Western Alumni donation honours alumna and Nobel laureate

By Communications Staff

A gift from Western’s Alumni Association celebrates and recognizes the creative stature of one of Western’s own – Alice Munro, DLitt’76.

Its contribution of $50,000 will support the Alice Munro Chair in Creativity, an initiative to honour Ms. Munro’s literary career and connection to Western

In 1950, as a young student at Western, Alice (Laidlaw) Munro published her first short story in Folio, a student literary journal. That story – “The Dimensions of a Shadow” – was followed by another two stories published at Western.

Since then, Ms. Munro has penned 14 original collections of short stories. Her writing has garnered national and international acclaim, including the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature.

“We’re incredibly proud of Alice Munro’s Nobel Prize, her many other literary awards over the years, her education and work as a Writer-in-Residence at Western, and her honorary degree in 1976,” says Gary West, chair of the Alumni Legacy Committee with the Association.

“Our contribution demonstrates our recognition of her lifetime of extraordinary achievements that were fostered at Western,” adds West. “We’re proud to call her one of our own.”

The Committee’s gift coincides with a donation from the Arts & Humanities Students’ Council, which recently decided to give $25,000 in support of the Chair.

Western has committed to match all gifts to the Alice Munro Chair in Creativity (up to $1.5 million to permanently endow the Chair in her honour).

When fully funded, the Faculty of Arts & Humanities plans to recruit a scholarly creative voice who will encourage a campus-wide dialogue on creativity, and who will teach courses that foster creative thought.

“Providing a place that encourages creative expression will recognize Alice Munro’s achievements, while giving opportunities for students to explore creativity in all its forms,” says Michael Milde, dean of the faculty. “I’m grateful for the support and leadership that the Association has demonstrated with its gift – and its commitment to invest in Western students and faculty.”