Sunray: The Life and Death of Captain Nichola Goddard (Key Porter)

Twenty-six-year-old Captain Nichola Goddard was the sixteenth Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan. She also earned herself a spot in the history books: the first female Canadian soldier to die in combat. Goddard, say her friends and family, would have hated being singled out for her gender. She was not just a soldier on equal footing with her fellow troops; she was a leader-a “sunray” in military parlance. Sunray examines how a woman raised by self-described “left-wing hippies” came to find herself fighting – and dying – in Afghanistan. Based on in-depth interviews as well as exclusive access to letters and journals, the book tells the story of a remarkable twenty-first century soldier, taking a look at the decision to serve and, ultimately, at the costs.

Valerie Fortney is a veteran Canadian journalist with a successful career in broadcasting, magazines and newspapers. Valerie’s feature writing has appeared across North America and around the world, in publications such as Chatelaine, The Los Angeles Times and Readers Digest International. She has worked at the Calgary Herald since 1988. Valerie was inspired to write Sunray, her first book, after she met the Goddard family in the aftermath of their daughter’s death and wanted to know more about the fallen soldier and her story. She lives in Calgary, Alberta.

Please note that this event will now begin at 7:30 rather than 8:00.