Dalton K. Camp Lecture Series

June Callwood - Journalist

The first annual Dalton K. Camp lecture series will begin with journalist and social activist June Callwood, and will be taped for broadcast on the CBC radio programme, "Ideas". The topic of her lecture, "Best Game in Town" will discuss her lifelong passion - the profession of journalism.

"The more I think about journalism, and the more I reflect on my own sixty-one years as a journalist, the more it seems that I lucked into the very finest line of work on the planet," says Callwood.

Callwood began her prolific freelance career writing magazine pieces, many of them for Maclean's magazine. Her first books, A Woman Doctor Looks at Life and Love and Love, Hate, Fear and Anger were published in 1950s. The publishing contacts she established with those works led to books on several prominent Americans including Charles Mayo, Otto Preminger and Barbara Walters.

Callwood's journalism spilled beyond print to television when, from 1975 to 1978, she hosted the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) program, In Touch. More recently, she has acted as interviewer on Vision TV's National Treasures and has compiled a number of these interviews into a book entitled June Callwood's National Treasures. Caregiving with June Callwood is a recent series of television programs the journalist co-hosted to help those who are caring for family members.

Callwood's journalism career has been marked by compassion and a strong concern for social justice, especially on issues affecting children and women. Despite her busy writing schedule, she has founded or helped to found over 50 social action organizations. These include Digger House, a youth hostel; Nellie's hostel for women; Jessie's, a centre for teenage parents; Casey House Hospice for those with AIDS; PEN Canada; the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and Feminists Against Censorship. This extensive volunteer work has been recognized by many honours including three Orders of Canada.

The lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. on Wed. Oct. 23, 2002 in Ted Daigle Auditorium on the St. Thomas campus. Admission is free and a reception will follow.