Concordia Journal Home > Archives > October 29, 2009 issue >

Accolades 

The provincial government just announced longtime (now retired) Concordia photography teacher Gabor Szilasi has been named as the 2009 recipient of the prix Paul-Émile-Borduas. The prestigious distinction is awarded by the Quebec government recognizing lifelong achievement in visual arts, architecture and design. Szilasi will receive the award during an official ceremony at the National Assembly Nov. 3.

Over the last 50 years, Szilasi has created one of Canada’s most influential bodies of work through environmental, domestic and commercial and urban portraits of Quebec and Budapest. His work has been presented at more than 30 exhibitions, and is part of 13 distinguished collections (including the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, and the National Gallery of Canada). Szilasi taught at Concordia from 1979 to 95.

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Once again this year, Concordia alumni and faculty are notably present on shortlists for the Governor General’s Literary Awards, the Quebec Writers’ Federation Awards and the Writers Trust Awards.

Eric Siblin [MA Hist 87] is nominated four times for his book, The Cello Suites. His name appears on the nominees list for a GG in the non-fiction category, the QWF Mavis Gallant Prize for non-fiction, the QWF McAuslan First Book Prize, and a Writers’ Trust award non-fiction prize.

Carmine Starnino [BA 94, MA Eng 01] has been nominated twice: His book This Way Out is up for both a GG in the poetry category, as well as the QWF’s A.M. Klein Prize for Poetry.

Part-time Études françaises prof David Homel’s Wildlives (co-translated with Fred A. Reed) is up for a GG in the Fr-Engl translation category, as well as the QWF Translation prize. (Among his numerous awards, Homel won GGs in 01 and 95, and the QWF Hugh MacLennan Award for best Quebec fiction in 2003.)

English professor Sina Queyras’ Expressway has been nominated for the GG’s poetry award.

Howard Scott [BA Translation 79, MA Translation/Women’s Studies 84] is also nominated in the GG’s Fr-Eng translation category for A Slight Case of Fatigue.

Part-time English instructor Jon Paul Fiorentino’s [BA Eng 01, MA Creative Writing 03] Stripmalling (see Journal, April 23, 2009) is nominated for the QWF Paragraphe Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction.

Both the GGs and the QWF awards will be announced Nov. 17. The Writers Trust prizes will be awarded Nov. 24.

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Congratulations to the JMSB’s MBA program for improving its rating among the top business schools in Canada and the world. On Oct. 21, the Washington, D.C.-based Aspen Institute – the international nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering enlightened leadership and open-minded dialogue – rated the JMSB second in Quebec, third in Canada and 34th worldwide for its demonstration of significant leadership in integrating social, environmental and ethical issues into its curriculum. Last year, the JMSB rated the same provincially; eighth in Canada and 59th worldwide. This year, 149 business schools from 24 countries participated in the 18-month survey.

Further congrats to JMSB Dean Sanjay Sharma for being named to the India Abroad Power List 2009. At a ceremony held at the Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Queen’s Park office on Oct. 19, Sharma was honoured as one of 30 outstanding members of Canada’s Indian community based on his outstanding contributions to society.