The newest Tory senator is a Trudeau appointee. What to know about about David Adams Richards
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He's married to Peggy McIntyre, with whom he has two sons, John Thomas and Anton Richards.
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While his first published work after studying literature and philosophy at St. Thomas University in the early 1970s was a small book of poems, Richards became an acclaimed Canadian novelist with 16 titles on his resume, along with six non-fiction books and two collections of short stories.
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His writings have been translated into 12 languages and are part of the curriculum of Canadian and U.S. universities, according to the Senate of Canada.
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In a style said to be influenced by the likes of Leo Tolstoy and compared to William Blake, his fiction work is mostly set in the Miramichi Valley where he grew up and the characters are inspired by the lives and experiences of its poor and working-class people.
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Richards has been a writer-in-residence at multiple universities and colleges across Canada, three of which have awarded him honorary doctorates — the University of New Brunswick (1995), Mount Allison University in Sackville (2008), and St. Thomas University in Fredericton (1990). He received the same honour from the Atlantic School of Theology in 2010.
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In 1998, he became one of just three Canadian writers to win a Governor General's Literary Award in both fiction and non-fiction for Nights Below Station Street (1988) and Lines on the Water: A Fisherman's Life on the Miramichi (1998). Writers Laura G. Salverson and Hugh MacLennan are the others. Meanwhile, his 1993 fiction novel For Those Who Hunt the Wounded Down and 2007's The Lost Highway were also nominated for the government honour.
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In 2000, his Mercy Among the Children was a co-winner of the Giller Prize along with Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje, the only time two recipients have shared the honour in its 31-year history. Lost Highway and The Friends of Meager Fortune (2006) were both longlisted for the Giller.
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Richards has also been awarded two Gemini Awards for scriptwriting (Small Gifts and For Those Who Hunt the Wounded Down), the Alden Nowlan Award for Excellence in the Arts, the Canadian Authors Association Award for his novel Evening Snow Will Bring Such Peace, the 2011 Matt Cohen Award for a distinguished lifetime of contribution to Canadian literature and the Canada-Australia Literary Prize.
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He is a member of the Order of New Brunswick (2005) and the Order of Canada (2009).
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Richards the Senator
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When first appointed to the Senate by Trudeau in 2017, two years after the then-prime minister established the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments to make the Upper House less partisan, Richards joined the relatively new Independent Senators Group (ISG).
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Toronto Sun
8 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
WARMINGTON: Like a marital spat, Mr. Wonderful says Trump and Musk must kiss and make up
The Canadian star of Dragon's Den fame suggests the world's richest man should 'apologize in private' to the world's most powerful man Get the latest from Joe Warmington straight to your inbox In coming president Donald Trump met Kevin O'Leary at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend -- picture courtesy Kevin O'Leary Does X mark the spot or does the U.S. President hold the Trump card? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Needless to say, this may have been America's loudest breakup since they separated from Great Britain in 1776. Although it looks like the bromance between President Donald Trump and his first buddy, billionaire Elon Musk, is shattered, Canadian business icon Kevin O'Leary – an acquittance of both – says don't be so sure. He actually believes the relationship is still repairable. 'So, you know, (this is the) world's most powerful man and the world's richest man. They have a lot of good reasons to fix this and they're going to,' the Shark Tank star known as Mr. Wonderful told the Toronto Sun on Friday. The only question remaining is 'how it happens?' There is certainly some work to do to put back together what got broken. For supporters of both, that was a dark day to see the Tesla and X CEO and comeback President from election defeat to assassination attempts sniping at each other. