By Markbellis - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=108512158
TORONTO — Beloved children’s author Robert Munsch says he has been approved for medical assistance in dying (MAID) after being diagnosed with dementia and Parkinson’s disease. People.com
Munsch, 80, is best known for books such as Love You Forever and The Paper Bag Princess. He also made several visits to Fort McMurray and wrote two books that draw on the region. It’s My Room! was inspired by a boy named Matthew whom Munsch met while visiting a school in Fort McMurray, and Blackflies is set in a northern Alberta black spruce forest and features an all-Indigenous cast after Munsch met a First Nations family in the city. Robert Munsch+1
Born in Pittsburgh on June 11, 1945, Munsch moved to Canada in the 1970s and became one of the country’s most popular children’s authors. His storytelling grew out of making up tales for children in day-care and classroom settings. He has won numerous honours, including induction into the Order of Canada and a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, and his books have sold in the millions. Robert Munsch+1
In an interview with the New York Times, Munsch said he applied for MAID after his dementia diagnosis in 2021 and that his application has been approved. He has told interviewers he wants to choose a moment while he still has the ability to communicate. People.com
Following news reports, Munsch’s daughter, Julie Munsch, posted on the author’s official Facebook page to reassure readers that her father is not dying imminently. She said his decision to pursue medical assistance was made several years ago and urged people to beware of sensational headlines. Facebook
Munsch has spoken publicly about how his health has affected his work. He told CBC in 2021 that he could no longer write or tour and that, despite the decline, his stories remained with him. In recent years he has largely withdrawn from public readings and appearances. People.com+1
Publishers and peers have paid tribute to Munsch’s four decades of storytelling that found its spark in real children and everyday life. Readers in Fort McMurray and across Canada have long noted the northern settings and Indigenous characters in some of his later work, including Blackflies, which many praised for its representation. Robert Munsch+1
— With files from People and the author’s official website.
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