The Guelph Youth Music Centre (GYMC) inducted international children’s author Robert Munsch to its Wall of Fame on June 18.
Author of more than 80 children’s books of which Love You Forever, published in 1986, has been a bestseller in both Canada and the United States. Munsch’s books have been translated into many languages, including those of three first nations.
Munsch has also won many awards for his writing. He was a recipient of the Order of Canada in 1999 and in 2009 was honoured with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame.
From 1975 to 1984, Munsch was a professor of family studies at the University of Guelph, simultaneously teaching in the university’s lab preschool.
There he was encouraged to publish his stories beginning with Mud Puddle, which sold 3,000 copies in its first year.
“We are thrilled to be honouring Robert Munsch, who is a prodigious contributor to the arts community and will be our first recipient of this award from the literary arts,” said Josephine Horton, Wall of Fame committee chair for the GYMC. “He has earned international fame and continually demonstrates his magic and enthrals audiences again and again. We are pleased to be honouring him with the Wall of Fame award.”
The GYMC’s Wall of Fame was established to honour individuals whose career or volunteer activities in music and/or the arts exemplify the philosophy of the centre.
The award recognizes those either currently active or from any period in Guelph’s history.
Individuals must also have:
– been born, live or have lived, or had some significant connection with Guelph and the area;
– made a significant contribution in music and/or the arts compatible with the GYMC philosophy or fostering a life-long appreciation of music and/or the arts in young people; and
– not be an active member of the board of the GYMC.
