Over the past few decades, Paul Quarrington has forged an unparalleled career as a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker, and musician. Earlier this year, he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Saturday afternoon a sell-out crowd came to the Brigantine Room at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre — with some, including yours truly, relegated to the adjacent tent — in order to celebrate the life and work of this remarkable artist.
Dave Bidini hosted the event, which saw an assortment of Quarrington’s friends and colleagues take to the stage in order to celebrate his work. Up first was Irish writer Roddy Doyle, who explained that he’d met Quarrington and grown to like him before ever reading his work. “Which is just as well — it’s shite!” From then on, despite Bidini’s claim to the contrary, the event took on the occasional air of a roast. Margaret Atwood related an anecdote about performing country western songs with Quarrington and Timothy Findley at a PEN benefit in the early ’90s. David Bezmozgis talked about attending a Quarrington reading years ago: “It was the first time I saw in the flesh a writer whose books I’d actually read. I’d like to thank Paul for dispelling my romantic image of writers.” Later, Nino Ricci described his regular poker games with Quarrington. Particularly noteworthy was Bidini’s reunion with his Rheostatics band mates, who performed a short and very sweet set midway through the event.
During the intermission, video greetings from those who couldn’t attend played on screen. Among these speakers were Jim Cuddy, Michael Ondaatje, and Ron Mann. Afterward, The Quarrington Brothers, a band comprised of Paul’s musician brothers Joel and Tony, performed. Next, his sister Christine spoke, followed by Paul joining his brothers to perform as The Quarrington Trio. Other speakers included Alistair MacLeod, who delivered a poem he’d written about Quarrington, and Patsy Aldana, who presented Quarrington with the Writers’ Trust of Canada’s Matt Cohen Award.
Finally, Quarrington himself took to the mike. In talking about his diagnosis and upcoming chemotherapy, he became the first speaker to directly address his illness. He spoke movingly about his belief that he’d been given a second chance in life, and that the illness struck him as a message from his creator that, “If you don’t like it here, you don’t have to stick around.” After leading the crowd in an apposite reenactment of Lou Gehrig’s famous words at Yankee Stadium, he closed the proceedings with a performance by his band, Porkbelly Futures. All in all, a quite fitting tribute — celebratory, not funereal — to a writer we all hope will be delighting us with his work for many years to come.
best seo forums: Thanks for sharing such an brilliant post. I make sure to visit this post regularly. keep sharing more and more..
Seenloitering: The “gender analysis” in this article is upside down. Marie Calloway is a threat to the status quo because she threatens the myth that women are morally superior, above...
Jefry: I do not really like to read a story like a novel or a real story but I think this is very interesting and need to be read
Legong: I know I am replying to this pathetic, racist statement a little late and the whole ignorant rant probably doesn’t even deserve a reply. Wanhenglo, if we were all to generalise about...
Legong: I know I am replying to this pathetic, racist statement a little late and the whole ignorant rant probably doesn’t even deserve a reply. Wanhenglo, if we were all to generalise about...
Sky Goodden: This is startling, refreshing, overdue, and damn good. Thank you, Shary.
Mark: It’s not just in Canada, it seems all over artists don’t get the local recogtnition they should. I was in Malaga where Picasso was born and it is much different, but then he is...
Guest: I didn’t want babies or a period any more. I KNEW without a doubt I did not want children so I had been asking for a hysterectomy since I was 19. I finally got it at 39. My...
Djzklj: Pretty interesting article, despite that I don’t wanna make a voyage there
Sanyo Seiki: I love this game! Very addicted! Sanyo Seiki