Celebrating Life of Honorary Degree Recipient, Dr. Graeme Gibson

Today, the Cape Breton University community is mourning the loss of honorary degree recipient, Dr. Graeme C. Gibson.

Graeme C. Gibson was a renowned Canadian author and environmental advocate. Born in London, Ontario, in 1934 and educated at the University of Western Ontario, he has lived most of his life in Toronto, with his partner, Margaret Atwood.

Early in his career, Mr. Gibson was an instructor at Ryerson Institute of Technology. He later served as writer-in-residence at the University of Waterloo and University of Ottawa in the 1980s.

Mr. Gibson’s contribution to Canadian literature extended beyond his own writing and the mentorship of young authors to the institutions that support authors in Canada. He was a founding member of both The Writers’ Union of Canada, which advocates for the rights of authors, as well as their economic well-being, and the Writers’ Trust.

A lifelong bird watcher and naturalist, Mr. Gibson’s passion for literary expression was fused with his passion for the environment when he published The Bedside Book of Birds (2005) and The Bedside Book of Beasts (2009).

Dr. Graham Gibson received his honorary degree at a special convocation at CBU in June 2019. This event included dancing, music, laughter and love of the environment.  Dr. Graeme Gibson was welcomed into the CBU family with true Cape Breton hospitality and friendship.  His works in the literary world will not soon be forgotten and we here at CBU will carry on his legacy of an environmental champion through our work and research.