George Elliott Clarke

George Elliott Clarke serves as the E.J. Pratt Professor of Canadian Literature within the Department of English at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Arts and Science. A preeminent scholar and creative force, he specializes in African-Canadian and African-American history and culture with deep expertise in Maritime provincial contexts, particularly Africadian heritage (African-American and Mi'kmaq roots). His foundational work includes compiling the most comprehensive bibliography of African-Canadian writing to date, establishing critical frameworks for the field.

Dr. Clarke's research traverses African-Canadian literary traditions, Canadian multicultural policy analysis, postcolonial theory, and poetic innovation rooted in Africadian experience. His verse novel Whylah Falls revolutionized Canadian literature by centering Black Nova Scotian narratives through jazz-infused poetry, while Execution Poems—recipient of the Governor General's Literary Award—exposes buried histories of slavery through meticulous archival reconstruction. Current projects include the opera libretto Trudeau: Long March, Shining Path and the epic poem I & I, extending his lifelong exploration of race, history, and artistic form.

His scholarly output reveals consistent thematic trajectories: historical reclamation of marginalized voices, interdisciplinary fusion of poetry and cultural studies, and rigorous interrogation of Canadian identity. Clarke's work bridges academic rigor and public engagement, often incorporating Mi'kmaq relations and diasporic consciousness into analyses of Atlantic Canadian communities.

• Officer of the Order of Canada (2008)
• Member of the Order of Nova Scotia (2006)
• Governor General's Literary Award for Poetry (2001)
• Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Fellowship (2005)
• Eight honorary doctorates from Canadian universities (1999-2012)

As an educator, Clarke has mentored generations of scholars in Canadian literary studies and Africadian culture, while his advocacy for multiculturalism and anti-racism informs both pedagogy and public discourse. His Trudeau Fellowship enabled extensive research travel and community collaborations, amplifying marginalized narratives through international scholarly networks. Current grants support his epic poetry project and archival work on Black Canadian historical sites, reflecting his commitment to preserving cultural memory through artistic innovation.