Journalist and author Amy Goodman coming to Selkirk College Mir Lecture series

Tickets for the Saturday, April 8 event held at the Brilliant Cultural Centre in Castlegar go on sale February 1.

Amy Goodman, award-winning alternative investigative journalist. — Photo: Selkirk College

Selkirk College’s Mir Centre for Peace Lecture series welcomes award winning alternative investigative journalist Amy Goodman to Castlegar this spring. Goodman is the host of Democracy Now, an independent global news program.

She’s authored six books and won numerous awards for her work including the Gandhi Peace Award for her contribution to the promotion of international peace.

“Media can be the greatest force for peace on Earth,” Goodman has said. Democracy Now host Amy Goodman will be speaking at the Mir Centre for Peace Lecture series on April 8 at the Brilliant Cultural Centre in Castlegar. Tickets go on sale February 1.

Hosting Goodman in the remote and small West Kootenay community is momentous, says Cara-Lee Malange coordinator for the Mir Centre for Peace lecture series at Selkirk College. Goodman is a busy East Coast-based journalist whose recent appearances include Standing Rock to cover the Dakota Access Pipeline protests and Washington for the Women’s March. She is also currently promoting her new book Democracy Now!: Twenty Years Covering the Movements Changing America, a New York Times bestseller.

“Amy Goodman is one of the most esteemed journalists on the planet,” says Malange. “So the fact that she is able to come here, particularly with what is happening in the United States right now, is quite a coup for our region as well as quite remarkable timing. I also recently heard from a friend that she is an amazing live speaker: brilliant, funny, and 100 per cent engaged with her audience.”

Engaging Speaker Talks Current Issues

Tickets for the Saturday, April 8 event held at the Brilliant Cultural Centre in Castlegar go on sale February 1.

This event is co-sponsored by Kootenay Co-op Radio found at CJLY 93.5 in Nelson. KCR hosts Amy Goodman's radio show Democracy Now at 9 a.m. on weekdays. The independent, grassroots, program airs on more than 1,400 public television and radio stations worldwide.

Stephanie Myers, KCR outreach coordinator recently participated in the historic Women’s March and met Goodman who was among the crowd. It was a thrilling experience for the local reporter.

“I wanted to go to DC to participate in the march because we listen to Democracy Now every day and I could feel the ground swell around this event,” Myers says. “Meeting Amy Goodman was such a thrill. I have complete respect for her. She never backs down. She asks the tough question and is able to show you the heart of the story. I think this means so much to me being a woman and a reporter, she was so lovely. I look forward to hearing her speak in April.”

Malange says Goodman will highlight her recent experiences and share stories about what it’s like bringing alternative voices not heard in mainstream media to life.

“It promises to be a very inspiring and timely Mir Lecture,” she says.

Tickets are $25 for the general public and $20 for students and seniors. They are available at the Selkirk College Castlegar campus bookstore and the Silver King campus bookstore in Nelson. Tickets are also available at Otter Books in Nelson by cash or cheque only. A limited number of tickets will also be for sale at the local Selkirk College campuses in Nakusp, Kaslo, Trail and Grand Forks. They will also be available for purchase over the phone with a major credit card by calling 250.365.1281.

The event begins at 7:30 p.m. Come early to ensure a good seat.

Learn more about the Mir Centre for Peace lecture series at Selkirk College and follow us on Twitter.