David Adams Richards: Difference between revisions
imported>Rt. Hon. Chase W. Marrie |
imported>Wellington Bay Retired |
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| office = [[Senate of Canada|Senator]] from [[New Brunswick]] | | office = [[Senate of Canada|Senator]] from [[New Brunswick]] | ||
| term_start = 30 August 2017 | | term_start = 30 August 2017 | ||
| term_end = | | term_end = 17 October 2025 | ||
| predecessor = [[John D. Wallace]] | | predecessor = [[John D. Wallace]] | ||
| successor = | | successor = | ||
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| death_place = | | death_place = | ||
| spouse = Peggy McIntyre | | spouse = Peggy McIntyre | ||
| party = [[Independent politician|Non-affiliated]] (2018-2019, 2024-2025)<ref name="ctvnews.ca">[https://www.ctvnews.ca/ | | party = [[Independent politician|Non-affiliated]] (2018-2019, 2024-2025)<ref name="ctvnews.ca">[https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/trudeau-appointed-senator-quits-group-of-independents/ "Trudeau-appointed senator quits group of Independents"] ''CTV News'', 25 April 2018.</ref><br>[[Conservative Party of Canada]] (2025-present) | ||
| otherparty = [[Canadian Senators Group]] (2019-2024)<br />[[Independent Senators Group]] (2016-2017) | | otherparty = [[Canadian Senators Group]] (2019-2024)<br />[[Independent Senators Group]] (2016-2017) | ||
| profession = Writer | | profession = Writer | ||
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}} | }} | ||
'''David Adams Richards''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CM|ONB}} (born 17 October 1950) is a Canadian writer<ref>[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-adams-richards/ "David Adams Richards"]. ''[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]]'', 10 April 2008.</ref> and member of the [[Senate of Canada|Canadian Senate]].<ref name=senate>[https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/08/30/trudeau-appoints-acclaimed-writer-david-adams-richards-to-senate.html "Trudeau appoints acclaimed writer David Adams Richards to Senate"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', 30 August 2017.</ref> | '''David Adams Richards''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CM|ONB}} (born 17 October 1950) is a Canadian writer<ref>[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-adams-richards/ "David Adams Richards"]. ''[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]]'', 10 April 2008.</ref> and former member of the [[Senate of Canada|Canadian Senate]].<ref name=senate>[https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/08/30/trudeau-appoints-acclaimed-writer-david-adams-richards-to-senate.html "Trudeau appoints acclaimed writer David Adams Richards to Senate"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', 30 August 2017.</ref> | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
Born in [[Newcastle, New Brunswick|Newcastle]], [[New Brunswick]], Richards left [[St. Thomas University (New Brunswick)|St. Thomas University]] in [[Fredericton]], three credits shy of completing a BA.<ref name=AthabascaCLL>{{cite web | url=http://www.athabascau.ca/writers/darichards.html | title=David Adams Richards | publisher=Athabasca University – Centre for Language and Literature | first=Vivian | last=Zenari | access-date=10 March 2010}}</ref> After publishing a poetry chapbook in 1972, he won the Norma Epstein Award, a literary prize for unpublished writing by Canadian university students, in 1974 for an excerpt from his novel manuscript ''[[The Coming of Winter]]'', and the novel was published later that year as his fiction debut. | Born in [[Newcastle, New Brunswick|Newcastle]], [[New Brunswick]], Richards left [[St. Thomas University (New Brunswick)|St. Thomas University]] in [[Fredericton]], three credits shy of completing a BA.<ref name=AthabascaCLL>{{cite web | url=http://www.athabascau.ca/writers/darichards.html | title=David Adams Richards | publisher=Athabasca University – Centre for Language and Literature | first=Vivian | last=Zenari | access-date=10 March 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> After publishing a poetry chapbook in 1972, he won the Norma Epstein Award, a literary prize for unpublished writing by Canadian university students, in 1974 for an excerpt from his novel manuscript ''[[The Coming of Winter]]'', and the novel was published later that year as his fiction debut. | ||
