Born in 1945 on the Rose Hill Sugar plantation earlier owned by the Dutch colonizers, Cyril Dabydeen is a Guyanese Canadian writer whose ancestors were brought from India to the Caribbean Island as indentured laborers. Dabydeen has vivid memories of life on a plantation: “Rose Hall becomes entrenched in my memory and linked to what’s temporal, and becomes permanent as I reflect on my sugar-estate life-experience as significant metaphor” (Dabydeen 64). He immigrated to Canada in 1970 and settled there permanently. He did his BA in English from Lakehead University in 1970 and MA from Queen’s University, Ontario, completing his dissertation on Sylvia Plath. He has also been a Poet Laureate of Ottawa from 1984 to 1987. Dabydeen has traveled extensively to countries like the USA, the UK, Australia, Canada, India, and Jamaica for a public reading of his works. His meetings with various leaders, activists, and intellectuals during these 3 years have resulted in his efforts to strengthen the policy of multiculturalism, social justice, and racial harmony. Presently, he is a professor of Creative Writing at the University of Ottawa.
Born in 1945 on the Rose Hill Sugar plantation earlier owned by the Dutch colonizers, Cyril Dabydeen is a Guyanese Canadian writer whose ancestors were brought from India to the Caribbean Island as indentured laborers. Dabydeen has vivid memories of life on a plantation: “Rose Hall becomes entrenched in my memory and linked to what’s temporal, and becomes permanent as I reflect on my sugar-estate life-experience as significant metaphor” (Dabydeen 64). He immigrated to Canada in 1970 and settled there permanently. He did his BA in English from Lakehead University in 1970 and MA from Queen’s University, Ontario, completing his dissertation on Sylvia Plath. He has also been a Poet Laureate of Ottawa from 1984 to 1987. Dabydeen has traveled extensively to countries like the USA, the UK, Australia, Canada, India, and Jamaica for a public reading of his works. His meetings with various leaders, activists, and intellectuals during these 3 years have resulted in his efforts to strengthen the policy of multiculturalism, social justice, and racial harmony. Presently, he is a professor of Creative Writing at the University of Ottawa.
Q&A Session with 2026 Dublin Literary Award shortlisted author Brigitte Giraud, author of Live Fast, exploring the inspirations behind her novel.
VideoMay 12 2026
Laurent Binet – Perspective(s) Q&A
Check out our Q&A with Laurent Binet, author of shortlisted title Perspective(s), as he discusses the inspirations behind his work and reflects on the role libraries have played in shaping his journey
VideoMay 8 2026
Ali Smith – Gliff Q&A
Shortlisted author Ali Smith discusses the creative inspirations behind Gliff and reflects on the significance of libraries throughout her reading and writing life in our latest Q&A.
