It was standing room only at the launch of the inaugural novel, Matrons and Madams, written by Sharon Johnston, wife of Gov. Gen. David Johnston. So popular was Tuesday’s event that guests began arriving an hour early in order to secure themselves a seat inside the modern new headquarters of the Canada Council for the Arts at 150 Elgin St.
Canada’s viceregal consort shared with her receptive audience of 300 some insight into her new book. She also read a few passages aloud and answered questions. The event was moderated by CPAC host Catherine Clark, who started their conversation off by asking Johnston how she was feeling.
“I feel very emotional in the sense that I’m overwhelmed. If this is not a literary love-in, I’d like to know what is,” replied Johnston, who was good-humoured and genuine throughout.
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![A standing room-only crowd listened to Sharon Johnston read from her new novel, Matrons and Madams, at a book launch held Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at the Canada Council for the Arts building on Elgin Street.]()
A standing room-only crowd listened to Sharon Johnston read from her new novel, Matrons and Madams, at a book launch held Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at the Canada Council for the Arts building on Elgin Street.
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![Sharon Johnston, wife of Gov. Gen. David Johnston, poses with her writing mentor, Joe Kertes, from Humber College, at Johnston's book launch of Matrons and Madams, held Tuesday, April 14, 2015.]()
Sharon Johnston, wife of Gov. Gen. David Johnston, poses with her writing mentor, Joe Kertes, from Humber College, at Johnston's book launch of Matrons and Madams, held Tuesday, April 14, 2015.
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![From left, moderator Catherine Clark with Sharon Johnston, wife of Gov. Gen. David Johnston, at a book launch for Johnston's new novel, Matrons and Madams, held Tuesday, April 14, 2015]()
From left, moderator Catherine Clark with Sharon Johnston, wife of Gov. Gen. David Johnston, at a book launch for Johnston's new novel, Matrons and Madams, held Tuesday, April 14, 2015
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![Sharon Johnston, wife of Gov. Gen. David Johnston, speaks about her new novel, Matrons and Madams, at a book launch held Tuesday, April 14, 2015]()
Sharon Johnston, wife of Gov. Gen. David Johnston, speaks about her new novel, Matrons and Madams, at a book launch held Tuesday, April 14, 2015
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![Gov. Gen. David Johnston gets a light-hearted moment in the spotight during the Q&A segment of the book launch held Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at Canada Council for the Arts headquarters for his wife Sharon Johnston's new novel, Matrons and Madams.]()
Gov. Gen. David Johnston gets a light-hearted moment in the spotight during the Q&A segment of the book launch held Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at Canada Council for the Arts headquarters for his wife Sharon Johnston's new novel, Matrons and Madams.
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![From left, Margaret McGrath and Gerda Hnatyshyn chat with Laureen Harper at the well-attended book launch of Matrons and Madams by Sharon Johnston, held Tuesday, April 14, 2015.]()
From left, Margaret McGrath and Gerda Hnatyshyn chat with Laureen Harper at the well-attended book launch of Matrons and Madams by Sharon Johnston, held Tuesday, April 14, 2015.
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![From left, Nicole Loreto, a V-P with the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Group, with Nancy Stanton, the acting president and CEO of its fundraising arm, and Royal Ottawa board member and Clerk of the Privy Council Janice Charette on Tuesday, April 14, 2015.]()
From left, Nicole Loreto, a V-P with the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Group, with Nancy Stanton, the acting president and CEO of its fundraising arm, and Royal Ottawa board member and Clerk of the Privy Council Janice Charette on Tuesday, April 14, 2015.
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![From left, Betty Hope Gittens with Marion Balla and new Barbados High Commissioner Yvonne Walkes at the launch for Sharon Johnston's new book, Matrons and Madams.]()
From left, Betty Hope Gittens with Marion Balla and new Barbados High Commissioner Yvonne Walkes at the launch for Sharon Johnston's new book, Matrons and Madams.
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![Sharon Johnston signs a copy of her new book, Matrons and Madams, for Louise French at her book launch held Tuesday, April 14, 2015.]()
Sharon Johnston signs a copy of her new book, Matrons and Madams, for Louise French at her book launch held Tuesday, April 14, 2015.
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![Governor General David Johnston and Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin share a laugh upon greeting one another at a book launch event for Sharon Johnston's new novel, Matrons and Madams.]()
Governor General David Johnston and Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin share a laugh upon greeting one another at a book launch event for Sharon Johnston's new novel, Matrons and Madams.
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![Gov. Gen. David Johnston in conversation with Roseann O'Reilly Runte, president of Carleton University, during a book launch event for Sharon Johnston's first novel, Matrons and Madams.]()
Gov. Gen. David Johnston in conversation with Roseann O'Reilly Runte, president of Carleton University, during a book launch event for Sharon Johnston's first novel, Matrons and Madams.
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![From left, Gov. Gen. David Johnston shakes hands with Michael Davidson, son of Paul Davidson, president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, at the book launch for Sharon Johnston's inaugural novel, Matrons and Madams.]()
From left, Gov. Gen. David Johnston shakes hands with Michael Davidson, son of Paul Davidson, president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, at the book launch for Sharon Johnston's inaugural novel, Matrons and Madams.
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![U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman and his wife, Vicki, attended the book launch of the first novel written by Sharon Johnston, wife of Gov. Gen. David Johnston, held Tuesday, April 14, 2015.]()
U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman and his wife, Vicki, attended the book launch of the first novel written by Sharon Johnston, wife of Gov. Gen. David Johnston, held Tuesday, April 14, 2015.
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![Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin and her husband, Frank McArdle, bought a copy of Sharon Johnston's new novel, Matrons and Madams, at a book launch held Tuesday, April 14, 2015.]()
Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin and her husband, Frank McArdle, bought a copy of Sharon Johnston's new novel, Matrons and Madams, at a book launch held Tuesday, April 14, 2015.
Photos: Around Town at book launch for Sharon Johnston
A standing room-only crowd listened to Sharon Johnston read from her new novel, Matrons and Madams, at a book launch held Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at the Canada Council for the Arts building on Elgin Street.
Matrons and Madams is based on Johnston’s own grandmother’s experiences as a British widow of the First World War, arriving in Canada as the new lady superintendent of the Lethbridge hospital. The tale deals with many issues surrounding the social changes and instability of post-war Canada.
Among those seated in the front row was the governor general. Next door to him was Laureen Harper and to her Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin. Behind them were the Johnstons’ five daughters and their families, and U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman and his wife, Vicki. As well, prominent attendees included former Rideau Hall resident Gerda Hnatyshyn, widow of former governor general Ray Hnatyshyn. Also glimpsed were Sophie Grégoire, wife of federal Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, and Mayor Jim Watson, who’s been sadly M.I.A. on the social scene for many weeks due to a freak snowmobiling accident.
Johnston was asked – by one of her young grandchildren, no less — to explain the choice of book title. Johnston deflected the question by insisting that her “chauffeur” husband would reply. He did, very jovially. Said the governor general: “I would be delighted to answer the first half of that question about the matrons but my wife will answer the second half.”
Afterward, the crowd was invited downstairs to the exhibition hall for a reception, catered by Krackers Katering. Attendees waited in line to have their copy signed by Johnston while the governor general mingled and posed with the public for quick photos. In line was Johnston’s mentor Joe Kertes from the Humber College creative writing through correspondence program. He snapped up four copies of the new book, joshing that he planned to read the story four times.
All royalties from the book are being donated to the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health.
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