TNQ Mourns the Tragic Death of Longtime Board Chair, Alister Thomas

From the Editor’s Desk

Alister Thomas died in a tragic accident on Toronto Island on January 9, 2025. Alister was a bright beacon in the Canadian literary community and one of TNQ’s greatest champions, serving as Chair of the TNQ board from 2016-2024.

Alister’s passion for writing enriched his life beginning with his career as a writer and editor in the magazine business. After retiring in 2015, he spent eight years as the Board Chair of TNQ. During his tenure, Alister oversaw some turbulent periods, including the pandemic, and steered TNQ to become one of the eminent literary magazines in Canada. Alister also earned an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from King’s College in 2024 and was longlisted for the CBC Nonfiction Prize in 2023 for “Missing and Presumed Drowned”. His kindness and generosity was felt by everyone around him.

A celebration for Alister’s life will be held on March 7 at 2pm at St. George’s Grange Park in Toronto. In lieu of flowers, everyone is welcome to donate in his memory to The New Quarterly.

He will be deeply missed.