SPEAKER PROGRAM

October 28th, Rita Donovan
The Guinea Pig Club

The Guinea Pig Club was a mutual support network formed in 1942 by Canadian, British and other Allied airmen who were undergoing experimental plastic surgery for severe burn injuries sustained in combat during WWII.

The club's name began as a joke among the patients, poking fun at the fact that they were functioning as literal "guinea pigs" for the unproven, trial-and-error reconstructive techniques of the pioneering plastic surgeons: Canadian, Dr. Ross Tilley and New Zealander, Dr. Archibald McIndoe.

Following the "Remembrance" theme of our October meetings, Rita will tell us about The Guinea Pig Club.

Rita is an award-winning writer of nine books of fiction and non-fiction. (The Ottawa Book Award, twice; The Canadian Authors Association/Chapters Award for Fiction; also finalist for the Books in Canada First Novel Award; nominated for the James Tiptree Award, the Prix Aurora and the Sunburst Award.) She was also, for many years, co-editor, with John Barton, of Arc poetry magazine.

Her non-fiction work As for the Canadians is the remarkable story of the RCAF's "Guinea Pigs."

treasurer@probusoav.ca is the address for fee payment by e-transfer.

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Probus Insurance

We have added a link to the Probus Insurance web page (see "Links" page).

Guests and Visitors from other Clubs are welcome.

Meetings are in the hall at:

Gloucester Presbyterian Church
91 Pike Street
Ottawa K1T 3J6

Pike Street runs north from Hunt Club just west of Conroy. The church is at the corner of Lorry Greenberg and Pike. The parking lot entrance is off Pike.

... to stimulate thought, interest and participation in activities at a time in life when it is easy to become complacent and self-centred.