“Canada’s Coolest Poet,” York English Professor Priscila Uppal, dies

Author, poet, playright and York English Professor, Priscilla Uppal has died at 43, after a long battle with synovial sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. A story on her is featured in the Toronto Star and on the CBC.

Uppal was the author of 10 books of poetry, two novels, a short story collection and has appeared in and edited many anthologies. Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, she was also shortlisted for the Griffin Poetry Prize in 2007, and was the poet-in-residence at the Vancouver Olympics and Paralympics in 2010. Later, she was named “Canada’s coolest poet” by Time Out London magazine when she was appointed poet-in-residence at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

_{Poet-in-residence Priscila Uppal, with two dozen Canadian flags in her hair, at the 2012 Olympics in London. (ELIZABETH DALZIEL / FOR THE TORONTO STAR)}

 
Unafraid to confront the condition with which she was afflicted, the Star article states that her “bravery and artistry was perhaps best exemplified in the 2017 play What Linda Said, in which she confronted head on, with sometimes biting humour, what it was to cope with cancer.” The play revolved around the relationship with actress Linda Griffiths, who was dying of cancer when Uppal received her cancer diagnosis.

Uppal’s teaching and research interests included English Poetry, European Poetry, Canadian Literature, World Literature, reading culture and representations of readers in art, revisionist mythmaking, adaptation, the artistic process, medical humanities, sports literature, mourning and grief, and creative writing in all its forms.

“The power of poetry is difficult to measure or quantify and yet you know its power when you witness its effects,” said Uppal to CBC Books during National Poetry Month.

“Poetry first triggers something inside of you, then expands to fill your whole being, and then facilitates a palpable release of emotion.”

In addition to teaching and lecturing at York University, Uppal frequently gave guest lectures, talks, and workshops, in academic and non-academic circles about writing, reading, literacy, ethnicity, revisionism, genres, pedagogy, among many other topics, in Canada and internationally. She appeared on numerous TV and radio programs and panels, and has been reviewed and profiled in national and international papers.

“It is with deep sadness that I learned of the passing of our colleague Priscila Uppal,” said Ananya Mukherjee-Reed, Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. “She was a renowned poet and playwright, an inspiring mentor and a highly valued colleague. I will share more details about how we will honour her work and her memory in the coming days.”

Further information or updates will be added when available. Some may wish to support the newly established Priscila Uppal Memorial Fund.

Read about her play What Linda Said, and read more on reaction to Uppal’s passing in the Star, and the CBC.