Book launch – Éric Plante: Une vie militaire
This event will take place in French only.
The interview portion of this event will be audio recorded and may be used in a podcast series.
We invite you to join us for the launch of Éric Plante's book, Une vie militaire. Presented by Library and Archives Canada and Les Presses de l’Université Laval, this event will feature a conversation between Éric Plante, CD, MPA, Kathryne Fontaine, CD, PhD, Hélène Le Scelleur, CD, MA, and Jordan Proust, doctoral student and independent war journalist.
At the threshold of adulthood, how does a young man conceive of the horrors of war? How does he endure the harrowing trials that nearly cost him his life, or those that shook his aspirations and his sense of self?
From the harsh realities of the war in Afghanistan to the western reaches of Ukraine, from exotic travels to the highest echelons of the military hierarchy, this book tells the story of an idealist pushed to the limits of his own illusions. Military life is often synonymous with adventure and a change of scenery. Here, however, commitment proves to be complex. The spectre of Kandahar stands alongside many other torments in a journey that is as much inward and geographical as it is cultural.
Beyond the violence, doubt and disappointment, this narrative traces a fall and an unexpected recovery, experiences that together shape the backdrop of military life in the 21st century.
About the author
Éric Plante holds a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in history. He enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces in 2002. During his military career, he was deployed to Afghanistan, took part in the early phases of the Canadian mission in Ukraine, and served as aide-de-camp to the Chief of the Defence Staff. He continues to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Event details
- Date
- Thursday, January 29, 2026
- Time
- 5:30 p.m. (ET)
- Admission
- Free admission; registration required
- Location
- Library and Archives Canada
- Event address
- 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario
Parking
Paid parking is available at 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario, on the west side of the building. Additional public parking lots and metered street parking can also be found nearby.
For more parking details: Municipal lots and on-street parking | City of Ottawa
Registration
Seating is limited, so please register:
Have a question? Please email evenements-events@bac-lac.gc.ca.