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Elon Musk is a unique individual. Think about the achievements he's made and all of the different industries he's involved in that express the technical might of America. Trump wants to be close to that. The whole administration was part of that story, and frankly, so do the… — Kevin O'Leary aka Mr. Wonderful (@kevinolearytv) June 6, 2025 Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It was a nasty battle on Musk's X and Trump's Truth Social, where some harsh words were spoken and some troubling missives were lobbed – especially by the former special advisor to the President on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) who posted to X, 'Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!' Musk did not elaborate on what he meant by that, but with the notorious Epstein client list so far not making it to the public's eyes about who went to his private island where underaged girls were sex-trafficked, or who travelled on his Lolitia Express airplane or attended his Manhattan home, the shot raised a lot of eyebrows. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Trump told the press he's 'disappointed in Elon' who is a 'man who has lost his mind' and he's 'not particularly' interested in speaking with him. Time to drop the really big bomb:@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT! — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It's understandable how such a betrayal would make Trump untrusting in the future. But O'Leary, who knows and respects both men, said talking at some point is something they should do. 'Elon's a very eclectic individual,' said O'Leary, who was also on FOX News and CNN on Friday. 'He's out there as you know and he's beyond genius status and has tremendous executional skills as evidenced by everything he's achieved – and Trump knows that.' 'A lot of what America does right in space (with SpaceX) comes from Elon,' O'Leary said. 'What he's doing with Neuralink is extraordinary, obviously Starlink is a global phenomenon in terms of what it's done. It helps Ukraine in the war. Those are all benefits for Trump and he knows it.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Read More But what he said about the Epstein file was, by most observers' accounts, a low blow and a bridge way too far for a dispute over a spending package called the 'Big Beautiful Bill.' 'I think Elon is probably going to have to apologize in private for the Epstein stuff,' O'Leary said. 'That was over the top.' Under normal circumstances, it would be hard to come back from something like that. But O'Leary believes these two men must try – for the good of America. 'You know, these guys have huge egos,' O'Leary said. 'They got into a pissing match, like a bad date.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. @elonmusk sometimes gets angry and spiteful and lashes out. And sometimes he apologizes. He should do that tonight to @realDonaldTrump like he did in this case — stuff happens. Elon's greatest gifts come from his integrity and passion. But the president… — Joe Warmington (@joe_warmington) June 5, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Mr. Wonderful equated the situation to how 'sometimes in a marriage you have some really bad fights, and the only way you can fix it is to get back together and turn down the temperature and figure out how to go forward.' The former Dragon's Den star said he believes this is what will happen. Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump and businessman Kevin O'Leary in Mar-a-Lago, Fla. Photo courtesy of Danielle Smith via X/Twitter 'It may not be the exact same relationship going forward, but they will go forward,' O'Leary said. 'Over time this will get fixed.' Having met the President many times, including at Mar-a-Lago and attending his inauguration, O'Leary said 'Trump is a pragmatic, transactional guy' who is fair. But he believes the Musk mea culpa must be made to Trump privately first before it's released publicly – something that should be decided on by the President. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. False, this bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it! — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I think the right move now is a private meeting with Trump, or a private phone call and let Trump do the lead on how they work it out,' O'Leary said. 'That would be the way Trump works and would be a better outcome for Elon. In watching Trump operate up close, that would be better. Wait for Trump to return the call that Elon has put out and saying let's talk.' In high stakes politics or business, O'Leary said it's important to 'make sure' what you are saying 'is the truth' because 'if you start speaking untruths, you were going get into a lot of trouble.' President-elect Donald Trump walks with Elon Musk before the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 in Boca Chica, Texas. Photo by Brandon Bell / The Associated Press Musk has lashed out at people before and had to apologize. The key, O'Leary said, is to 'try not to get emotional' in politics or business. 'I think Trump was trying to hold back and he doesn't hold back too often,' O'Leary said, adding Trump, however, knows Musk is a 'unique situation and what he represents is unique.' Time will tell if they patch this feud up – but O'Leary, who is hoping to buy TikTok, sure hopes they do. 'I don't think it's a good idea that these two have this spat,' O'Leary said. 'It's not good for the country.' jwarmington@ Olympics Columnists NHL Toronto & GTA Editorial Cartoons
Winnipeg Free Press
12 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Zoo welcomes pack of five grey wolves
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Toronto Sun
13 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Canadian ultramarathoner stopped to breastfeed daughter and still won
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