Author and teacher Ann Ireland died August 23, "a blow that has been felt acutely by many in the Canadian literary community, " Quill & Quire reported. She was 65. Ireland published five novels, the first of which, A Certain Mr. Takahashi (1985), won the Seal Books First Novel Award and the Books in Canada First Novel Award. Her third novel, Exile, was shortlisted for a Governor General's Literary Award in 2002; and her fifth novel, Where’s Bob?, was published earlier this year by Biblioasis. Ireland was a former president of PEN Canada and since 1991 had taught creative writing at the Chang School in Ryerson University.
Writer Lesley Krueger said winning the Seal First Novel award "was important in unpredictable ways. Some people might have become full of themselves, but for Ann, it brought home the difference that timely help could make.... People talking about Ann always mention her kindness. She wanted people to have their chance and was extremely generous about helping them get it."
On Facebook, author Elizabeth Ruth posted: "Ann Ireland was so warm to me when I first emerged onto Canada's chilly lit scene as I'm sure she was to many. Over the years I admired her even more for her lack of pretension, the unique artistic life she carved out for herself, and for that smile that seemed to take over her entire face."
Biblioasis publisher Daniel Wells noted that "in her last missive to me she asked me to keep Where's Bob? circulating. I promised to do so, and I know we'll all keep her memory alive, and be reminded of her wit, wisdom, and generous engagement with the world, through the fine books she's left us."