2026 Henry Marshall Tory Lecture

The 2026 Henry Marshall Tory Lecture

A FREE public lecture presented by The Friends of the University of Alberta

Author & Journalist

In May 2016, Fort McMurray, the hub of Canada’s oil industry and America’s biggest foreign supplier, was overrun by wildfire. The multi-billion-dollar disaster melted vehicles, turned entire neighborhoods into firebombs, and drove 88,000 people from their homes in a single afternoon. Through the lens of this apocalyptic conflagration—the wildfire equivalent of Hurricane Katrina—in his fourth book, , John Vaillant warns that this was not a unique event, but a shocking preview of what we must prepare for in a hotter, more flammable world. Vaillant will describe the anthropological history between humans and fire, how it has shaped our societies, and how it now threatens us in the context of climate change.

Date: Nov 3, 2026

Doors Open: 6:30 PM - Lecture Starts: 7:00 p.m.

Location:
Venue TBD on U of A Main Campus

Once the venue is confirmed you will receive an update.

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Host or Publisher The Friends of the University of Alberta