Author: harvstories

Americans everywhere, and others around the world, were transformed by the contrasting stories of January 20, 1961 and November 22, 1963. Cecil Stoughton was among the select few who stood at the epicenter of those stories and the 1,036 days in between the JFK inauguration and assassination. Stoughton played a role unlike any other individual attached to the Kennedy administration. He was not only the first official White House photographer. Just as remarkable, he evolved to become the Kennedys’ trusted chronicler of their personal lives at a level unheard of for practically any other public figure. Stoughton was ever present, yet undetectable, as he photographed and filmed virtually everything the first family did. This unprecedented privilege wasn’t just Stoughton’s job; it became his life. Daytime, nighttime, and on weekends, he continuously examined the Kennedys through his lens. As Stoughton’s authorized biographer, Harvey Sawler conceived of and is the co-author of the 2010 book Portrait of Camelot – A Thousand Days in the Kennedy White House, and now has written and published Final Photo – The Emotional Climax of Cecil Stoughton’s Journey with the Kennedys, marking the 60th anniversary of events in Dallas on November 22, 1963. Final Photo is a glimpse into Stoughton’s phenomenal true story, all of it leading to that one traumatic, dramatic moment in Dallas and his most important ‘Kennedy’ photo – the swearing in aboard Air Force One of the new President, Lyndon Baines Johnson.

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THE SYMONS MEDAL – Twenty Years of Reflection on an Evolving Canada is Harvey Sawler’s fourth commission (Confederation Centre of the Arts), and his 19^th book, including the 2014 volume, The Centre for All Canadians – Confederation Centre of the Arts – Five Decades of Inspiration and Excellence, which was also commissioned by the Centre. Dedicated to Thomas Henry Bull Symons CC OOnt FRSC (30 May 1929–1 January 2021), the book celebrates the 20^th anniversary of the awarding of The Symons Medal. Beginning with the award of the first Symons Medal to the Honourable Jean Charest in 2004, the Symons Medal Presentation and Lecture on the State of Canadian Confederation has provided an exceptional national platform for distinguished Canadians to discuss the current state and future prospects of Confederation and provide all Canadians an opportunity to reflect upon their country and its future.

Quest for Beauty – The Photographic Journey of Malak of Ottawa stands as a rich testament to one man’s profound love for Canada. Malak Karsh was endlessly captivated by this country’s vast and varied landscapes—whether standing on the promenade of the Château Frontenac in Quebec City, walking the shores of Nova Scotia or the red earth of Prince Edward Island, visiting the fishing coves of Newfoundland, or observing icebergs drifting past Baffin Island, every corner of the country stirred his admiration. As Malak himself wrote, “I have always felt proud to be able to say, ‘All of this is my country, and I am both fortunate and grateful to be a part of it.’” Malak’s authorized biography traces the Karsh family’s exodus from Turkey, devastated by the 1915 Armenian genocide, to Canada and to a storied life filled with colour, beauty, and joy. Set largely in Ottawa, the Canadian capital that shaped his artistic journey, Quest for Beauty also follows the decades-long relationship he forged with the Netherlands—a connection that blossomed into a lifelong passion for floral photography, tulips above all.

-2023-

Harvey Sawler raises the curtain on the cultural underworld of New York stagehands through the madcap life of Joe ‘Rocks’ (Rockwell) Zottarelli. Joe is a true-life, second-generation legend within the ranks of IATSE Local One, ground zero of the world-wide International Association of Stage and Theatrical Employees.

Joe storms through a fragmented late-night lifestyle entangled with the union’s dark side, and partying with Broadway’s and early television’s biggest celebrities. The domestic side of his life in suburban Long Island is merely a periodic checkpoint toward reality.

Although a hard-working union brother to the core, at heart, Joe is a storyteller. He spends his entire life longing to be an artist and children’s author, dreams that are early dashed by a conservative father intent on ensuring Joe followed him into show business.

