Concordia honours literary icon

Montreal, November 28, 2013 — An icon of Canadian literature has commenced a new chapter at Concordia University. The Mordecai Richler Reading Room has opened to honour the late novelist, screenwriter and essayist who attended one of Concordia’s founding institutions, Sir George Williams University, between 1949 and 1951 and who served as its writer in residence in 1968 and 1969.

Concordia is now home of Richler’s desk, typewriter, some of his private papers, books and mementos, as well as an ashtray that once brimmed over with his cigars. Located on the sixth floor of the J. W. McConnell Library Building, the room is at the heart of Richler’s old haunts at Concordia’s Sir George Williams Campus.

The author’s personal effects were generously donoted to the university by Richler’s literary estate thanks to Frederick Lowy — Concordia president and vice-chancellor from 1995 to 2005 and again from January 2011 until July 2012 — who championed the opening of the Mordecai Richler Reading Room to honour its namesake.

“The creation of the Mordecai Richler Reading Room will ensure that his works continue to be analyzed, celebrated and critiqued for generations to come,” said Concordia President Alan Shepard. “We thank the Richler family for giving us this deeply personal collection and for understanding the importance of Mordecai’s connections to Concordia — both historical and philosophical.”

Richler’s personal papers and library will eventually be available for consultation by students, writers and the general public via an online database. “It was my wish that Concordia be custodian of my late husband’s writerly possessions,” said Florence Richler. “Mordecai worked incredibly hard to leave behind a body of work that would endure. That legacy will be immeasurably strengthened with the addition of the Mordecai Richler Reading Room at Concordia.”