Charles Gordon | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1940 (age 83–84) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation |
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| Nationality | Canadian |
| Alma mater | Queen's University |
| Period | 1970s–2000s |
| Notable works |
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| Parents | J. King Gordon |
Charles William Gordon CM (born 1940) is a Canadian writer and retired journalist, best known as a longtime columnist for the Ottawa Citizen. [1]
Background
Born in New York City while his father J. King Gordon was working in publishing there, [2] Gordon grew up in several cities around the world during his father's diplomatic career with the United Nations. [2] He is also the brother of writer Alison Gordon and the grandson of novelist Ralph Connor. [2] He studied political science at Queen's University. [2]
Career
While completing his master's degree in political science, Gordon was hired as an editor with the Brandon Sun in 1964, [2] remaining with the paper until joining the Citizen in 1974. [2] With the Citizen, he held a variety of roles – including writing editorials, editing the local news and books sections, and writing his daily column [2] – until retiring from the paper in 2005. [1] He took a leave of absence from the paper in 2002 to serve for several months as writer-in-residence at the University of Ottawa. [3] Gordon's columns were noted for their wry and sometimes satirical humour. [2]
He published several books, both fiction and non-fiction. His first book, The Governor General's Bunny Hop, was adapted by CBC Television into the short-lived sitcom Not My Department. [4] He also wrote the afterword for the New Canadian Library edition of Paul Hiebert's influential humour novel Sarah Binks.
Awards and honours
He was a three-time nominee for the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour, garnering nods in 1986 for The Governor General's Bunny Hop, [5] in 1994 for How Not to Be Too Bad [6] and in 2002 for The Grim Pig. [7]
He was granted an honorary doctorate from Brandon University in 1994. [8]
He was appointed as a member of the Order of Canada in 2023. He lives in Ottawa. [9]
Works
- The Governor General's Bunny Hop (1985, ISBN 077159688X)
- At the Cottage: An Affectionate Look at Canada's Summer Obsession (1989, ISBN 0771033931)
- How to Be Not Too Bad: A Canadian Guide to Superior Behaviour (1993, ISBN 0771033923)
- The Canada Trip (1997, ISBN 0771033893)
- The Grim Pig (2001, ISBN 0771033974)
- Still at the Cottage: Or the Cabin, the Shack, the Lake, the Beach, or Camp (2006, ISBN 978-0771034145)
References
- ^ a b "Charles Gordon: Incisive, Funny, Retired". Ottawa Citizen, June 11, 2005.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Cottage Industry". Winnipeg Free Press, August 3, 2006.
- ^ "Charles Gordon Named U of O Writer in Residence". Ottawa Citizen, April 16, 2002.
- ^ "Shelley Peterson Says New Sitcom Won't Embarrass Hubby David". The Gazette, September 26, 1987.
- ^ "Star's Slinger Up for Humor Prize". Toronto Star, April 11, 1986.
- ^ "Richardson Wins Leacock Prize". Ottawa Citizen, April 26, 1994.
- ^ "Charles Gordon Nominated for Leacock". Ottawa Citizen, March 20, 2002.
- ^ "Not bad! Citizen Book Editor Given Honorary Doctorate". Ottawa Citizen, May 29, 1994.
- ^ "Order of Canada appointees – June 2023". 22 June 2023.
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- 1940 births
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