Shelagh Rogers: The Long Good-bye

Last spring, Shelagh Rogers announced that after 43 years with the CBC - 15 as host of the premie Canadian book show, The Next Chapter - she was retiring. Soon after, we taped our final column together. Since that time, however, I have been hesitant to post the episode on my website as I would normally do, as if by not posting I could somehow forestall her departure. I was not keen to see her go. Despite Shelagh’s modest, self-deprecating air, I recognize how much she has contributed to the literary culture; how much it has been altered by her show. If today, we as Canadians celebrate our own literature, it has a lot to do with Shelagh Rogers in cahoots with her executive producer, Jacqueline Kirk. Together, they deliberately enhanced and deepened the meaning of the term CanLit. Shelagh’s genuine interest in, concern for and exploration of Black, Asian and Indigenous writing is greatly responsible for a shift in the literature’s focus. She is that rare Canadian cultural leader for whom the word “diverse” means something more than “not white.”

I was honoured to be among the Next Chapter critics asked to appear on Shelagh’s final show. It was wonderful to share that moment with Randy Boyagoda and Antanas Sileika, two of my all-time favourite critics, both of whom are excellent novelists. The three of us were filled with gratitude just to be with Shelagh that day, sharing old memories, and blessed by the opportunity to recognize her publicly for her massive contribution to Canadian Literature. As we began our reminiscences – mostly amusing - Jacqueline placed a box of Kleenex in the middle of the table. I made use of it immediately, shedding tears both happy and sad.