Linda Schuyler went from bullied child to co-creator of popular TV series
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Linda Schuyler, co-creator of the popular Degrassi television series, has added another accomplishment to her already lengthy resume.
Schuyler, who grew up in Paris, ON., is a published author and will be in Brantford March 7 to talk about her book – The Mother of All Degrassi: A memoir.
“One of the lines in my book is that I see myself as a teacher by nature, a storyteller by nurture and an entrepreneur by necessity,” Schuyler said in a telephone interview. “I’m planning to talk about those three things, how they unfolded in my life, hopeful that they will have some impact the lives of others.
“When they think about themselves do they understand who they are by nature, what have they learned through nurture and what is it they do by necessity.”
The book covers a lot of ground including the bullying she endured as a young child of parents who had come to Paris from England. She was hurt by the teasing about her accent.
But she acknowledged that the seeds the Degrassi were planted during that painful time.
“In that first chapter, you’ll see how that bullying back in Grade 3 led to my first documentary about my students,” Schuyler said. “I saw my students who had a lot more differences than me.
“I was White and English and my students came from all over the world and spoke different languages at home.”
The documentary – Between Two Words – was created while Schuyler was teaching in Toronto and laid the groundwork for what would become the Degrassi franchise.
“Even though it was a documentary, a lot of the seeds that would eventually make their way into Degrassi, kids telling stories from their point of view,” Schuyler said. “Reassuring kids that they are not alone.
“The basic principles of Degrassi were right there.”
Had she not had the experiences of being bullied, Schuyler said she’s not sure she would have had the same empathy for her students.
The Degrassi franchise, which began with The Kids of Degrassi Street in 1980 and followed by Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High and Degrassi: The Next Generation, includes more than 500 episodes shown in more than 150 countries.
Named to the Order of Canada in 1994 and the Order of Ontario in 2012, Schuyler was also bestowed with an honorary doctorate in 2015 from Laurier Brantford.
Schuyler’s visit has been arranged by the Laurier Advancement and the faculty of education and takes place at the Carnegie Building, 73 George St. It includes a book signing at 4:30 p.m. followed by a talk and question and answer session. An additional book signing session and meet and greet with the audience takes place at 6 p.m.
Her book costs $36.95 and all of the author proceeds go to benefit Kids Help Phone.
“The Kids Help Phone is such a critical organization at this time,” Schuyler said. “We have a second pandemic now with kids’ mental health.”
Not being able to go to school or have interactions with their peers during the COVD-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on young people, Schuyler said.
Schuyler said interactions to Kids Help Phone has quadrupled from one million pre-pandemic to four million since the pandemic.
Schuyler is the daughter of the late Jack Bawcutt, the long-time mayor of Paris, who died in March 2021 and Joyce who, at 99, lives in Paris.
“I always look forward to coming back to Brant County,” Schuyler said. “Last time I spoke at Laurier a lot of my friends from high school were in the front row so I’m looking forward to seeing them and visiting my mom.
“It’s more than coming down to do a lecture, it’s coming home.”
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