Deirdre Kelly

An award-winning writer, Deirdre Kelly’s work has helped elevate the performing arts both in Canada and around the world. Shortly after graduating from the U of T with a MA in English (1984), Kelly was hired as the Globe and Mail’s full-time dance critic. At this time, she was the only female critic in the newspaper’s arts department. After more than three decades at the Globe and Mail as a dance critic, reporter, investigative reporter and columnist, Kelly joined York University in 2017 to become editor of The York University Magazine. In addition to her work as a journalist, Kelly sits on numerous boards and has written two best-selling nonfiction books, Paris Times Eight (2009) and Ballerina: Sex, Scandal and Suffering Behind the Symbol of Perfection (2012). She has a long list of accolades, including winning two Nathan Cohen Awards (2014 & 2020) from the Canadian Theatre Critics Association. Kelly has also remained active with University College as a mentor to students interested in journalism careers.