==Career== | ==Career== | ||
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On 30 August 2017, the appointment of Richards to the Senate of Canada on the advice of Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]] was announced.<ref name=senate/> | On 30 August 2017, the appointment of Richards to the Senate of Canada on the advice of Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]] was announced.<ref name=senate/> | ||
On 24 April 2018, Richards resigned from the [[Independent Senators Group]] to sit as an unaffiliated senator.<ref name="ctvnews.ca">[https://www.ctvnews.ca/ | On 24 April 2018, Richards resigned from the [[Independent Senators Group]] to sit as an unaffiliated senator.<ref name="ctvnews.ca">[https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/trudeau-appointed-senator-quits-group-of-independents/ "Trudeau-appointed senator quits group of Independents"] ''CTV News'', 25 April 2018.</ref> Richards stressed that he had not felt pressured by the ISG, saying that he left because he wants a high degree of personal autonomy, citing how he never joined the [[Writers' Union of Canada]] or [[PEN Canada]] as an author. Richards also said that since Trudeau had appointed him as an independent, he felt it was his duty to be as independent as possible.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-senator-quits-independent-senators-group-to-be-totally-independent/|title=Senator quits Independent Senators Group to be 'totally independent'|last1=Chase|first1=Steve|date=25 April 2018|work=[[The Globe and Mail]]|location=Toronto|access-date=13 October 2018|last2=Fife|first2=Robert|author-link2=Robert Fife}}</ref> | ||
On 4 November 2019, he joined the [[Canadian Senators Group]].<ref name="sen-canada-senators-list">{{cite web |title=Senators List |url=https://sencanada.ca/en/senators-list/ |website=Senate of Canada |access-date=5 November 2019}}</ref> | On 4 November 2019, he joined the [[Canadian Senators Group]].<ref name="sen-canada-senators-list">{{cite web |title=Senators List |url=https://sencanada.ca/en/senators-list/ |website=Senate of Canada |access-date=5 November 2019}}</ref> | ||
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On 21 May 2025, he left the Canadian Senators Group to again sit as a Non-affiliated Senator.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Hon. David Adams Richards, Senator |url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=18791 |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Parliament of Canada, Parlinfo}}</ref> | On 21 May 2025, he left the Canadian Senators Group to again sit as a Non-affiliated Senator.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Hon. David Adams Richards, Senator |url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=18791 |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Parliament of Canada, Parlinfo}}</ref> | ||
On 3 June 2025, he joined the Conservative Party of Canada caucus | On 3 June 2025, he joined the Conservative Party of Canada caucus.<ref>{{cite web |title=Giller Prize-winning author and senator David Richards joins Conservative caucus |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/senator-david-richards-joins-conservative-caucus-1.7551814 |access-date=2025-06-18 |author=Zimonjic, Peter |website=[[CBC News]]}}</ref> He retired from the Senate on 17 October 2025, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75. | ||
==Awards== | ==Awards== | ||
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==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
