150+ Canadians Day 77: Gwynne Dyer

Image: Gwynne giving a talk at the College of the Rockies. (Cranbrook Guardian)

Gwynne Dyer contributes to peace as a writer, historian and film maker, focusing on war, climate change and international relations. #Canada150

“We’re not doomed. We’re just in big trouble.”

Gwynne Dyer’s newspaper column on international affairs is published in 175 papers in 45 countries. Born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Dyer joined the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve at 16. He earned a B.A. in history from Memorial University of Newfoundland, an M.A. in military history from Rice University in Houston, Texas, and a Ph.D. in military and Middle Eastern history at King’s College London. Dyer has served in the Canadian, American and British naval reserves. He was a senior lecturer in war studies at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Dyer began his journalism career in 1973, writing articles for British newspapers on the Arab-Israeli conflict. In 1983 he gained notoriety for his documentary film miniseries War.

“Only in the past century have large numbers of people begun to question the basic assumption of civilized societies that war is inevitable and often useful …. (War?) Good riddance.”

The third part of the series entitled The Profession of Arms was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. He has produced several other film documentaries as well as a number of books and radio documentary programs. Dyer is a recipient of the Order of Canada.

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