Past Canadian Art editor Jocelyn Laurence.
Jocelyn Laurence died last week in Toronto. Laurence was the second editor of Canadian Art, taking the publication’s reins from Susan Walker, who acted as editor from the magazine’s inception in 1984. Born in 1952, Laurence, daughter of novelist Margaret Laurence, was raised in Ghana, Vancouver and England, and eventually settled in Toronto, where she established herself as an editor and writer.
Laurence began her tenure at this magazine in 1988, feeling, in her own words, “like a kid in a candy shop.” She guided the magazine until Sarah Milroy took over as editor and publisher in 1991.
During her tenure, Laurence notably produced one of the first thematic issues, which was focused on art and the environment. She also introduced a series of columns in the magazine to “broaden the definition of the visual arts.” These included writings by John Scott, Gary Michael Dault and Susan Crean.
She reflected on her time at Canadian Art in “25 Years of Canadian Art: The History Behind the Headlines,” which gives a sense of the indelible mark Laurence left on the publication.
