Book Talk: Finding Edward with Sheila Murray
- Date
- February 28, 2024
- Time
- 12:30 PM EST - 1:00 PM EST
- Location
- Online Via Zoom
- Contact
- Adrianne Kenmir, Alumni Relations Officer, akenmir@torontomu.ca
About the Book
Following his mother’s death, a biracial Jamaican named Cyril Rowntree leaves his Caribbean home for the promise of a new life in “Foreign”: the unfamiliar environs of Toronto. There, Cyril tries to fit into his new surroundings, earn enough money for his studies, and somehow create a family and community in an unknown and often threatening environment. When he discovers a cache of letters from a mixed-race man in the 1920s, he determines to find out all he can about the mysterious individual named Edward.
In her debut novel, Sheila Murray has created a sharp and incisive study of Black history in Canada, from the Toronto neighbourhood of the Ward in the early 20th century to the Atlantic Canadian community of Africville. Murray’s supple prose and confident storytelling make Cyril’s journey a fascinating and rewarding reading experience in a debut of uncommon power and pathos.
About the Author
Sheila Murray, Journalism ’96, Masters in Immigration & Settlement (MA) ’10
Sheila Murray’s acclaimed novel, Finding Edward (external link, opens in new window) , has been called ‘remarkable,’ ‘powerful’ and ‘a touchstone.’ Her articles and short fiction have appeared in Canadian magazines and journals including, Refuge Journal, Descant, The Dalhousie Review, Exile, TOK, Writing the New Toronto, Room and The New Quarterly. Sheila’s writing has been supported by the Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council.
A resident of Hamilton, Ontario, Sheila was born and raised in England. Her father was Black and Jamaican and her mother was white and English, but DNA analysis reveals a multiracial ancestry that spans much of the world. This inspires her continuing interest in issues of race and identity. Most of Sheila’s working life was spent as a documentary filmmaker and television sound editor. Since 2012, she has worked in the social justice, not-for-profit sector, and now leads a grassroots, volunteer-driven initiative that engages urban residents in adaptation to local climate change impacts.
About the Moderator
Dr. Cheryl Teelucksingh, Professor & Department Chair, Sociology, TMU
Professor Teelucksingh’s research over the last twenty years has focused on examining the relationship between environmental justice in Canada and concerns for social inequality. Dr. Teelucksingh also has participated in Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) funded grants and has authored numerous publications in the areas of environmental justice and racialization in Canada. Her research uses a range of qualitative and quantitative methods to explore her areas of interest, including environmental justice, racialization and community-based research.