SHELBURNE COUNTY, N.S. – International speaker and award-winning author Michael Bull Roberts will be back in Shelburne County for three special engagements on Aug. 8, 9 and 12.
Roberts, a former career criminal, will share his story of how he turned his life around in the hopes of helping others. Working alongside the RCMP, Roberts spoke to high school students at Millbrook/Indian Brook, Bridgewater, Shelburne, Barrington and Yarmouth during a tour of the province from June 4 to 8.
This time he will be speaking at the Guild Hall on Maiden Lane in Shelburne on Aug 8 starting at 7 p.m., the Barrington Municipal Administrative Center on Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. and at open air church service at Loyalist Plaza in Shelburne on Aug. 12 starting at 6:30 p.m.
The speaking engagements are being sponsored by towns of Shelburne and Clark’s Harbour and the municipalities of Barrington and Shelburne. All are welcome to attend.
Roberts’ talks had a big impact on students when he toured the region in June. Referring to himself as a “gangster by 18,” he shares his story about how he turned his life, hoping his words will help others and detour from taking the wrong paths in life.
READ ALSO: 'I WAS A GANGSTER AT 18'
His childhood was a difficult one, filled with bullying and tormenting from students when he was a kid along with physical abuse at home. His adult life, he says, was filled with violence – inflicted both by him and on him. Mixed into all this was drug and alcohol abuse and addiction and physical abuse.
His life is a long story filled with many disturbing twists and unsuccessful attempts at normalcy through employment – and falling back into the trap, or even the comfort zone, of criminal activity and the money that could be made from it.
But it was never a happy life and after nearly being beaten to death and betrayed by associates and so-called friends, he vowed to turn things around. He is now no longer fueled by hate, although he is impacted by PTSD given the things he witnessed or experienced in his lifetime.
Aside from giving talks he has written several books that have even gone on to win awards.
Through his talks and his writing, he now aims to teach people about reconciliation and making amends, peace and love, and he also talks about finding religion in his life. His message is it’s never too late to redeem yourself. Better yet, it’s best to never put yourself in that position in the first place.