But Joe need only peer inside himself to realize that choices made in life either pave the avenue to contentment or lead to the road of lost desires.

-2021-

The Passionate Hosts – Creating Memorable Experiences for 40 Years is a celebration of the success of Prince Edward Island’s Kevin and Kathy Murphy, their family and their countless associated hospitality professionals. Starting with a single restaurant in the 1970s, their exploits have gone on to create outstanding food and beverage and accommodations brands, now under the banner of the Murphy Hospitality Group (MHG). In addition to conducting interviews and writing The Passionate Hosts, Harvey has enjoyed a relationship with Kevin and Kathy for more than four decades, involving leadership in the tourism industry and as the creator of several MHG brands, including the original Gahan House and craft brewery, Sims Corner Steakhouse and Oyster Bar, The Brickhouse and The Hotel on Pownal, all on P.E.I., and the Barrington Steakhouse and Oyster Bar in Halifax. 

-2015-

Uncle Howard on P.E.I. was commissioned by Howard Webster’s niece Susan (Webster) Fitzpatrick for the Webster family to honour his vision of creating Dundas Farms (situated in eastern P.E.I. and the largest farm at the time in Eastern Canada) as well as to honour his commitment toward improving the Maritime beef Industry. Webster left a large footprint on Prince Edward Island with his generous contributions to Confederation Centre of the Arts and his and later his family’s donations of land to interests he and the family knew would act to protect and preserve the land for the public good.

-2020-

Pluck & Luck: The Tragedies and Triumphs of a Free Canadian, is the authorized biography of Toronto-born impresario, promoter, salesman, and thoroughbred horseman John Uren. Pluck and luck. Do and dare. Risk and reward. Work and win. And lose. Uren’s life was a theatrical production of drama and comedy, heroes and heroines, songs and soliloquies. He was the Forrest Gump of Canada – manically on the move, unexpectedly at the happenings and constantly in the company of a celebrity, from sporting greats, to Joni Mitchell, to Marlene Dietrich, to Shakespearean stars. And always in the background, a symphony of tragedy that shattered his upper-middle-class family, in endless rivalry with a life-defining melody and accompanying lyrics: life is no abyss…somewhere there’s a bluebird of happiness.

-2018-

Put Your Hand in My Hand is the lyrical story of the relationship between one of Canada’s most beloved singer-songwriters and his musical daughter. Gene MacLellan’s contribution to the Canadian songbook is legendary. And his daughter Catherine, a rising, multiple-award-winning singer-songwriter-musician, is making her pwn distinctive mark. Harvey paints an intimate portrait of Catherine and her relationship with Gene, a complex man whose words and melodies left us wanting more than he was able to give before he took his life in 1995. The book includes Catherine’s introspective lyrics, family photos and previously unpublished lyrics from Gene’s personal journals.

-2016-

One Man Grand Band: The Lyrical Life of Ron Hynes
In this long-awaited biography, author Harvey Sawler traces the life of Ron Hynes, one of the most respected singer-songwriters in Canadian history. Through personal conversations and interviews, Sawler captures the spirit of an artist whose stock-in-trade has always been authenticity over mere commercial acceptability, providing rare insight into the life of the man who penned some of the country’s best-loved music. Sawler guides us through the dark times of addiction to the triumphs of songs such as “Sonny’s Dream” and “Atlantic Blue” while capturing the true essence of Hynes and the source of his musical genius.

-2014-

The Centre for All Canadians is a handsome 200-page compendium of people, stories and powerful images commemorating the 50^thanniversary of Confederation Centre of the Arts, The Charlottetown Festival, Confederation Centre Art Gallery and the other tangible and intangible elements which form Canada’s National Memorial to the Fathers of Confederation.

The book features Sawler’s narrative together with a series of guest essays and reflections from 50 remarkable Canadians from singer Anne Murray to Governor General David Johnston to pianist Oscar Peterson.