In 1971, Richards married Peggy McIntyre. They have two sons, John Thomas Richards and Anton Richards, and reside in Fredericton {{as of|December 2012|lc=on}}.<ref name=RandomHouse>{{cite web | url=http://www.randomhouse.ca/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385660952 | title=Books: ''The Friends of Meager Fortune'' | publisher=Random House | access-date=10 March 2010 }}</ref><ref name=DG31Dec2009>{{cite news | url=http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/905583 | title=Adams Richards named to Order of Canada | publisher=[[The Daily Gleaner]] | date=31 December 2009 | access-date=10 March 2010 }}</ref> | In 1971, Richards married Peggy McIntyre. They have two sons, John Thomas Richards and Anton Richards, and reside in Fredericton {{as of|December 2012|lc=on}}.<ref name=RandomHouse>{{cite web | url=http://www.randomhouse.ca/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385660952 | title=Books: ''The Friends of Meager Fortune'' | publisher=Random House | access-date=10 March 2010 | archive-date=7 July 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707225329/http://www.randomhouse.ca/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385660952 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=DG31Dec2009>{{cite news | url=http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/905583 | title=Adams Richards named to Order of Canada | publisher=[[The Daily Gleaner]] | date=31 December 2009 | access-date=10 March 2010 }}</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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* [http://canadian-writers.athabascau.ca/english/writers/darichards/darichards.php Richards'] item at English-Canadian writers, Aathabasca University, by Vivian Zenari; incl. several hyperlinks | * [http://canadian-writers.athabascau.ca/english/writers/darichards/darichards.php Richards'] item at English-Canadian writers, Aathabasca University, by Vivian Zenari; incl. several hyperlinks | ||
{{Governor General's English fiction|state=collapsed}} | {{Governor General's English fiction|state=collapsed}} | ||
{{Governor General's English non-fiction|state=collapsed}} | {{Governor General's English non-fiction|state=collapsed}} | ||
Latest revision as of 01:44, 22 October 2025
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David Adams Richards Template:Post-nominals (born 17 October 1950) is a Canadian writer[1] and former member of the Canadian Senate.[2]
Background
Born in Newcastle, New Brunswick, Richards left St. Thomas University in Fredericton, three credits shy of completing a BA.[3] After publishing a poetry chapbook in 1972, he won the Norma Epstein Award, a literary prize for unpublished writing by Canadian university students, in 1974 for an excerpt from his novel manuscript The Coming of Winter, and the novel was published later that year as his fiction debut.
Career
Over his career as a writer, Richards has published novels, stage plays, short stories and non-fiction work. His fiction typically addresses the lives and experiences of poor and working class residents of the Miramichi region of New Brunswick, exploring spiritual and philosophical themes influenced by Richards' Roman Catholic faith.[4]
Richards has been a writer-in-residence at various universities and colleges across Canada, including the University of New Brunswick.
On 30 August 2017, the appointment of Richards to the Senate of Canada on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was announced.[2]
On 24 April 2018, Richards resigned from the Independent Senators Group to sit as an unaffiliated senator.[5] Richards stressed that he had not felt pressured by the ISG, saying that he left because he wants a high degree of personal autonomy, citing how he never joined the Writers' Union of Canada or PEN Canada as an author. Richards also said that since Trudeau had appointed him as an independent, he felt it was his duty to be as independent as possible.[6]
On 4 November 2019, he joined the Canadian Senators Group.[7]
On 21 May 2025, he left the Canadian Senators Group to again sit as a Non-affiliated Senator.[8]
On 3 June 2025, he joined the Conservative Party of Canada caucus.[9] He retired from the Senate on 17 October 2025, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.
