Tag Archives: Stuart McLean

Writers Work with Students @ LCC

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Stuart Maclean with LCC Reads Committee

Stuart Maclean with LCC Reads Committee

Every year writers impart their words of wisdom to LCC students in numerous presentations and workshops. From the most world-renowned writers, like Colm Toibin (Booker-Mann Prize nominee), Alistair MacLeod (IMPAC Dublin Literary Award-winner) and LCC alumnus Stuart McLean (Stephen Leacock Award-winner), to local writers, like Heather O’Neill (Canada Reads selection Lullabies for Little Criminals), Ian McGillis (A Tourist’s Guide to Glengarry) and Carmine Starnino (A. M. Klein Poetry Prize-winner), LCC endeavours to expose students to the craft of writing and to the world of the imagination.

This year, Stuart McLean, Montreal journalist and poet Robyn Sarah and Montreal novelists Jeffrey Moore and Ami Sands-Brodoff have been invited to work with our Middle and Senior School students. Thanks to the work of past parents Ewa Zebrowski and Lori Schubert (QWF Executive Director), LCC has been blessed with a spectrum of talented writers who have stimulated students for the past eight years. In addition, a cross-section of students annually attend the Blue Metropolis Student Literary Festival where they work with writers in more intimate workshops.

If you have suggestions for writers who could work with our students, please contact me: Brian Moore (English Department Head).

— Brian Moore
Senior Department Head: English Language Arts, Communications Studies and Literacy Programs;
QAIS Curriculum Representative

Stuart McLean: A Speaker Worth Blogging About

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MacleanBlog_05Oct2009A failure by LCC standards, Canadian short-story author Stuart McLean ’65 showed off his grade 11 marks at the student assembly only a few short days ago. In the Memorial Gym, a few gasps could be heard as his 20%s, 30%s, and 40%s from his old report cards were shared with the audience.

Beyond the grades, a more shocking truth could be found; this man was a successful author, teacher, and radio host. After discussing his uneventful childhood and exciting present, Stuart McLean began to read from his most recent book. The crowd listened on the edge of their seats, anticipating the delightful hilarity that is the signature of each of his stories.

Afterwards, a few brave souls asked the question of whether or not his stories were based on reality. He replied with a smile, explaining that although each character was in fact a creation of his own thought, the underlining message and importance of childhood innocence has always been a universal truth. Ending on a good note, he reminded us that although his stories are fiction, they each have basis in reality. For Stuart McLean, his character “Sam” is slightly reminiscent of his LCC past: a boy who is not quite sure if he has a place in the world. –Meg Peters ’09 (Pre-U ’10)