Draft:Gilbert Reid
{{AfC submission|t||ts=20250623175156|u=Mkaram99|ns=118|demo=}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Gilbert Reid
| birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| nationality = Canadian
| occupation = Writer, journalist, broadcaster, cultural diplomat
| education = University of Toronto; London School of Economics; University of Cambridge; Birkbeck, University of London; Sciences Po
| notable_works = Son of Two Fathers; Lava and Other Stories; Ideas (radio show)
}}
Gilbert Reid is a Canadian writer, journalist, broadcaster, and cultural diplomat whose work spans fiction, non‑fiction, television, radio documentaries, and the promotion of Canadian culture abroad :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
Early life and education
Reid was born in Toronto, Ontario. He earned a B.A. in Economics & Political Science from the University of Toronto, an M.Sc. in Monetary Economics from the London School of Economics, and a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Cambridge. He pursued doctoral studies at Birkbeck, University of London, and studied at Sciences Po as an auditeur libre :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
Career
=Diplomatic & international roles=
Reid held positions with Canada’s Department of External Affairs in Ottawa, London and Rome, and worked as an economist at the OECD in Paris. He served as press attaché at the G7 summits in Venice (1980 & 1987), directed the Canadian Cultural Centre in Rome (1983–1995), and participated in the Venice Biennale administrative committee :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
=Journalism & literary work=
He contributed to The Times Literary Supplement, The Globe and Mail, Il Tempo, and others :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}. His short story “Pavilion 24” received a 1996 National Magazine Awards nomination :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
His published books include:
- Son of Two Fathers (2019), co‑written with Jacqueline Park :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
- Lava and Other Stories (2019) :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
- So This Is Love: Lollipop and Other Stories (2019) :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
- Speculative fiction: *Extinction Trilogy*, *Pandemic Series*, *The Vampire and the Bard* (2020–2021) :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
=Broadcasting & film=
Reid has written, hosted, and produced documentaries for CBC Ideas, TVO, National Geographic, and History Channel :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}. His notable credits include:
- Gilbert Reid’s France and Gilbert Reid’s Italy – CBC Ideas
- The Great War Tour TVO
- Ultimate Engineering: Angkor Wat National Geographic
- For King and Country/Empire History Channel
He was nominated for a Gemini Award in 2002 for Best Documentary Writing :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.
=Cultural collaborations=
In Italy, Reid managed public relations for festivals in Taormina, Naples, Spoleto, Venice, collaborated with Sergio Leone, Marcello Mastroianni, and Peter Ustinov, and founded the magazine Canada Contemporaneo. He served on juries for the Prix Vercorin and the Montreal Festival International du Film sur l’Art :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
Selected works
=Books=
- Son of Two Fathers (2019) – co‑written with Jacqueline Park; House of Anansi Press :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
- Lava and Other Stories (2019) – Twin Rivers Productions :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
- So This Is Love: Lollipop and Other Stories (2019) – Twin Rivers Productions :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
- *Extinction Trilogy*, *Pandemic Series*, *The Vampire and the Bard* (2020–2021) – Twin Rivers Productions :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
=Television & radio (selected)=
- Gilbert Reid’s France CBC Ideas
- The Great War Tour TVO
- Ultimate Engineering: Angkor Wat National Geographic
- For King and Country History Channel
- The Mating Game: A History of Flirtation CBC Ideas
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://houseofanansi.com/products/son-of-two-fathers Son of Two Fathers] at House of Anansi Press :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
- [https://gilbertreid.com/books/son-of-two-fathers Son of Two Fathers] at gilbertreid.com :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}
- [https://gilbertreid.com/books/lava-and-other-stories Lava and Other Stories] at gilbertreid.com :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}
- [https://bookshop.org/shop/twinrivers Bookshop author page] – confirms fiction and broadcast credits :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}
{{Draft categories|
Category:Canadian broadcasters
Category:University of Toronto alumni
Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics
Category:Alumni of the University of Cambridge
}}