The award was for my book "The Bravest Canadian -- Fritz Peters, VC: The Making of a Hero of Two World Wars", about my greatuncle Capt. Frederic Thornton Peters, VC, DSO, DSC and bar, DSC (U.S.), RN, who was known by the nickname "Fritz" to family and friends. The citation for the Heritage Award described the book as "an excellent history of one of the Island's most fascinating figures."
While in Charlottetown for a week I had book signing sessions at the Bookmark and Indigo book stores, with each event selling about 20 "Bravest Canadian" books. I also did a reading and Powerpoint presentation at the Hotel on Pownal, and did several media interviews, including Karen Mair for the CBC Radio "Mainstreet" show and Bruce Rainnie of the CBC TV "Compass" show. For the next week or so, the TV interview aired on February 25th can be viewed on the CBC Charlottetown web site through the link http://www.cbc.ca/compass/. The interview is about half-way (15 minutes) through the Compass show.
I also took the opportunity to visit St. Peters Cathedral, where the Peters worshipped and where Fritz had school classes. Fritz Peters has the disinction of being the only P.E.I.-born recipient of the ultimate award for valour, the Victoria Cross. Born in 1889, he moved to British Columbia with his family in 1898, joined the Royal Navy in 1905, and spent his adult years either in Gold Coast colony in Africa, in England, or serving abroad with the Royal Navy and the Secret Intelligence Service. He has the distinction of being the only Canadian to receive multiple awards for valour in both world wars.
