Remembering Barbara Godard

The Coach House crew is deeply saddened by the passing of Barbara Godard. Barbara was, as the Avie Bennett Historica Chair of Canadian Literature at York University, one of Canada’s most important academics: an inspiring teacher and a prolific critic of Canadian literature, most specifically the work of innovative Canadian women’s writing in both French and English.

Her writings were collected in the 2009 volume Canadian Literature at the Crossroads of Language. She is the author and editor of countless volumes, including the recent Wider Boundaries of Daring (co-edited by Di Brandt).

We know Barbara best as a friend and supporter of the press, and as the brilliant translator of, and advocate for, among others, the works of Nicole Brossard; Barbara’s translations of These Our Mothers (Coach House, 1983), Picture Theory and Lovhers (both Guernica) and Intimate Journal (The Mercury Press). She championed the works of many great Quebecois writers to English readers, and CanLit is a much better place for her tireless efforts.

We offer condolences to Barbara’s friends and family. She will be greatly missed.

To read a more thorough bio of Barbara Godard on the York University site, please visit www.yorku.ca/bgodard.

(Photo credit: James Gillespie.)