Professor Guy Poirier named Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Congratulations to Professor Guy Poirier of the Department of French Studies who has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC). He joins distinguished Canadians who have made remarkable contributions in the arts, the humanities and the sciences, as well as in Canadian public life.

Guy Poirier
Poirier is recognized for his scholarship on the French Renaissance, including discourse and homosexuality in Renaissance France, and Henri III of France in literature and pamphlets.  His achievements also include publications in areas such as Québec literature and French minority culture and literature in British Columbia. More recently, he has been the principal investigator of research projects on early modern French missionary texts on Japan (“les lettres du Japon”), and on the work of the French Jesuit François-Xavier de Charlevoix on Japan.

“It is a great honour to be named a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada,” says Poirier. “I also believe it is a recognition of the importance of the study of French literature and culture in our society, and of Renaissance and French minority studies in Canada.

“I am fortunate to have always been surrounded by students and colleagues who supported the innovative aspects of my research projects,” he continues. “I am also thankful to the members of the different research teams I worked with, during my career, and I hope to be able to pursue many more research initiatives with them.”

Poirier adds these words to students of Waterloo’s French Studies program :

« Cet honneur, qui m’est fait aujourd’hui, ne peut que vous encourager à poursuivre vos études, vos recherches et vos rêves! »

Founded in 1882, the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) comprises the Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences, and The College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. This year, 89 new Fellows have been elected by their peers for their outstanding scholarly, scientific and artistic achievement. Recognition by the RSC is the highest honour an individual can achieve in the Arts, Social Sciences and Sciences.