SOTEC News

With over 200 MFA alum it’s not possible to keep track of all of the achievements but here are just some of the happy happenings from 2025, and a few late 2024 mentions too. Click the links for titles and publication info.

Welcome to Gryphons Read!

Gryphons Read is a tradition at the University of Guelph, started by the well-known and well-loved author and U of G faculty, Lawrence Hill. Each year, a book that explores diverse identities and lived experiences, and is authored by a Canadian writer, is selected to be shared and read by the campus community. Gryphons Read hosts the author on campus for a few days in late September where they meet with students, staff, faculty, and community members in various classes and public events.

Canisia Lubrin, assistant professor, School of Theatre, English, and Creative Writing, College of Arts, University of Guelph, and coordinator, Creative Writing MFA (Guelph-Humber), has received the Danuta Gleed Literary Award for her publication, Code Noir. The Writers' Union of Canada website notes the award "[recognizes] the best first collection of short fiction by a Canadian author published in 2024 in the English language." 

Welcome to Gryphons Read!

Gryphons Read is a tradition at the University of Guelph, started by the well-known and well-loved author and U of G faculty, Lawrence Hill. Each year, a book that explores diverse identities and lived experiences, and is authored by a Canadian writer, is selected to be shared and read by the campus community. Gryphons Read hosts the author on campus for a few days in late September where they meet with students, staff, faculty, and community members in various classes and public events.

Congratulations to SETS faculty member, Canisia Lubrin, on the launch of her newest book, Code Noir. Professor Lubrin was recently featured on the CBC's The Next Chapter!

Production from university’s School of English and Theatre Studies aims to spur positive climate action

Dr. Madhur Anand, adjunct professor in the School of English and Theatre Studies, is one of 16 writers chosen for the 2024 Best Canadian Stories anthology.  

Omar El Akkad
What Strange Paradise

Public Talk: Tuesday, September 26th @ 7 PM
Robert Whitelaw Room, 2^nd Floor, McLaughlin Library

Register for this public event on Eventbrite!

U of G’s annual common reading project – Gryphons Read – celebrates its seventh iteration. This year’s novel is What Strange Paradise, by Egyptian-Canadian author and journalist, Omar El Akkad. It is the story of two children finding their way through a hostile world. But it is also a story of empathy and indifference, of hope and despair – and about the way each of those things can blind us to reality.

Led by Associate Professor Kimberley McLeod, the University of Guelph collaborates with Our Food Future to present "Future Food Visions." Crafted by College of Arts Theatre students, this series of immersive audio experiences sheds light on Guelph’s food history and tackles food insecurity.