A fond farewell to Stuart McLean
Canada says goodbye to its consummate storyteller and modern day bard. By Wanda Potrykus
www.westmountmag.caHere’s the latest I can share about Stuart McLean based on publicly available reports up to early 2017:
- Summary: Stuart McLean was the longtime host of CBC Radio’s The Vinyl Café and a celebrated Canadian humorist and author. He passed away in February 2017 after a battle with melanoma.[2][5]
- Recent context before his death: In December 2016, McLean announced he would suspend new episodes of The Vinyl Café to focus on cancer treatment, noting that his immunotherapy had not fully succeeded and that he would undergo another round. This led CBC to pause new broadcasts and shift schedules accordingly.[1]
- Obituaries and remembrances: Following his death, many Canadian outlets highlighted his impact on Canadian storytelling and culture, with tributes from colleagues and fans noting his warmth, humor, and the way his stories connected everyday life to broader Canadian experiences.[5][9]
- Selected biographical details: McLean was born in 1948 and became a defining voice for Canadian storytelling through The Vinyl Café, whose characters and gentle humor resonated nationwide. His archive was later donated to McMaster University.[4][6]
If you’d like, I can pull more specific details (e.g., notable works, key episodes, or a brief timeline) and provide citations to each source. I can also summarize the coverage from particular outlets (CBC, Globe and Mail, Maclean’s) if you want a targeted roundup.