Obituary of Ian Christian Nelson

Ian C. Nelson
January 22, 1942 – February 1, 2024

The friends of Ian Nelson are saddened to announce his passing following a lengthy illness.  Ian Christian Nelson was born in London, England.  He was the only child of Thomas Roy Clifford Nelson and Christine Coutts Bonnar Nelson, both of whom predeceased him.

Ian was a person of many talents.  He was an academic librarian, actor, writer and playwright, singer, artist, linguist, teacher, and more.  Completely bilingual in French and English, as well as proficient in Spanish, Russian, and American Sign Language, Ian was able to combine his enthusiasm and talents for theatre, languages, and literature.  

With a University of Saskatchewan undergraduate honours degree in French, and following a year of teaching in France, Ian did graduate work at McGill University from 1965-1969 in both French literature and library/information science, ultimately receiving a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Library Science with specialty in academic libraries.  His academic career at the University of Saskatchewan spanned the years from 1969 to 1998, and was based in the development, curation, and management of library resources.  Beginning his career as a librarian in what was then known as the Bibliography Department within the University of Saskatchewan’s Murray Memorial Library, by 1971 Ian was appointed as department head of the renamed Collection Development Department, with responsibility for the coordination of library collections throughout the University Library system.  In 1985 he was named as the Library’s first Assistant Dean for Collections and Budget, with an amplified administrative role.   Among many academic career accomplishments, Ian was influential in the revision of collection curation practices at the University Library along with advancing the institution to its current level as a research library.  He was credentialed as an expert book examiner by the Canada Cultural Property Export Review Board.  He was also a nationally known book reviewer.  As an author, Ian had numerous professional and literary works to his credit, the latter including award winning titles.  Throughout his academic career Ian was instrumental in the evolution of the role of librarians within the university.  Upon retirement in 1998, he was awarded the title of Librarian Emeritus.

From his student years onward, Ian Nelson was influential in the development of Saskatoon theatre, in English and French, within both community and professional theatre spheres.  In 1970 he was among the founders of Unithéâtre, a French language theatre company based at the University of Saskatchewan’s Cercle Français.  Following in 1985, La Troupe du Jour, the only professional French theatre company in Saskatchewan, was also launched with his influence and guidance.  Ian remained actively involved with La Troupe du Jour, including its Cercle des Écrivains, as a writer, director, actor, mentor, and visionary for French language theatre in Saskatchewan.  Under his guidance, the company began by staging the classics of French theatre before broadening its repertoire to the larger sphere of French language theatrical works.  His involvement in theatre in Saskatchewan and beyond was broad, and it encompassed acting, directing, writing, composing, singing, and adjudicating.  Ian also acted and directed extensively for Saskatoon Summer Players, Saskatoon Gateway Players, Regina Summer Stage, and the Saskatoon Opera Association during its early years.   As an actor, he had over 130 roles to his credit.  A sample of awards and honours includes the Janet Laine-Green Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996 and his 2014 induction into the Theatre Saskatchewan Hall of Fame.  He directed more than 115 productions for various companies in Saskatchewan and other Canadian locations in the genres of legitimate theatre, opera, operetta, musical theatre, and musical revues. Over the years he also served on the boards of various theatre and cultural organizations including Saskatoon Gateway Players, Saskatchewan Playwrights Centre, Theatre Saskatchewan, La Troupe du Jour, and on juries for organizations including Saskatchewan Arts Board, Saskatchewan Music Festival Association, and Saskatoon and Area Theatre Awards.

Ian’s life and legacy will be honoured by his friends at a later date.