Charles Gordon (journalist)

Canadian writer (born 1940)

Charles Gordon

Born| 1940 (age 84-85)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation|

* Novelist
* humorist
* journalist

Nationality| Canadian
Alma mater| Queen's University
Period| 1970s–2000s
Notable works|

* The Governor General's Bunny Hop (1985)
* The Canada Trip (1997)

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

[edit]

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

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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

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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

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* 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

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Charles Gordon: Incisive, Funny, Retired". Ottawa Citizen, June 11, 2005.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Cottage Industry". Winnipeg Free Press, August 3, 2006.
3. ^ "Charles Gordon Named U of O Writer in Residence". Ottawa Citizen, April 16, 2002.
4. ^ "Shelley Peterson Says New Sitcom Won't Embarrass Hubby David". The Gazette, September 26, 1987.
5. ^ "Star's Slinger Up for Humor Prize". Toronto Star, April 11, 1986.
6. ^ "Richardson Wins Leacock Prize". Ottawa Citizen, April 26, 1994.
7. ^ "Charles Gordon Nominated for Leacock". Ottawa Citizen, March 20, 2002.
8. ^ "Not bad! Citizen Book Editor Given Honorary Doctorate". Ottawa Citizen, May 29, 1994.
9. ^ "Order of Canada appointees – June 2023". 22 June 2023.

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States

Other|

* Yale LUX