RUTH YATEMAN
A&E REPORTER

Many in Humber’s writing program are remembering Paul Quarrington, a teacher loved by his students for his inspiration and encouragement of new Canadian writers.
“He was a first rate teacher and always nurtured the students,” said Joe Kertes, dean of the School of Creative and Performing Arts. “They all loved him.”
Diagnosed with lung cancer in May 2009, Quarrington died on Jan. 21 at the age of 56.
He was often referred to as a renaissance man for his accomplishments as an author, musician, filmmaker and teacher.
Quarrington received numerous awards for his books, including the Governor General’s Literary Award in 1989 for his novel Whale Music, which became a film in 1994.
He was also a talented musician and screenwriter, garnering two Genie Awards and a Gemini nomination.
A teacher at the Humber School of Writers for 19 years, Quarrington was dedicated to helping his students succeed.
Author Jerry Amernic was Quarrington’s student in the inaugural class in 1990, and remembers the first day of class when Quarrington said: “Who here has trouble with words?”
“He ended up being the only one to put his hand up, even though he had been published,” said Amernic.
“He made us realize that no matter how successful you are, you’re always learning.”
Elyse Friedman, an author and Humber grad, said it was Quarrington who motivated her to write a novel, even though all she had ever written were poems and short stories.
“I wrote a novel and gave it to him to read. He passed it on to his agent who sold it for me,” said Friedman.
Her novel, Then Again, was a finalist for the 2000 Trillium Book Award.
“It all happened so quickly and easily, all because of him.”
Quarrington was also known for his humour, something former student and author Shari Lapeña fondly remembers.
“He was a great comedic writer and I looked up to him, he was such a funny guy and his books always had that funny edge,” Lapeña said.
At a recent public reading at Humber’s North Campus, author Gil Adamson recalled how she once had the opportunity to read with Quarrington at a fundraising event in Kingston, Ont.
“As a young writer and someone who wasn’t as well known as him, he was so generous and never made you feel like you were nobody,” said Adamson.
Last October, friends and family came together with Quarrington to celebrate his life and accomplishments at the Harbourfront Centre, in an event presented by Humber’s School of Creative and Performing Arts.
Now, the Humber School of Writers plans to create a scholarship in Quarrington’s name.
To his students, Quarrington will always be remembered as “Coach Q”, a brilliant teacher intent on producing Canada’s next generation of writers.
“Paul was a classy guy, a gentleman. He was always there to help people,” Amernic said.