Author Lawrence Hill speaks to GCVI students about creative writing, Black History

November 5, 2019

GUELPH, Ontario – Students at Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute had the unique opportunity to spend some time speaking with Canadian author Lawrence Hill at the school on Tuesday.

Hill is the award-winning author of ten fiction and non-fiction books including The Book of Negros and The Illegal. When Hill is not writing his next novel, he works as a creative writing professor at the University of Guelph.

Lawrence Hill Speaks To GCVI Students 3

Guelph CVI has a rich Black history in Guelph. In 2018, the school renamed the auditorium in honour of Alfred Lafferty, the first Black principal to serve a public school in Ontario. Hill was unable to attend the celebration for Lafferty, but was happy to speak to students about Canada’s Black History on November 5.

Students asked Hill thought-provoking questions during the Q&A session about topics like Hill’s books, Black History in Canada and what fuels Hill’s passion to write. Students also had the opportunity to pick Hill’s brain about creative writing and tips that he could share.