Marq de Villiers
October 2011 Honorary Degree Recipient
Doctor of Laws (honoris causa)
Writing – at its very best – is an art form. Lasting images are created, thoughtful and thought-provoking ideas are presented, and knowledge is advanced. In the end, we, as readers, are often changed in some way.
Today we honour Marq de Villiers, an award-winning non-fiction author. He engages readers in the exploration of many topics, not the least of which is the future of the world we all share.
In a letter of support for Mr. de Villiers’ honorary degree nomination, Dalhousie Law Professor Bruce Archibald wrote the following: “In a world increasingly dominated by specialists, who can be inhibited by their narrow disciplines from seeing the big picture, those with the intellectual stature and breadth of vision of Marq de Villiers often play a critical role in finding solutions to global problems.”
One global problem of great concern to Mr. de Villiers is water. He addressed this multi-faceted topic in his 1999 book of the same name, Water, for which he received the prestigious Governor General’s Literary Award for non-fiction. The work was also honoured with an award from the Canadian Science Writers’ Association. The best-selling book has been published in countries throughout the world. It also reached a new audience as Water, Water, a miniseries scripted and narrated by Mr. de Villiers, which aired on Discovery Channel Canada.
Mr. de Villiers’ descriptive writing and analysis are grounded in extensive research. He doesn’t sugar-coat realities, but neither does he despair. This is evident in the following passage taken from the second edition of Water:
“The state of the world’s water is dire, but I think constant jeremiads are as misguided as innocent ignorance. The hydrosphere is complicated, but it can be untangled and understood. There are problems with water, but they are solvable.”
Since the publication of Water, Mr. de Villiers continues to draw readers into the examination of complex issues affecting our planet. In 2008, his book Dangerous World was published, and, in 2011, Our Way Out: Principles for a Post-apocalyptic World.
Writers are shaped and inspired by their experiences. Mr. de Villiers seemed destined to gain a global perspective. Born in South Africa, he graduated with an arts degree from the University of Cape Town. He went on to earn a diploma in international relations from the London School of Economics.
As a reporter and editor Mr. de Villiers has crossed international borders – from Cape Town to Moscow. In Toronto he taught in the journalism program at what is now Ryerson University. He worked for 14 years with Toronto Life magazine in the consecutive roles of executive editor, editor and publisher. He then became editorial director of WHERE Magazines International in Los Angeles.
Mr. de Villiers’ readers have also travelled with him through the pages of his non-fiction. His 1987 book, White Tribe Dreaming, offered insights into Afrikaner history. It also earned him the inaugural Alan Paton Award for Non-Fiction, named after the iconic South African writer.
Mr. de Villiers’ range as an author is reflected by his 1993 title The Heartbreak Grape: A Journey in Search of the Perfect Pinot Noir. The book was shortlisted for Governor General, Julia Child and James Beard awards.
Today, we are proud to say that Mr. de Villiers and his partner, Sheila Hirtle, call Nova Scotia home. The book they co-authored on Sable Island won the Evelyn Richardson Memorial Literary Prize for Non-fiction. Mr. de Villiers’ book Witch in the Wind: The True Story of the Legendary Bluenose won the same prize, along with the Dartmouth Book Award for Non-fiction.
In 2010, Mr. de Villiers was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. He has brought the artistry of the thoughtfully written word to provincial, national and international readers. And we and our world are the better for it. I ask you, Mr. Chancellor, in the name of the Senate, to bestow upon Marq de Villiers the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.