Winnipeg Free Press

Nominated by: john

Why Carol Shields should be a Great Manitoban:

Claim to fame: Author, Pulitzer Prize winner

Manitoba dosage: 3

Fast Facts: Born in Chicago, she made her home in Winnipeg for more than 20 years and prairie themes run throughout her most well-known books...Her 1993 epic, Stone Diaries, was set in Manitoba and has the distinction of being the only book ever to win the Pulitzer Prize and the Governor-General's Award. The book was also nominated for a Booker Prize.

20 Comments

• Carol Shields, a Manitoban by choice, was one of Canada's finest writers and wrote some of her finest works in Manitoba.

  Posted by: William Neville | 2008-06-15 15:48:16

• Calling anyone Canada's "best" writer is impossible. She was certainly one of the best, but who can judge who is "the best."

  Posted by: John Richthammer | 2008-06-16 19:50:10

• I studied Carol Shields' novels in university and was surprised and delighted to have so many references to our city and prairie life. Years later her stories still play through my head.

  Posted by: michelle place | 2008-07-11 01:27:35

• if this vote counts, i hope it counts for a lot as Carol counted a lot in my life. She was not only a wonderful writer, she was a wonderful woman. "Wonderful" is an easy word to say -- I mean she was exceptional, extraordinary -- yes, wonderful!

  Posted by: isabel huggan | 2008-07-11 17:20:47

• Carol was a memorable woman, not only for the legacy of herlengthy body of work she left, but for the humility she displayed in accepting the many honours she received for her work, remaining the same down-to-earth,compassionate woman as ever, Pulitzer Prize notwithstanding! She also came to become a role model for anyone suffering during hher her final illness,and who could not have learned from her courage. We could call her an outstanding citizen of Canada,- and of course, more than worthy of being nominated as a Great Manitoban.

  Posted by: claire h.morton | 2008-07-11 19:04:19

• As a person born and raised in Manitoba I have reviewed all the nominees and feel that Carol best exemplifies the greatest Manitoban for everything she accomplished in Manitoba.

  Posted by: Don Scott | 2008-07-11 19:14:09

• I have read ALL of Carol Shields published works.She is a great writer, possibly Cadada's GREATEST. Yes, she was also an extraordinary,wonderful and compassionate person. I am honoured that I have known her since 1967 as a friend.She has my vote.

  Posted by: Gunther Bauer, Professor Emeritus | 2008-07-11 19:24:12

• Carol Shields was an exemplary novelist & short story writer. As her work deepened, she touched more and more on the mysteries of things--the way that life rarely reaches a conclusion, leaves us with only partial understanding of its depths. Carol touched upon just such depths, and if anyone deserves the acolade, she does.

  Posted by: Larry Eldredge | 2008-07-11 20:54:46

• Carol Shields was an intelligent, knowledgeable, lovely, caring & devoted Manitoban who had spent over 20 years in Winnipeg where she taught at the University of Manitoba, was the Chancellor for many years at the University of Winnipeg, wrote & published many award-winning books and novels. As a Manitoban, Carol won the Pulitzer price for her book titled "The Stony Diary" which was one of her many top-notch books and was awarded the Order of Canada by the Government of Canada. I am very proud of Carol's achievements and she has my vote for the "Top Manitoban".

  Posted by: Walter Kwan | 2008-07-12 00:34:37

• Carol was a great citizen of every room she entered. Claim her Mantiboa! She perfectly embodied the integrity of your community. Linda Rogers

  Posted by: Linda Rogers | 2008-07-12 05:33:54

• A writer who captures the simplicity of daily life and gives it great meaning. A woman who managed to live in the same way. A person worthy of any award going.

  Posted by: camille du aime | 2008-07-12 12:12:43

• A writer who captures the simplicity of daily life and gives it great meaning. A woman who managed to live in the same way. A person worthy of any award going.

  Posted by: camille du aime | 2008-07-12 12:14:10

• I have known and loved Carol for nearly 50 years. My children and hers played together. As parents we all learnt so much from Carol. We have read and enjoyed all her work, we met every time she and Don came to England. She had a perception and understanding of people which many do not. The stories were written in an English to which few can aspire. She has been a loving mother, grandmother and friend. We truly miss her and continue to enjoy the work of this astounding wordsmith.

  Posted by: Susan Lodge | 2008-07-12 15:50:11

• We have known Carol since 1957 and even then she was writing books & poetry, all of it very good. I think this honour for Carol is well deserved. She made many outstanding contributions to Canada's literary world.

  Posted by: Lucie Trow | 2008-07-14 00:16:50

• I got to know Carol as her neighbour in Ottawa and kept up with her career over the years, reading all of her books - her work is inspirational to other women, tapping into a kind of longing for expression.

  Posted by: Julia Montgomery | 2008-07-14 12:32:04

• I had the opportunity to personally know Carol and spoke with her many times about writing. She was a Manitoban at heart and a Canadian in her soul. She loved people, adored her family and embraced life, even through her battle with breast cancer, something we shared. I often find myself thinking of her and the quiet undivided attention she gave to everyone when she listened to them. She definitely deserves to be named a "Great Manitoban"

  Posted by: Laurene Clark | 2008-07-14 14:19:59

• I have known Carol since the late 1960's when the Shields family had moved to Ottawa. I followed her career with great interest, in particular her last twenty years in Winnipeg where her writing career blossomed. Besides the many literary awards,she also received more than a dozen honorary doctorates and was apointed as Chancellor of the University of Winnipeg. She truly is a great Manitoban.

  Posted by: Irmgard Bauer | 2008-07-24 12:29:53

• Carol Shields was a very great writer,very intelligent and human.I have known her and Don in France for nearly 35 years,and i am proud to have been her friend.I have read and loved "The story diary. She has my votefor the "Top Manitoban"

  Posted by: Samuel Amar | 2008-08-22 11:28:21

• Carol Shields was a very great writer,very intelligent and human.I have known her and Don in France for nearly 35 years,and i am proud to have been her friend.I have read and loved "The story diary. She has my votefor the "Top Manitoban"

  Posted by: Samuel Amar | 2008-08-22 11:29:44

• Carol Shields was a very great writer,very intelligent and human.I have known her and Don in France for nearly 35 years,and i am proud to have been her friend.I have read and loved "The story diary. She has my votefor the "Top Manitoban"

  Posted by: Samuel Amar | 2008-08-22 11:31:15

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