Nick: A Montreal Life

Nick was a cherished friend. An original. And the columns collected here are as near as we will ever get to a self-portrait of an endearing, if somewhat exasperating, man, blessed with all the right instincts and prejudices. – Mordecai Richler Among Nick’s friends who contributed anecdotes to NICK: A MONTREAL LIFE are Warren Allmand, Benoit Aubin, Hubert Bauch, Conrad Black, Margaret Davidson, Josh Freed, Allan Fotheringham, Leon Harris, Oliver Irwin, John Lynch-Staunton, Margo MacGillivray, Brian McKenna, Robin McKenna, Terry Mosher, Brian Mulroney, Nathalie Petrowski, Mark Phillips, Stephen Phizicky, Jacob Richler, Juan Rodriguez, Mark Starowicz, Brian Stewart, Dr. Roger Tabah, Lisa Van Dusen, and Anthony Wilson-Smith. Nick Auf der Maur was in journalism and politics. He thought there was honour in both. He also thought both should be fun. He was primarily a newspaper columnist, not a crusader, but a storyteller in love with his city, Montreal. When he wrote about other cities, he always used Montreal as his point of reference. When he became ill with cancer over Christmas of 1996, he decided to share his news with his Montreal Gazette readers. Some of his best work was done in the last year of his life. He faced illness with courage and good humour, and he touched a deeply responsive chord in his readers. [from the Preface by L. Ian MacDonald] All net proceeds from the book, including a portion of many booksellers’ markups, will be contributed to the Nick Fund.