Canadian authors gather to pay tribute to U of G Professor
On March 28, the University of Guelph hosted an event called Writing the World: The Connie Rooke Conversations. The event was held to honour the legacy of the late Constance Rooke.
Dr. Rooke was the former chair of Guelph’s English department, Associate Vice-President of the university, and founder of Guelph’s Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing. Rooke was also a professor of English at the University of Victoria, and was well known for her work in editing The Malahat Review, effectively turning the publication into the major Canadian literary magazine. The magazine currently honours her through its annual Constance Rooke Creative Nonfiction Prize.
This gathering marked the first in what the university hopes to be an annual event.
President Alastair Summerlee opened the event, speaking of Rooke’s incredible legacy at the university and in the writing community, as well as her contribution to the development of Canadian literature over the last few decades. He also spoke of Rooke’s influence on his own career and role in his ascendance to President of the university.
Several major Canadian authors and literary figures spoke at length regarding Dr. Rooke’s influence on them and their work, through her thoughts on literature and her discerning eye as an editor. Many also read excerpts from some of their own books; ones that Rooke played a role in bringing to print.
Michael Ondaatje, the Booker Prize-winning author of The English Patient, discussed his close relationship with Dr. Rooke. He testified to her talent as an editor, as well as the very high standards she had for literature and her influence on his writing. He concluded by reading a selection from his 2007 novel, Divisadero.
Leon Rooke, Dr. Rooke’s husband and himself a poet, novelist, and short story writer, read from one of his poems in which Dr. Rooke plays a central role.
Other guest speakers included biographer and poet Rosemary Sullivan, novelist Susan Swan, novelist Linda Spalding, and poet Dionne Brand. Each read selections from their own work and discussed the life and work of Rooke, providing a fitting testament to her legacy.
After the presentations, the guests held a roundtable discussion in which they talked about the current state of Canadian literature and the role of literature in a world that increasingly emphasizes technological development.
They opined that literature still has an important role to play in developing a unique Canadian culture, and in creating an increasingly interconnected world by bridging the gap between different parts of the world.
The event concluded with a banquet and book signing, during which attendees had the opportunity to speak to other authors.