Michael (Mieczyslaw) Gnarowski was born to Nina Dudko and Daniel Gnarowski September 27, 1934, in Shanghai, China and died peacefully July 27, 2023, in his 89th year in Ottawa. His father was a veteran of World War I as well as a businessman and industrialist. His mother’s family had been in Harbin since the late 19th century. He was educated at St. Francis Xavier College, a boarding school in Shanghai. He came to Canada in 1951 to attend McGill University in Montreal where he studied and became friends with Louis Dudek, Hugh MacLennan and Frank Scott. He received his B.A. in 1956. This was followed by an M.A. (1960) from the University of Montreal and a Ph.D. (1967) from the University of Ottawa. Michael was also commissioned 1st Lieutenant in the Canadian Intelligence Corps, Number One Reserve Company.
Predeceased by his son Jan Frederik (1969), his daughter, Sybille Marina Gnarowski (2011) and his parents. He is survived by his loving wife Diana (Paquet), daughter Franceska (Chris Ladurantaye) and son Danik as well as extended family in Ottawa and Poland.
For over fifty years, Michael devoted his life and career to fostering, promoting and preserving Canada’s literary heritage. His devotion to the lives and works of Canadian writers, both living and dead, was marked by unceasing teaching, scholarship and publishing. These were the three pillars of his life’s work. Through passionate and often tenacious pursuit, Michael enriched our understanding of our literary heritage.
His career as an educator and professor is well documented. He taught at the Université de Sherbrooke, Lakehead University, Sir George Williams (now Concordia) and at Carleton University. Michael also enjoyed teaching during several guest lectureships and visiting professorships in Europe, including a post as exchange scholar and Professor of Canadian Literature at the University of Leningrad in 1977.
The list of his writing is extensive. Two books among the many he has written or edited are worth mentioning for the impact they have had on the teaching and study of Canadian Literature. The first is The Making of Modern Poetry in Canada (Ryerson Press, 1967) which he co-edited with Louis Dudek, his long-time friend and collaborator. This collection of essays defined modern Canadian poetry for scholars and students alike. It centered modern Canadian poetry’s place in the Canadian literary landscape and its importance to the literary development of Canada. The second is A Concise Bibliography of English-Canadian Literature (McClelland & Stewart, 1973, revised 1978) which updated the literature sections of Watters A Checklist of Canadian Literature (heretofore the bible of Canadian bibliography) and which became an important scholarly and bibliographic tool in recognizing and legitimizing modern Canadian writers.
Publishing was a true passion. Considered a founder of the small press movement in Canada when he co-founded, in 1956, the literary small press YES: a Magazine of Poetry and Prose, with Glen Siebrasse and John Lachs. Together they produced nineteen issues until 1970, publishing emerging and established writers, such as works by Raymond Souster, Hugh Hood, Fred Cogswell, Milton Acorn, Irving Layton, and George Whalley, some of whom have become icons of the Canadian literary landscape.
He was co-founder of DELTA Canada with Louis Dudek and co-founder with Glen Clever and Frank Tierney of Tecumseh Press (Borealis). In 1972, he founded The Golden Dog Press, which published numerous books of poetry, history, critical texts, and more. He was also Vice-President, General Editor and founding Director of the Carleton University Press from 1982 to 1993.
In all his publishing endeavours and editing activities, Michael had a clear-headed, practical, yet critically astute sense of what was important and what was not. Informed by his critical and analytical skills, his overriding concerns were scholarship and distribution. He believed that works of Canadian literature are kept alive through the acts of printing and publishing and Michael doggedly read through reams of material to find the gold, the important and lasting works of our writers. It is through these activities that Michael kept alive and made present the literature of our past.
He was a link with a rich literary heritage. Long may our shared literary heritage and his legacy continue.
Friends and family are invited to celebrate his life at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Avenue, on September 8, 2023, at 1PM, followed by a reception.
The family extends its profound gratitude to the doctors and staff at Shenkman Palliative Care Unit, St Vincent’s Hospital, Ottawa, and to the Regional Palliative Consultation Team.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to any of the palliative care services in Ottawa or elsewhere.
