Keywords Born in 1937 Writers, Fiction

This trilogy presents a search for meaning in life and death, a search that permeates all Carrier's work. De l'Amour dans la feraille (1984; Heartbreaks Along the Road, 1987) focused on the Duplessis era and was his largest and most ambitious novel. Carrier has also written a film script, a collection of short stories, a children's story and 2 plays. Individually and collectively, these works bear eloquent witness to Roch Carrier's rich imagination and desire to keep developing his narrative technique and themes, even though he continues to stress cherished topics. He was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1992.

In addition to his own writing, Carrier maintained a successful career as an arts advocate. He was the director of the CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS from 1994 to 1997. In 1997, he was named National Librarian of Canada. Under Carrier's guidance, the NATIONAL LIBRARY OF CANADA addressed many problems facing contemporary libraries, such as inadequate housing for the vast amounts of existing print material and the costs associated with access to digital media. In response, Carrier initiated the Digital Library of Canada, an online database that contained digitized copies of some of the most significant national treasures in an effort to increase access to all Canadians regardless of geographic location. The barrier of user fees was also removed from Canada's national bibliographic database, AMICUS. Carrier's term as National Librarian ended in 2004 when the National Library and the NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF CANADA merged to become LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA, but his legacy as Canada's last national librarian remains in many of the policies and activities of the new institution.

Carrier, Roch
Carrier's extraordinary talent as a storyteller has gained him a reputation in Québec and abroad.

Carrier, Roch II
Carrier's extraordinary talent as a storyteller has gained him a reputation in Québec and abroad.

Author JACQUES COTNAM Rev: LORRAINE SNYDER

Links to Other Sites
Roch Carrier
A profile of Roch Carrier, author, teacher, and former national librarian of Canada. From Library and Archives Canada.

Our Life With The Rocket
A review of the book "Our Life With The Rocket," by Roch Carrier. From the "Montreal Review of Books."

The Hockey Sweater
A synopsis of the popular book "The Hockey Sweater," by Roch Carrier. From Tundra Books.

The Hockey Sweater
Listen to Roch Carrier read "The Hockey Sweater," followed by Peter Gzowski's own hockey story. From CBC Digital Archives.

Roch Carrier and The Hockey Sweater
An online exhibit devoted to hockey merchandise advertised in mail-order catalogues. Also features Roch Carrier's story "The Hockey Sweater." From the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation.