An icon of Canadian literature, Margaret Laurence is one of this country's most esteemed and beloved writers. Well-known and widely read, the quality and significance of her works were acknowledged during her lifetime and continue to be recognized today.
Today, Dr. Richard Wishart, Manitoba Member of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada commemorated the national historic significance of Margaret Laurence with a special ceremony to unveil a plaque at the Margaret Laurence House in Neepawa, Manitoba. The announcement was made on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna.
A key figure during a significant period in Canadian literature, Margaret Laurence contributed to Canada's "literary renaissance" during the 1960s and 1970s. She made significant contributions to Canadian writing through her efforts to establish the Writers' Trust of Canada and the Writers' Union of Canada and through her personal support for many writers until her death in 1987.
Laurence's writing style was rooted in the conventions of realism and the rhythms of ordinary speech, and her best-known novels, such as The Stone Angel, were defined by regionalism and feminism. Her later novels solidified her reputation for depicting strong female characters and the conflicts experienced by Canadian women, set against a backdrop of rapid social change.
The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, recognizes significant people, places, and events that shaped our country as one way of helping Canadians and youth connect with their past. The commemoration process is largely driven by public nominations. To date, more than 2,000 designations have been made.
