Canadian Literature's 50th Anniversary Gala

Celebrating 50 years
September 30 - October 3, 2009
The University of British Columbia

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Canadian Literature: A Quarterly of Criticism and Review

50th Anniversary Gala
September 30, 2009 - October 3, 2009

In 2009, Canadian Literature marks its 50th year of publication. To celebrate, The University of British Columbia, and its Faculty of Arts, will hold a Canadian Literature Gala September 30 to October 3, 2009. The program includes:

• Distinguished Canadian writers and scholars reading and speaking. Confirmed speakers are Thomas King, Steven Galloway, Roch Carrier, and Aritha van Herk.
• A reception and auction of works of art donated by Canadian writers including Margaret Atwood, Leonard Cohen, Dennis Lee, and Joni Mitchel. Visit the auction page for a complete list. Proceeds to support the Canadian Literature 50th Anniversary Tuition Awards for undergraduate students interning at Canadian Literature.
• A two-day conference featuring presentations by distinguished academics and graduate students from Canada and abroad. 35 Canadian literature specialists representing 21 universities across Canada will be presenting 5 minute "interventions" on the future of the field, writing, and academic publishing over the course of the two-day conference. Students, nominated by their own departments, will be selected for 50th Anniversary Travel Awards to enable them to present their research.
• Launch of From a Speaking Place: Writings from the First 50 Years of Canadian Literature, to be published by Ronsdale Press, and On the Art of Bring Canadian by Sherrill Grace, published by UBC Press.
• In cooperation with the Vancouver International Film Festival, a film screening on October 2nd, 2009, and a mini-festival of films based on Canadian literary works, late October 2009.
• A literary tour of Vancouver.
• To conclude, a Gala Finale Lunch, with featured speaker W.H. New OC, FRSC, Editor of Canadian Literature, 1977-1995.

Author talks

• Thomas King

  

  Thomas King, CM (born 24 April 1943) is a noted novelist and broadcaster who most often writes about Canada's First Nations and is an outspoken advocate for First Nations causes. He is of Cherokee and Greek descent.

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• Steven Galloway

  

  Steven Galloway's third novel, The Cellist of Sarajevo, was published in spring of 2008. It was heralded as "the work of an expert" by the Guardian, and has become an international bestseller with rights sold in 30 countries. Galloway teaches creative writing at the University of British Columbia.

  (via)

• Roch Carrier

  

  Roch Carrier, OC (born 13 May 1937) is a celebrated Canadian novelist and author of "contes" (a very brief form of the short story). He is among the best known Quebec writers in English Canada.

  (via)

• Aritha van Herk

  

  Aritha van Herk (born 26 May 1954) is a Canadian writer, critic, editor, and university professor. Since 1983, van Herk has been teaching at the University of Calgary. She teaches Creative Writing, Canadian Literature, and Contemporary Narrative.

  (via)

  Photo by Trudie Lee Photography

Art auction

See the full list.

Partners

• UBC Faculty of Arts
• UBC English Department
• UBC International Canadian Studies Centre
• President's Office of UBC
• Museum of Anthropology

Sponsors

• Chernoff Fine Art
• UBC First Nations Studies Program
• SFU English Department
• UBC French, Hispanic & Italian Studies
• UBC Opera Ensemble
• Vancouver International Film Festival
• UBC Creative Writing Program
• UBC French Centre
• Catriona Jeffries Gallery and the Estate of Roy Kiyooka

Acknowledgement

Canadian Literature is very grateful to our colleagues across the country for their generous contribution to our workshop and to the auction, both central events in the celebration of the journal's 50th Anniversary. The response among Canada's artists, academics, and writers—and their support of students in the field—has been very encouraging.

Copyright ©1995-2009 Canadian Literature. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited. Views and opinions expressed by the author(s) are not necessarily shared by Canadian Literature