Sheila WatsonThe Sheila Watson Fonds consists of journals, literary manuscripts, correspondence, teaching and student materials, reference materials, business and financial records; as well as Sheila Watson's personal photographs and objects. The fonds also include collections of correspondence purchased and preserved by Watson for the purpose of her doctoral thesis and personal interest in the painter and author Wyndham Lewis.

Celebrating Sheila | 2009

On October 24 and 25, 2009, scholars, academics and writers as well as other participants gathered at the University of St Michael's College to celebrate the life of Canadian writer Sheila Watson, the Canadian novelist, critic and teacher. The event marked the 100th anniversary of Watsons birth and the 50th anniversary of the publication of Watsons modernist novel The Double Hook a seminal work in the development of contemporary Canadian literature.

Attendees

On Friday evening, conference attendees enjoyed themselves at a wine reception in the Kelly Library.

BoweringJonathanAnnaFredFlahiffStainesHay

Afterwards, Bill Kischuck performed a dramatic rendering of The Double Hook (view video).

On Saturday, participants enjoyed three panels of experts discussing various aspects of Sheila Watson's work, life and legacy.The panels were punctuated by a gourmet birthday lunch featuring a toast read by author George Bowering.

  • The first panel session (view video) considered the securing of Watson's legacy.
    The panelists were:

      Fred Flahiff, biographer, University of St Michael’s Bill Kischuck, translator, Kawamura Gakuen Woman's University, Chiba, Japan Anna St. Onge, Watsons archivist, York University David Staines, general editor, New Canadian Library series, University of Ottawa, moderator

  • The second panel session (view video) including scholars and critics, considered the present nature of Watson's reputation.
    The panelists were:

      Dean Irvine, Dalhousie University Linda Morra, Bishops University Nick Mount, University of Toronto Shirley Neuman, University of Toronto, moderator Glenn Willmott, Queens University.

  • The third panel session (view video), consisting of Canadian poets and novelists who have themselves celebrated Watsons influence, discussed the nature and extent of that influence.
    The panelists were:

      George Bowering Elizabeth Hay, moderator Daphne Marlatt Michael Ondaatje Jane Urquhart

Read an article written by one of the conference participants, Philip Marchand, in the National Post.

Dramatic Performances of the Works of Sheila Watson

    The Double Hook (view video)
    Performed by Bill Kischuck, October 24, 2009. Rough Answer and The Rumble Seat (view video)
    Performed by Bill Kischuck, December 13, 2009. Antigone (view video)
    Performed by Bill Kischuck and Mary Kischuck, January 10, 2010.