Former Canadian diplomat Robert Fowler, who is well-known for having been abducted and held for 130 days by al-Qaeda in Niger, but is perhaps most importantly one a leading expert on defence and Canadian foreign policy, is holding two public talks in early November.

The topic is: "What is courage in battle and how has it been rewarded?" Based on his recent book exploring the topic, Mr. Fowler will discuss Canadian courage and sacrifice in wars ranging from the South African War to the mission in Afghanistan.

The hour-long presentation will be held at two Ottawa Public Library locations next week: the Centrepointe Branch on Wednesday, November 5, and the Orleans Branch on Thursday, November 6.

Please visit the branches' respective websites for more information about the events and to register.

Registration for the Centrepointe talk is at: http://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/node/18672

For the Orleans Branch talk, visit: http://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/node/21411

Robert R. Fowler is a Senior Fellow at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and the author of A Season in Hell: My 130 Days in the Sahara with Al Qaeda. He has served as a foreign-policy adviser to three Canadian prime ministers, as personal representative to Africa for three others, and as deputy minister of national defence, and was Canada’s longest-serving ambassador to the United Nations.