Margaret Atwood has made a C$1m gift to a university to establish the Graeme Gibson chair in avian biology, a donation she said commemorates the birding enthusiasm of her late partner, writer and conservationist Graeme Gibson.
Seated in a corner of a bird observatory she and Gibson helped create on the Lake Erie Islands archipelago, Atwood spoke about the intelligence and social nature of ravens, saying she would choose to be one if given the chance. "They’re very smart. They’re social, playful and just a very successful bird," she said, adding that ravens are "quite an intelligent problem solver."
The observatory, located on the west shore of Pelee Island — the southernmost community in Canada — is still newly established, Atwood noted, with some lamps so recently installed that they lack bulbs. The facility forms part of the couple’s long-standing interest in birdwatching and conservation efforts in the region.
Atwood also framed her remarks in a broader tone of optimism about conservation, encapsulated in her remark that "hope is a built-in characteristic." The donation to create the Graeme Gibson chair aims to support academic work in avian biology and to continue Gibson’s legacy of promoting awareness of birdlife and habitat protection.
The contribution comes as authors and public figures increasingly engage in philanthropic efforts tied to environmental causes. Atwood’s gift ties literary prominence to scientific study, signalling a continued private-sector interest in supporting research and conservation initiatives.
Details on which university will host the Graeme Gibson chair and the timeline for appointing a chairholder were not provided at the observatory. Organisers and Atwood said the endowment is intended to strengthen research capacity in avian biology and maintain the conservation focus that characterised Gibson’s work.