Awards
Richards has received numerous awards including two Gemini Awards for scriptwriting for Small Gifts and For Those Who Hunt the Wounded Down, the Alden Nowlan Award for Excellence in the Arts, and the Canadian Authors Association Award for his novel Evening Snow Will Bring Such Peace. Richards is one of only three writers to have won in both the fiction and non-fiction categories of the Governor General's Award. He won the 1988 fiction award for Nights Below Station Street and the 1998 non-fiction award for Lines on the Water: A Fisherman's Life on the Miramichi. He was also a co-winner of the 2000 Giller Prize for Mercy Among the Children. The Writers' Federation of New Brunswick administers an annual David Adams Richards Prize for Fiction.[10]
In 2009, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada "for his contributions to the Canadian literary scene as an essayist, screenwriter and writer of fiction and non-fiction".[11]
In 2011, Richards received the Matt Cohen Prize.[12]
In May 2025, he was the recipient of an Honorary Degree from McGill University for his prolific contributions to Canadian literature[13]
Publications
Richards' papers are currently housed at the University of New Brunswick.[14]
In 2014, Halifax singer-songwriter Dan MacCormack released an album of songs inspired by Richards' novels, called Symphony of Ghosts. The title was taken from a line in Mercy Among the Children.[15]
Novels
- The Coming of Winter (1974)
- Blood Ties (1976)
- Lives of Short Duration (1981)
- Road to the Stilt House (1985)
- Nights Below Station Street (1988, winner of the 1988 Governor General's Award for fiction)
- Evening Snow Will Bring Such Peace (1990)
- For Those Who Hunt the Wounded Down (1993, nominated for a Governor General's Award, winner of the 1994 Thomas Head Raddall Award)
- Hope in the Desperate Hour (1996)
- The Bay of Love and Sorrows (1998)
- Mercy Among the Children (2000) (co-winner of the Giller Prize)
- River of the Broken-Hearted (2004)
- The Friends of Meager Fortune (2006) (longlisted for the Giller Prize)
- The Lost Highway (2007) (longlisted for the Giller Prize, Nominated Governor General's Awards 2008 Governor General's Award)
- Incidents in the Life of Markus Paul (2011)
- Crimes Against My Brother (2014)
- Principles to Live By (2016)
- Mary Cyr (2018)
Poetry
- Small Heroics (1972) (chapbook)
Plays
- The Dungarvon Whooper (1975)
- Water Carrier, Bones and Earth (1983)
- Hockey Dreams (2009)
Short stories
- Dancers at Night (1978)
- Dane (1978)
The Christmas Tree (2008)
Non-fiction
- A Lad From Brantford and Other Essays (1994)
- Hockey Dreams: Memories of a Man Who Couldn't Play (1996)
- Lines on the Water: A Fisherman's Life on the Miramichi (1998, winner of the 1998 Governor General's Award)
- Extraordinary Canadians: Lord Beaverbrook (2008)
- God is. (2009)
- Facing the Hunter: Reflections on a Misunderstood Way of Life (2011)
- Murder and Other Essays (2019)
General
- "Non-Judgmental Truth: An Interview with David Adams Richards" by Craig Proctor, Blood & Aphorisms (Winter 1998)
Personal life
In 1971, Richards married Peggy McIntyre. They have two sons, John Thomas Richards and Anton Richards, and reside in Fredericton Template:As of.[16][17]
References
External links
- Template:Official website
- Richards' item at English-Canadian writers, Aathabasca University, by Vivian Zenari; incl. several hyperlinks
Template:Governor General's English fiction Template:Governor General's English non-fiction Template:Giller Prize Template:Engel/Findley Award Template:Authority control
- ↑ "David Adams Richards". The Canadian Encyclopedia, 10 April 2008.
- ↑ a b "Trudeau appoints acclaimed writer David Adams Richards to Senate". Toronto Star, 30 August 2017.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Template:Dead link
- ↑ "Canadian author hides message of hope in bleak landscape". The Catholic Register, 4 December 2016.
- ↑ "Trudeau-appointed senator quits group of Independents" CTV News, 25 April 2018.
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- ↑ "New Brunswick author wins big prize". Times & Transcript, 3 November 2011.
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- ↑ Johns, Stephanie, "Dan MacCormack is book smart", The Coast, 13 November 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
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- Pages with script errors
- Pages with broken file links
- 1950 births
- Living people
- Canadian male novelists
- Members of the Order of New Brunswick
- Members of the Order of Canada
- Governor General's Award–winning fiction writers
- Governor General's Award–winning non-fiction writers
- People from Miramichi, New Brunswick
- People from Northumberland County, New Brunswick
- Canadian senators from New Brunswick
- Independent Canadian senators
- Canadian Senators Group
- Canadian Roman Catholics
- Canadian male non-fiction writers
- Canadian Screen Award winning writers
- Screenwriters from New Brunswick
- 21st-century members of the Senate of Canada
- Novelists from New Brunswick
- Conservative Party of Canada senators