Digital Guestbook
David Buchanan
Simon Dardick
Dear Diana. My condolences. Michael made a lasting contribution to Canadian literature.
Vicki Metcalfe
A fine man. I was a terrible student when I took Professor Gnarowski's Canadian Literature course at Sir George, but came to so much appreciate him through Carleton's Learning in Retirement courses. Wouldn't miss one!
Gerry Maffre
To the Gnarowski family,
Please accept my condolences on Michael's passing.
I first met Michael at Sir George Williams University in his introductory course on Canadian literature. It was through his engaging teaching that I encountered the writings of Mordecai Richer, F.P. Grove, William Kirby and Earle Birney, amongst others. His lectures, approach and style led me to the SGWU Canadian Studies program. Michael later supported my successful application to the MA program in Canadian Studies at Carleton University.
Some years ago when I was back in Ottawa, I reconnected with, first Diana, at a presentation I gave on Canada's immigration program then later with Michael. We exchanged emails and met a couple of times for a beer and lively conversation. It was fascinating to hear his stories about notables in Canadian literature that he knew and his perspectives on the state of Canadian literature. We never did make it to the Poets' Corner at St James the Apostle Church in Montreal though.
I count myself fortunate to have studied under and known Michael and sympathize with your loss.
Dr. W. Gar White and Sandy White
Dear Diana and Family,
We were deeply saddened by the news of Michael's passing. Your shared contribution to the literary world carries on.
Gar and Sandy
Roisin McGrath
Dearest Franceska and Diana, I am sending you love and heartfelt condolences, from St.Andrews Scotland. I remember Michael so very well.
I’m so glad Michael and my Dad, Gerald, had an opportunity to meet and rejoice in each others company. My father spoke very fondly of him. Michael and Diana were always gracious and welcoming to my family and my beloved son James-Michael, with generosity, great laughs, good humour and hospitality. Forever remembered; those precious moments when Michael would fire off a few witty one liners, around the dinner table, filled with mirth and we would all laugh uproariously. JM always remembered him fondly too. I only wish I could be with you all for Michael’s Celebration of Life. Condolences and cheers to a life well remembered. Rest in peace Michael Gnarowski.
Anne Burke
Dear Diana and family,
Please take comfort in knowing that Michael will never be forgotten. He was an outstanding mentor and generous individual who made a major difference in the careers of generations of students and their families.
I met Michael at Carleton University when I was a Ph.D. Candidate at University of Ottawa. He taught Canadian Bibliography, a life-changing course for me and many others.
As a Professor, author, editor, poet, publisher and raconteur his contributions to Canadian Literature are unsurpassed. I had the recent privilege of publishing his memoir about his founding of the League of Canadian Poets, in the Prairie Journal of Canadian Literature which I edit. He was a founding advisory editor of the Journal in 1983. He was a true gentleman and scholar and so much more, who dedicated himself to his students, academic colleagues, numerous friends, of course family, and many others who are very grateful to have known him.
Karen Davison Wood
Dear Diana, Francesca and Danik
Your husband and father was an amazing man. My condolences on your loss. Michael championed Canadian literature at a time when the influx of American academics in ou r Universities threatened an emerging Canadian Identity. I was fortunate to have been a student both in Michael's introduction to Canadian Literature course, and his graduate seminars. I was his Teaching Assistent and He was my thesis director. He was always generous with his time. Long after my student days he still kept in touch sharing his latest
publishing projects. His kindness and genorisity will always be remembered.. He will rest well in this national cemetery.
Justin Fox
To the Gnarowski family:
Moments ago, I learned of Michael's passing. He was a giant in my life. When I decided I wanted to attend grad school and focus on bibliographic work in Archibald Lampman, there was no better option than to join the Carleton community and have Michael be my advisor. He was patient, direct and always supportive through the work and afterward when he encouraged me to have the work published. I owe him a great deal. I am reflecting quietly today on our all too brief connection.
Dear Diana, Franceska and Danik, please accept my sincere condolences on your loss. Dr. Gnarowski was a gentleman of the first order, and I was sad to hear of his passing.