Draft:Gilbert Reid

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Gilbert Reid
Born
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian
EducationUniversity of Toronto; London School of Economics; University of Cambridge; Birkbeck, University of London; Sciences Po, Paris
Occupation(s)Writer, journalist, broadcaster, cultural diplomat
Notable workSo This Is Love; Lava and Other Stories; Son of Two Fathers; CBC Ideas documentaries

Gilbert Reid is a Canadian writer, journalist, broadcaster, economist, and cultural diplomat whose five-decade career has encompassed fiction, non‑fiction, radio and television documentaries, and cultural diplomacy in Europe and Canada [1].

Early life and education

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Born in Toronto and raised on a farm near Kleinburg, Ontario, Reid earned a BA in Economics and Political Science from the University of Toronto, an M.Sc. in Monetary Economics from the London School of Economics, and a BA in English Literature from the University of Cambridge. He began but did not complete doctoral work on the French novels of Samuel Beckett at Birkbeck, University of London, and attended Sciences Po in Paris as an auditeur libre[1]

Career

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Diplomatic & international roles

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Reid served with Canada’s Department of External Affairs in Ottawa, London, and Rome; worked as an economist at the OECD in Paris, He taught English and English Literature at the University of Messina in Italy for six years and worked as a press officer (attaché) at the Canadian Embassy in Rome.[1] He directed the Canadian Cultural Centre in Rome from 1983 to 1995 [2] and did preparatory and press work for Canada at G7 summits in Venice (1980, 1987). He also served on the International Administrative Committee of the Venice Biennale for several years and worked in PR for festivals in Taormina, Naples, Spoleto, and Venice. [3]

Journalism & literary work

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Reid has contributed articles and reviews to The Globe and Mail, The Times Literary Supplement, and Il Tempo, as well as Flare magazine and the Literary Review of Canada. [4] His first story collection, So This Is Love: Lollipop and Other Stories (2006)[5], showcases fateful romance and wartime narratives such as the Bosnian War in Pavilion 24 [6]. His second collection, Lava and Other Stories was published in 2019[3] and explores the expatriate experience and various forms of alienation. The historical novel Son of Two Fathers (2019, with Jacqueline Park) is set in the Italian Renaissance and was published by House of Anansi Press, also in 2019. [7] Reid has authored speculative fiction series including The Extinction Trilogy, Pandemic Series, all included in The Adventures of V (2020–2022)[8], as well as other works, notably the Gwendoline Trilogy (2021) [9]

Broadcasting & film

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Reid has written, hosted, and produced documentaries for CBC (Ideas), TVO, National Geographic, and the History Channel. His notable works include:

  • Gilbert Reid’s Italy (CBC Ideas) five hour radio series[10]
  • Gilbert Reid’s France (CBC Ideas) five hour radio series[11]
  • Paths of the Gods (1995) story editor 8 episodes with Peter Ustinov[12]
  • Empire of the Bay (1998), TV four hours.
  • Life and Times of Robertson Davies (CBC)[13]
  • Ultimate Engineering: Angkor Wat (National Geographic, 2009)
  • For King and Empire: Canadians in the First World War (History Channel, 2001), for which he received a Gemini Award nomination for best documentary writing (Storming the Ridge) [14]
  • For King and Country: Canadians in the Second World War (History Channel, 2004)

He also wrote and narrated other CBC Ideas shows The Mating Game, Seduction, How Humans Created Animals, and War Science: WWI [15]

Cultural collaborations & recognition

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In Italy, Reid collaborated with film legends such as Sergio Leone and Marcello Mastroianni, interviewed personalities such as Brian De Palma, Marguerite Duras, Agnès Varda, Northrop Frye, and Robert Altman, worked with Peter Ustinov on the John McGreevy 1995 TV productions East Meets West and Paths of the Gods and founded the bilingual magazine Canada Contemporaneo. He served on juries for the Prix Vercorin (Switzerland) and the Festival International du Film sur l’Art (Montreal) [16] .

Selected works

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Books

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  • So This Is Love: Lollipop and Other Stories (2006) – Key Porter / St. Martin's Press [5]
  • Lava and Other Stories (2019) – Twin Rivers [17]
  • Son of Two Fathers (2019) – House of Anansi Press, co‑written with Jacqueline Park [7]
  • Extinction Trilogy, Pandemic Series, The Adventures of V (2020–2022) – Twin Rivers [18]

Select documentary & radio credits

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  • Gilbert Reid’s France;[11]
  • Gilbert Reid’s Italy – CBC Ideas [1]
  • For King and Empire (History Channel, 2001) – Gemini‑nominated writing [19]
  • CBC Ideas series: The Mating Game (2001), Seduction (2002), War Science: WWI (2002–2003); How Humans Created Animals (2003) [20]

Honours

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  • Gemini Award nomination (2002) – Best Documentary Writing for Storming the Ridge episode of For King and Empire [21]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Gilbert Reid". The Writers' Union of Canada. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Death Divine: Photographs of Cemetery Sculpture from Paris, Milan, Rome – exhibition details". Alberta University of the Arts. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Lava and Other Stories". Ex Libris. Ex Libris Group. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  4. ^ Reid, Gilbert. "Various articles". Flare. Rogers Media. Archived from the original on 17 July 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  5. ^ a b So This Is Love: Lollipop and Other Stories. Goodreads Inc. 2004. ISBN 978-1-55263-636-7. Retrieved 22 July 2025. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  6. ^ "Finalists 1996". National Magazine Awards. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  7. ^ a b Park, Jacqueline; Reid, Gilbert (2019). Son of Two Fathers. House of Anansi Press. ISBN 9781487003968. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  8. ^ Noble, Barnes &. "Extinction Book 1: Girl with the Golden Eyes|Paperback". Barnes & Noble. Archived from the original on 18 May 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Gilbert Reid". Bookshop.org. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Canada and War". Empire Club of Canada. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Gilbert Reid's France (CBC Ideas audio series)". CBC Player. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  12. ^ McGreevy, John, Paths of the Gods (Documentary), Peter Ustinov, Greek Television ET-1, John McGreevy Productions, retrieved 23 July 2025
  13. ^ "About KAE". King And Empire Foundation. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  14. ^ "17th Annual Gemini Awards Finalists". Playback. Brunico Communications. 14 October 2002. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Canada and War: A Look Back – Empire Club of Canada roundtable". Empire Club of Canada. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  16. ^ "Festival International du Film sur l'Art – Jury Archives". FIFA (Festival International du Film sur l’Art). FIFA Montréal. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  17. ^ "Lava and Other Stories". Goodreads. Goodreads Inc. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  18. ^ Reid, Gilbert (2021). Extinction Book 3: Elysium. Twin Rivers Productions. ISBN 9781777314163. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  19. ^ "For King and Empire: Canada's Soldiers in the First World War". Library and Archives Canada. History Channel / Galafilm. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  20. ^ "The Mating Game: A History of Flirtation". CBC Radio Ideas. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 June 2001. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  21. ^ "Gemini Awards 2002 Nominees". Playback. Brunico Communications. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
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