Alumni spotlight: Canadian novelist, Katherine Govier, CM

Award winning Canadian novelist Katherine Govier, CM, ‘70 BA Hons, has earned admiration from readers worldwide.

With a career spanning over 11 novels, including celebrated works like Three Sisters Bar and Hotel and the internationally acclaimed The Ghost Brush and Creation, which earned its place as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, Govier has made an incredible mark on the literary landscape.

The Faculty of Arts alumna credits the success of her professional journey to a combination of influences, including her upbringing, exposure to esteemed instructors at the Faculty and formative years as a magazine journalist in Toronto.

Early roots

Govier's roots trace back to Edmonton, Alberta, where she was born and raised. The University of Alberta was woven into her upbringing, thanks in part to her father, Dr. George Govier, who served as the dean of engineering from 1959 to 1963.

"We lived near campus and the neighbourhood was full of academics," she says. “We often had foreign students boarding with us — so I became close to students from China, Turkey and Pakistan as a kid.”

Govier went on to pursue an English degree at the U of A, during which she had the privilege of learning from prominent Canadian figures including writing instructor Dorothy Livesay, English professor Rudy Weibe and English professor Sheila Watson. Learning from their writing expertise in the classroom, as well as seeing their work, which explored Canada and its people, greatly impacted her as a student and aspiring author.

But it was after graduation, when she found her own voice.  The experience that honed her skills as a writer was working as a magazine journalist in Toronto. “It was my writing school,” she says.

"During those years, I explored Toronto and the world, conducting interviews, listening to different voices and gaining an understanding of how the world worked," Govier says. "It was wonderful training for me."

While in Toronto, Govier took her education further by earning a Master of Arts in English Literature from York University.

Since then, Govier has amassed a list of accolades including the City of Toronto Book Award and the Writers’ Trust Engel Findley Award. She’s been named a distinguished alumna of the U of A, and one of York University’s “Famous Fifty” alumni. 

When asked to share one piece of advice to aspiring writers, Govier says:

“Be true to yourself. There is a lot of pressure these days to conform and adopt ideas that are popular and widespread. Don’t be afraid to explore what truly matters, what you sincerely believe in and observe.”

Empowering marginalized voices

Beyond her work as a writer, Govier has played a pivotal role as a founder, director and former board chair of The Shoe Project, a nationwide initiative committed to empowering immigrant and refugee women through the art of writing and public speaking. She is now board member emerita.

“I knew newcomer women who had much to give to Canada were often sidelined by a lack of expressive writing and speaking skills in English,” she says. “I wanted them to play a bigger role in our society. I organized writing workshops so that these women could tell their stories and express their opinions.”

Since its establishment in 2011, The Shoe Project has expanded to six chapters across Canada, facilitating the sharing of over 350 stories from women across the country.

Govier's transformative work empowering marginalized voices through The Shoe Project as well as her literary achievements led to her appointment to the Order of Canada in 2019.

Return to the University of Alberta

Govier expresses her excitement to return to the University of Alberta this October as she speaks at the 17th Annual Hurtig Lecture on the Future of Canada, titled Alberta in the World.

When asked about what attendees can expect from her lecture, she offers the following insights:

"I’m a returning Albertan. Although I've lived in Washington, Toronto and London, I return to Alberta every summer and Christmas. During these visits, I bring back with me thoughts about how Alberta is perceived and how it engages with the world. I’ll talk about that and more."