On Canada Reads, 5 Canadian celebrities every choose one e-book that every one Canadians ought to learn. They debate their decisions over the course of 4 days, voting to remove one each day. The final e-book standing is the winner.
Musician and author Quin, of the band Tegan and Sara, efficiently satisfied her fellow panellists that The Remedy for Drowning most closely fits the theme as “one e-book to construct bridges.”
The Remedy for Drowning is a historic fiction novel that follows Equipment McNair, who was born Kathleen to an Irish farming household in Ontario — however would not slot in with the expectations set out for them.
When Rebekah, a German Canadian physician’s daughter involves city, she, Equipment and Equipment’s older brother, Landon, discover themselves in a love triangle that tears their households aside. The three of them separate and be part of totally different conflict efforts however all ultimately return residence — and are every compelled to maneuver on with their lives.
All through the week, Quin had robust and passionate arguments for why The Remedy for Drowning is the e-book that every one Canada ought to learn.
Proper earlier than the ultimate vote she spoke concerning the energy the novel has to reveal individuals to views totally different from their very own, one thing she’s even witnessed in the course of the debates themselves.
“It opened eyes and hearts at this desk,” stated Quin. “I imagine, deeply, it would open eyes and hearts on this nation.
“The rollback on trans rights, the assault on the LGBTQ group and marginalized communities typically, and this binary that we dwell in stays completely 100 per cent a urgent difficulty.”
Quin stated the e-book offers the chance each to flee right into a story and to higher perceive others.
“That is a very powerful factor you will get from studying. It is advisable get pleasure from it, however we additionally have to study. You may from this e-book.”
In a press assertion, Paylor stated that successful Canada Reads feels “completely unbelievable.”
“I feel successful Canada Reads, particularly in a 12 months when the theme is constructing bridges, is very significant to me,” they stated.
“We’re at a spot proper now, politically and socially, the place there are a variety of forces attempting to divide us and hold individuals aside. So realizing that my e-book has gotten individuals collectively and furthered understanding and empathy is simply unbelievable.”
The Subsequent Chapter with Antonio Michael Downing25:57How iconic musician Tegan Quin plans to sort out Canada Reads
Having Quin champion their e-book was a dream come true for Paylor, who listened to Tegan and Sara rising up.
“Tegan’s music meant rather a lot to me as a closeted queer teenager rising up in a small city,” Paylor stated.
“In that means she modified my life as soon as, and once more by deciding on my e-book for Canada Reads, and now unbelievably a 3rd time by successful the debates. To alter somebody’s life 3 times is unbelievable.”
WATCH | Tegan Quin on Commotion:
Trying to find Terry Punchout by Tyler Hellard was the runner-up. Hockey broadcaster Steve (Dangle) Glynn championed the novel, which he known as “a hockey e-book that is not essentially a hockey e-book.”
In Trying to find Terry Punchout, Adam has one closing probability to avoid wasting his sports activities writing profession: a shot at a Sports activities Illustrated profile of the infamous hockey goon, Terry Punchout. To complicate issues, Terry is Adam’s estranged father, and scripting this piece requires Adam to return to his small, Nova Scotia hometown and dredge up previous emotions and frustrations.
In the end, Trying to find Terry Punchout misplaced in a 4-1 vote on the ultimate day.
Quin is one half of the pop-indie twin duo Tegan and Sara, who’ve launched 10 studio albums and bought greater than one million data over the course of their profession.
Tegan and Sara have acquired a number of Juno and GLAAD awards for his or her music in addition to a Governor Basic’s Performing Arts Award. They’ve been nominated for a lot of Grammy and Polaris Prize awards.
Tegan and Sara are additionally the authors of the memoir Excessive College and the middle-grade graphic novel duology Tegan & Sara: Junior Excessive, illustrated by Tillie Walden. They had been government producers on the tv sequence primarily based on the memoir.
Along with the music, writing and producing, additionally they began the Tegan and Sara Basis to assist and put money into 2SLGBTQ+ communities, which earned them the Humanitarian Award on the 2024 Junos.
The 2026 Canada Reads winner introduced a robust and empathetic perspective to the debates, each making a robust case for the The Remedy for Drowning and acknowledging the deserves of the opposite books in rivalry.
One in every of her poignant arguments was that The Remedy for Drowning is a novel that Canadians will simply join with.
“I selected The Remedy for Drowning as a result of I liked it. Easy, however true,” she stated. “I fell in love with the characters, rooted for them, and in the long run, felt like I understood them.”
She described the e-book as one the place the characters are all grappling with their id, and as a novel that folks can relate to it doesn’t matter what how they personally establish.
“Who amongst us hasn’t struggled with who we’re, or has needed to make an inconceivable selection?”
Paylor is an Ontario-born creator at present primarily based in B.C. They’ve an MA in artistic writing from the College of British Columbia and their quick fiction and essays have beforehand appeared in publications together with Room and Prairie Fireplace. The Remedy for Drowning is their debut novel and was longlisted for the 2024 Giller Prize.
Paylor was additionally longlisted for the 2025 CBC Nonfiction Prize. The CBC Poetry Prize is at present accepting submissions till June 1.
The opposite three books had been eradicated earlier within the week. Foe by Iain Reid, championed by Josh Dela Cruz was eradicated on Day One. A Minor Refrain, championed by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, was voted off on Day Two. It is Totally different This Time, championed by Morgann E book was eradicated on Day Three.
Musician and author Tegan Quin will champion The Remedy for Drowning by Loghan Paylor on Canada Reads. The debates happen April 13 to 16.
This 12 months’s present was hosted by Ali Hassan. The contenders and their chosen books had been:
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