Words At Large

I'm thrilled to see Shelagh back on the air. I can't wait to hear her friendly voice once again!!

Posted by: Alan Uren | September 26, 2008 07:40 AM

Although I listen to CBC a lot I am relieved this show is on at a time when I do not listen to the radio. These shows seem to be nothing more than an advertisement for publishers to sell books. Not a show of much interest to me certainly.

Posted by: George Dyson | September 26, 2008 08:05 AM

This is a waste of shelagh's time. I think we should retire Don Cherry and put Shelagh on HNIC.

With her personality she'd be great !!!!!

:)

Posted by: Kent Heatherington | September 26, 2008 09:18 AM

I think George Dyson should be made aware of the fact that there are those of us in Canada who do take an interest in the arts including literature and believe that there's more to life than work and hockey. Given how dumbed down Canadian culture and society has become, including, I must say, many of the unnecessary and blinkered program changes made by CBC radio of late, it's a relief that our public broadcaster has bestirred themselves to target some programming towards some of us who actually do put in the effort to think. I'm looking forward to this new show; I expect it to be a rare stimulating reprieve from the usual swill.

Posted by: Marianna Kennedy | September 26, 2008 10:39 AM

I'm glad to see that Shelagh is still going to be on the air but 1 hour on a Saturday afternoon? That is such a waste of her personality and talent. She shines when dealing with Canadians from every walk of life on a diverse show such as "Sounds Like Canada". CBC is missing the boat by eliminating such an essential part of the fabric that makes Canada so unique. Shows like SLC and personalities like Shelagh are the glue that holds this country together and gives us insight into Canadians from other areas and walks of life. Big mistake on the part of the CBC!

Posted by: Deb Baglow | September 26, 2008 11:09 AM

Hi Shelagh - Thank you a million and sincerely for your program"Sounds like Canada"- it is another precious memory of my enjoyment of CBC broadcasting.
It is important that you retain a vital role in CBC, we need your intellect across the airwaves. I hope this new program does well, and gains prominence.
Beth O'Bright

Posted by: Beth O'Bright | September 26, 2008 11:14 AM

I am very disappointed that SLC is off the air, and further that Shelagh has been relegated to the Saturday afternoon slot. What possible reason does the mother corp have for such a decision? The programme was always relevant, current and very interesting. One always felt like tuning in on a continuing conversation with people who cared about this country. Is Q, an arts programme, going to speak to most Canadians? It is good, but it's focus is too narrow for that time slot.

Thanks for this opportunity. I've been stewing about for some time.

Posted by: Bill Elderkin | September 26, 2008 11:46 AM

I am very happy to hear that Shelagh will be hosting an arts program on books and authors. However, I just hope that it will not interfere with Eleanor Wachtel's show on Sunday. I love that show and work my Sundays around listening to her and Mary Hines on Tapestry. I would be devastated if they were taken off. Good luck with the program.

Posted by: Jane Salhani | September 26, 2008 04:50 PM

I am just so happy and delighted.
This really makes my day.

Rock On Shelagh

Posted by: william rallis | September 26, 2008 05:59 PM

I was really so sorry to witness the end of Sounds Like Canada, the show did indeed bring such interesting and enlightening topics to the airwaves. Bridging Canadians from all corners of the country. Shelagh's engaging and upbeat personality was a joy of my every morning listening. I wish her very well with "The Next Chapter" on Saturday afternoons, I will be tuning in for sure ! Any program with Shelagh Rogers is worth our listening.

Posted by: Amanda Prothero | September 26, 2008 07:00 PM

Congratulations, Shelagh, on this new show... and yes to including Poetry!, the small but Loud :)

Posted by: Penn Kemp | September 26, 2008 10:33 PM

For heaven's sake, let's be happy that Shelagh is going to back on the air. Has anyone considered that perhaps she wasn't relegated to this one-hour airing but that it was her choice to 'retire' from SLC? Literature is one of the important 'glues' that holds together our expansive Canadian culture. This new literary show is an important one and I look forward to its debut tomorrow. Incidentally, I hope that the public is rallying with the arts community in its campaign to highlight Harper's cuts to revenue for the arts and his apparent disdain for the arts community.

Posted by: Lesley Prince | September 26, 2008 10:38 PM

Congraluations on the new show. I am thrilled that Shelagh will be back with us and I intend to podcast it, listen and savour it when I have a few moments to myself! Can't wait to get more of it.

Posted by: Julia's mon | September 28, 2008 11:34 AM

I've barely recovered from the loss of Richardson's Roundup replaced by Q I guess which is not nearly so interesting...anyhow, now Sounds Like Canada is gone? What the heck? I liked Shelagh Rogers ; she could talk to anyone.

Posted by: Anne McVea | September 28, 2008 05:28 PM

While I applaud almost any effort to promote reading in general, and Canadian authors in specific, I cannot agree with the choice of Shelagh Rogers to do it.
Sounds Like Canada was little more than gush and giggle, completely lacking in the intellectual heft and critical faculty that, by definition, a literary program requires. I cringe to think of an hour of Rogers and, say, John Ralston Saul, or Ronald Wright, a sentiment I suspect both gentlemen would share.

No doubt the Shelagh Rogers brand, with its large audience (acolytes) will demand appearances by Canadian literary luminaries, but even these usual suspects will be holding their noses.

Publishers will be slavering over her "numbers," - will there now be be a Shelagh Rogers clause inserted in all contracts? - but the writers themselves will be severely conflicted between the natural desire to widen their audience, and the fear that they will be dumbed (and numbed) down.

Replacing Talking Books with The Next Chapter is an insult to Ian Brown, and to all Canadians who are passionate about, and committed to an intelligent and discerning discourse on Canadian literature.

It is also further evidence that CBC aims to soothe, rather than challenge it's audience by feeding it pablum instead of something that requires chewing.

Posted by: Douglas Allen | October 2, 2008 08:30 AM

Shelagh will be doing a great favors to struggling writers and publishers in Canada that have to compete with other international publishers for attention.

I understand this situation well since I just came from South Korea, where I spent over twenty months as an English teacher and writer. While I have broader international presence, canadian publishers are not showing much interest in the kind of works that I do since it requires more resources to promote this project in North America and Asia simultaneously. As a successful poet and playwright who produce art works in both English and French, I find it hard to stay here as I am looking forward to start working with a publisher to publish my collection of short stories and novel.

It is absurd to finally realize the level of underappreciation for the arts, and even the conservative government is showing itself to be the worst agent to promote culture in a place that needs it the most amongst the G8 countries. Despite the existence of the grants, many Canadian artists are living on welfare. Imagine now. The prime minister wants to see them in the metro and street corners begging.

Shelagh congradulation and the people who helped put your show together. We do care about this kind of a show, and your voice resonates well in Canadian ears. I cannot wait to start watching and listening to your show.

Posted by: Jerry Alexandre | October 9, 2008 05:37 AM