013

July 24, 2013

thebravestcanadian Bookmark, Charlottetown, Cunard, Peters, The Bravest Canadian, Victoria Cross Leave a comment

by Sam McBride 

I am very pleased to announce a book promotion tour for “The Bravest Canadian — Fritz Peters VC: The Making of a Hero of Two World Wars“ in the Maritimes Sept. 25 to Oct. 5, 2013.   The tour includes 10 events in eight cities and three provinces.

 

Prince Edward Island

Charlottetown – noon to 1 pm, Wednesday, Sept. 25 – Charlottetown Bookmark store, book signing

Charlottetown – 11 am to noon, Saturday, Oct. 5 – Charlottetown Indigo store, book signing

 

New Brunswick

Fredericton — 3-4:30 pm, Friday September 27 – Chapters Fredericton store, book signing

Moncton — 12-2 pm, Saturday September 28 – Chapters Moncton store, book signing

Saint John — 12-2 pm, Sunday September 29 – Indigo Saint John store, book signing

 

Nova Scotia

Halifax — 12-1:30 pm, Tuesday October 1 – Chapters Bayers Lake store, book signing

Dartmouth — 2:30-4 pm, Tuesday October 1 – Chapters Mic Mac Mall store, book signing

Halifax – 7:30 pm, Tuesday, October 1, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic presentation

Truro — 12-1:30 pm, Wednesday October 2 – Coles Truro Mall store, book signing

New Glasgow — 3:30-5 pm, Wednesday October 2 – Coles Highland Square Mall store

 

I am particularly pleased to be in the events program of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, one of Canada`s great museums.  I went through the museum in 1992 and was very impressed. Lots of interesting stuff on the Cunards, the Titanic, Halifax Explosion and the Royal Canadian Navy.   I am going to talk about Fritz Peters`  Maritime heritage, including the Peters, Grays and Cunards who were all United Empire Loyalists or descendants of Loyalists, and prominent throughout the region.  http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mmanew/en/home/whattoseedo/programsandtours.aspx

In February 2013 the book received a Heritage Award from the Prince Edward Island Museums and Heritage Foundation, and in June 2013 it won first prize in the British Columbia Genealogical Society`s Family History Book Awards.

Books are available at bookstores across Canada, or through amazon.ca, amazon.com or amazon.co.uk, or through the publisher at http://www.granvilleislandpublishing.com.

If you have suggestions for the book tour or comments on the book, I would be very pleased to hear from you.  Email BravestCanadian@shaw.ca or Twitter @BravestCanadian.

 

 

Fritz Peters Book Recognized with P.E.I. Heritage Award

February 28, 2013

thebravestcanadian Bookmark, Charlottetown, Frederic Thornton Peters, Indigo, Operation Torch, Peters, Royal Navy, The Bravest Canadian, Uncategorized, Victoria Cross Leave a comment

On Tuesday, February 19, 2013, Sam McBride, author of “The Bravest Canadian — Fritz Peters, VC: The Making of a Hero of Two World Wars”, received a Heritage Award at the annual awards night of the Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Authority.

The presentations were made at the Carriage House at historic Beaconsfield House in Charlottetown. The Honourable Robert Henderson, Tourism and Culture Minister handed out the awards.

The Heritage Award Citation reads: “Born in Charlottetown in 1889, Frederic Thornton “Fritz” Peters was one of the most decorated soldiers in Canadian history. Over the course of two wars he won siz awards for valour, including the Victoria Cross. Since he’s from here, many Islanders know the bare bones of his story, at least the part about winning the Victoria Cross. One of his great-nephews, Sam McBride, knew there was much more of the story to tell. In The Bravest Canadian: The Making of a Hero of Two World Wars, McBride explores Peters’ life and career through family correspondence and presents a detailed examination of the battles he fought in. The result is an excellent history of one of the Island’s fascinating figures. In recognition for his work in creating The Bravest Canadian, we are pleased to present a Heritage Award to Mr. Sam McBride.”

heritage award plaque

award presentation