News Archives: Dr. Anna Lapointe: Prescription for Literary Success
Tuesday, January 16th, 2024
NWP English Professor Dr. Anna Lapointe
Dr. Anna Lapointe wanted to be a doctor when she was in high school. That’s what smart girls from small towns were supposed to do.
One morning during her 45-minute commute to the University of Saskatchewan with her mother, Anna started explaining that she didn’t know how she would make time for reading and writing books once she was working as a doctor. Her mother, who was a career counsellor, said to her “Have you ever thought of being an English professor?” to which Anna replied, “Say more?”
“It was one of those things that was stunningly obvious but not to me,” Anna reflects. “My mom did this professionally. She would listen to people talk and would finally say the thing they’ve been telling you but without naming it.”
Anna admits that at the time it didn’t occur to her that she could make a career out of reading books and writing, and still be called a doctor. One thing was obvious - there would be fewer early morning biology labs this route.
After recalibrating her post-secondary plans, Anna completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at the University of Saskatchewan. She then went on to start her Masters at the Memorial University of Newfoundland. Anna wasn’t too far into her program when another change was needed. “I learned something very important about myself. I don’t do well in a place where it rains all the time. I became clinically depressed and had to move back in with my parents,” Anna explained.
Once back at home, Anna was able to complete her Masters at the University of Saskatchewan. After that she spent a couple of years teaching in South Korea and then decided to pursue a PhD in English Literature from the University of Manitoba.
She worked as a sessional for a while in various positions around Winnipeg before seeing a job posting for an English professor at Grande Prairie Regional College. “I started asking people where it even was, and of course my mom being a career counsellor said, ‘Oh that’s where they have the Harley Davidson program,’” said Anna.
After interviewing over Skype, Anna was hired and accepted the position without ever setting foot in Grande Prairie. “My husband and I threw everything we owned in a U Haul and made our way here and we’ve been here ever since. That was in 2012.” She added that they knew they would be fine as long as there was a high-speed internet connection and a swimming pool somewhere.
Looking back on her childhood and small rural community roots, Anna admits that the way her education and career has played out makes sense. “There is such a clear connection. I grew up in rural small towns. I love small cities and towns. I love books and talking about and studying literature. This is where I am supposed to be.” Anna also explained that she is happy she never became a medical doctor. “Basically, once I discovered the right path that suited who I am as a person, it validated me in so many ways.”
Not only has Anna Lapointe found fulfillment in her teaching career, but she has also embarked on numerous literary endeavors. With an impressive repertoire of several novels under her belt, Anna's creative ability recently inspired a collection of poetry titled swim into the north’s blue eye. She explained that her teaching career complements her writing. “I don’t write well when I’m not teaching. I need to be in dialogue with people and when I teach, I talk to so many people. I get other viewpoints. Teaching really takes me out of my own perspective,” Anna said.
Her collection of poetry was heavily inspired by life experiences in rural Saskatchewan.
“A lot of the poems are about my parents, especially about my dad, who’s a visual artist, and he was my primary caregiver,” said Anna.
When Anna was little, her mom was the “breadwinner.” Her dad painted en plein air with the kids, and a mountain of library books in tow.
Anna and her brother would be huddled under a tree reading while her dad painted about thirty yards away. “As an adult, I wound up writing about the landscapes he had showed me in that process. Dad likes painting water, lakes, rivers. He likes the contrast of the prairie and water. He primarily paints in watercolor. Even though he is living in a landlocked province, water is so prevalent in his life and work.”
Reflecting on her own career, Anna is clear that her favourite part about teaching is learning how students see the world.
“They have so many insights that I am never expecting.” Being part of a smaller learning community means Anna can interact frequently with students and instructors from other departments. All in all, she is happy with the life she has carved out for herself in Grande Prairie and at Northwestern Polytechnic.
“I hope I can continue teaching in the humanities and creative writing here until it is time for me to stagger off to the old professor’s home,” Anna added. She expects she will be the one with a pile of books, shaking her cane at whoever wants to listen to her passionately talk about Richard III.
“I am going to keep living in this close-knit community, walking to work, writing books, and teaching people about literature because that’s how I like to live. It’s a good life.”
