Katherine Govier
Encyclopedia
Katherine Mary Govier is a Canadian
novelist. Born in Edmonton, Alberta
, she was educated at the University of Alberta
and York University
. In 1997, she was awarded the Marian Engel Award
for a woman writer in mid-career. Prior to that she was shortlisted for the Trillium Award in 1994, and won the City of Toronto Book Award in 1992. She has been made a Distinguished Alumna of the University of Alberta
and is one of York University's "Famous Fifty" graduates. She has been Chair of the Writers' Trust of Canada
and President of PEN Canada
. Her novel "Creation" was a New York Times Notable Book of 2003.
Govier lives in Toronto, Ontario
with her partner Nicholas Rundall. She has two children, Robin and Emily Honderich. She was previously married to John Honderich
, former publisher of the Toronto Star
.
which discussed a previous January 2011 New York Times article on the disparity of female to male writers who contribute to the writing and editing of Wikipedia. The original N.Y. Times article correctly noted that Wikipedia is unwilling to apply gender based quotas to its contributors –its works have never been subject to such restrictions and can be both created and edited anonymously, with or without a user account.
Govier's article criticized Wikipedia's stance on who should be permitted to contribute to the encyclopedia, stating: "Wikipedia disdains rules, hierarchies and orthodoxies. It pledges to be open "even to misogynists." It will not adopt a new way to gather information. The result is that "the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit" is in danger of losing its legitimacy."
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
novelist. Born in Edmonton, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, she was educated at the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
and York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
. In 1997, she was awarded the Marian Engel Award
Marian Engel Award
The Marian Engel Award was a Canadian literary award, presented each year from 1986 to 2007 by the Writers' Trust of Canada in memory of the writer Marian Engel...
for a woman writer in mid-career. Prior to that she was shortlisted for the Trillium Award in 1994, and won the City of Toronto Book Award in 1992. She has been made a Distinguished Alumna of the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
and is one of York University's "Famous Fifty" graduates. She has been Chair of the Writers' Trust of Canada
Writers' Trust of Canada
The Writers' Trust of Canada is a non-profit organization which provides financial support to Canadian writers.Founded by Margaret Atwood, Pierre Berton, Graeme Gibson, David Young and Margaret Laurence, the Writers' Trust of Canada was registered as a non-profit organization in 1976...
and President of PEN Canada
PEN Canada
PEN Canada is one of the 144 centres of International PEN. Founded in 1926, it has a membership of over 1,000 writers and supporters who campaign on behalf of writers around the world who are persecuted, imprisoned and exiled for exercising their right to freedom of expression.Since its founding,...
. Her novel "Creation" was a New York Times Notable Book of 2003.
Govier lives in Toronto, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
with her partner Nicholas Rundall. She has two children, Robin and Emily Honderich. She was previously married to John Honderich
John Honderich
John Allen Honderich, is a Canadian businessman who was the publisher of the Toronto Star from 1994 to 2004.Born in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Beland Honderich, Honderich graduated from Neuchâtel Junior College in Switzerland, the University of Toronto and London School of Economics.His...
, former publisher of the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
.
Criticism of Wikipedia
On February 9, 2011, Govier wrote an article published in the Ottawa CitizenOttawa Citizen
The Ottawa Citizen is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Canada. According to the Canadian Newspaper Association, the paper had a 2008 weekly circulation of 900,197.- History :...
which discussed a previous January 2011 New York Times article on the disparity of female to male writers who contribute to the writing and editing of Wikipedia. The original N.Y. Times article correctly noted that Wikipedia is unwilling to apply gender based quotas to its contributors –its works have never been subject to such restrictions and can be both created and edited anonymously, with or without a user account.
Govier's article criticized Wikipedia's stance on who should be permitted to contribute to the encyclopedia, stating: "Wikipedia disdains rules, hierarchies and orthodoxies. It pledges to be open "even to misogynists." It will not adopt a new way to gather information. The result is that "the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit" is in danger of losing its legitimacy."
Novels
- Random Descent - 1979
- Going Through the Motions - 1982
- Between Men - 1987 ISBN 0670814997
- Hearts of Flame - 1991
- Angel Walk - 1996 ISBN 0316319066
- The Truth Teller - 2000
- Creation - 2002
- Three Views of Crystal Water - 2005
- The Ghost Brush - 2010 ISBN 987-1-55468-643-8
Short Story Collections
- Fables of Brunswick Avenue - 1985
- Before and After - 1989
- The Immaculate Conception Photo Gallery - 1994
Anthologies Edited
- Without a Guide: Contemporary Women's Travel Adventures - 1994
- Solo: Writers on Pilgrimage - 2004