NAÏM KATTAN: DOUG GRIFFIN/TORONTO STAR VIA GETTY IMAGES
NAÏM KATTAN, who died in Paris on July 2 at the age of 92, was a rare being – an influential cultural force in both English and French Canada. From the mid-1960s to the late ’80s, Kattan and his distinctive bushy moustache were ubiquitous at literary events across the country. As the head of Writing and Publishing at the Canada Council for the Arts, he was involved with the funding of these events and books, but he wasn’t there to take personal credit. He simply wanted to demonstrate the council’s support and encouragement with his presence.