Lakehead Orillia graduate releases book on Defensor de Oliveira de Moura

"Defensor, o Estratega Contra a Resignação” ("Defensor, the Strategist against the Status Quo”), a book by Lakehead graduate Debora Cruz (HBASc'21, MA'23), will be released in July 2025 by Chiado Books.

The book was written in the form of a biographical interview with Defensor Oliveira Moura, the Defender of Viana com Castelo.

Oliveira Moura was the first politician, since the end of the dictatorship in Portugal (1974), who won the elections in Viana do Castelo as an independent running with the support of the center-left of the political spectrum.

After accomplishing his dream of becoming a doctor in his home town he adopted social medicine as a tool to improve the well being of its people and decided to run for mayor, winning the local elections for 4 consecutive terms and transforming the city during 16 years.

In 2025, celebrating his 80th birthday he describes his life fighting against the status quo, recalling with the author some of the battles they both lived and witnessed from different perspectives: the politician and the journalist. Family, friends, and adversaries provided contributions with their testimonies as well.