A Lifelong Literary Impact: How L.M. Montgomery Shapes the Lives of UPEI Students, in the Classroom and Beyond

The essay below was written, assembled, and edited by Sophie Blades, winner of the 2026 Avery Award. The Avery is “granted annually to a returning UPEI student in their first degree program of undergraduate studies in any faculty who has an interest in L.M. Montgomery, a demonstrated aptitude for social media initiatives, and has above average writing skills with an understanding of the importance of clear communication without reliance upon faddish abbreviations and other deviations from effective writing.” More information about the Avery Award is available here! 

A Lifelong Literary Impact: How L.M. Montgomery Shapes the Lives of UPEI Students, in the Classroom and Beyond

This year, I was lucky enough to receive the Avery Award from the L.M. Montgomery Institute at UPEI. This scholarship is based on the award won by Anne Shirley in the Anne of Green Gables series. It is awarded to one student each year at the University of Prince Edward Island who wishes to pursue excellence in writing and has an interest in L.M. Montgomery. This opportunity has given me the chance to reflect on the impact L.M. Montgomery’s work has had on my personal and academic life, specifically through sports in Nova Scotia. While exploring the Island, it is nearly impossible to find someone who lacks a connection to Montgomery’s world. I asked a number of past and present UPEI students to share their experiences. These responses show how L.M. Montgomery has shaped their academic pursuits and the lifelong decisions they have made.

Sophie Blades: Bachelor of Arts student in Applied Communication, Leadership and Culture, UPEI.

Ever since my first trip to Twin Shores Campground in 2013 I knew that Prince Edward Island would always hold a special place in my heart. Taking the ferry from my home province of Nova Scotia or driving over a bridge that felt like it spanned forever over the ocean are some of my fondest memories. My family read Anne of Green Gables together around this time, and I continued with the series throughout my childhood. My mom would read a wide variety of books to me and my sister every night before we went to bed. I believe that this time together sparked my creativity and encouraged my sister Cassidy and I to develop a love of reading. As I age, I have come to appreciate L.M Montgomery not only for the Anne series, but her other works and profound impact on Canadian literature. After visiting the Cavendish Historic Site, I was transfixed by Montgomery’s depictions of nature, and her ability to make the world around her into an extraordinary tale. Through Montgomery’s writing and characters, I built a mental foundation that transformed me into the person I have become, both academically and athletically.

I began curling in late 2010 and fell in love instantly. I was able to break out of my protective shell and explore an environment where it was acceptable to yell and become the center of attention. Throwing a forty-five-pound granite rock down a pristine surface of ice with hundreds of eyes glued to your back is certainly not for the weak. I learned to be bold, unapologetic and strong; not only for myself, but for my teammates and best friends who relied on my abilities. I have been fortunate to represent my home province of Nova Scotia at the national level five times, and Prince Edward Island once. In my most chaotic and stressful moments, I would ground myself with the thought of Anne Shirley’s infectious optimism, to find joy in all areas, which helped me to be constantly grateful.

My thirst for knowledge and drive to succeed would not be possible without the profound impact of strong female authors such as L.M. Montgomery. I learned to speak my mind, search for beauty in daily life, and appreciate even the simplest moments I spent on the ice shed. Montgomery’s writing and legacy has had a profound impact on my development, both academically and athletically as I navigate the trials of young adulthood.

Highlighted experience: Avery Award Winner, 2026 

Fleur Rodrigues: Bachelor of Arts student in Applied Communication, Leadership and Culture, UPEI.

I knew very early on that I wanted to be creative, but I had very little evidence to show for it. In an attempt to step into this calling, I journeyed from Mumbai, India, to Charlottetown, PEI, to study for my Bachelor of Arts in Applied Communication, Leadership and Culture. Before this, I had not heard of Maud. And yet, somehow, Maud found me.

In my third year, I took a Podcasting & Communications class with Professor Brenton Dickieson, and I enjoyed the creative process so much that I got hired by The Maudcast: The Official Podcast of the L.M. Montgomery Institute (LMMI) to assist in production. During this time, I created social media for the podcast, where my love for literature coincided with my fascination with the technical side of visual design and content development.

Shortly after, in my final year, I studied under Professor Kate Scarth for Putting Arts to Work 3. During this class, I carried out a photography project titled “Capturing the Magic of Literature,” where we created a collection of stock images for the LMMI. My teammates and I got to see, engage and capture small pieces of her world, her impact on other creatives, and the legacy she left behind.

Maud and I have spent a surprising amount of time getting to know each other over the last two years, and through these opportunities (along with many others), I’ve been able to crystallize my creativity into evidence that has allowed me to meet new people and explore exciting opportunities.

I’ve had chances to experiment and tangibly harness an artful perspective to develop content, lead teams, and tell stories, and for this, I’d always be grateful for the professors and people who helped me develop these skills, and grow as a creative.

Highlighted experience: Research Assistant for “The Maud Cast: The Podcast of the L.M. Montgomery Institute”

Heidi Haering: PhD candidate, Memorial University. Former Bachelor of Arts student in Anthropology, UPEI.

Montgomery’s work and my time working as a research assistant for the LMMI has helped shape my graduate work in Anthropology. Montgomery’s life in PEI, grasped through her journals, introduced me to the nuances of the land and landscape on the Island, which influenced my master’s thesis. The way she related to her home and how she spoke about her surroundings brought PEI to life. Currently, the Island and its communities influence my doctoral work, and I am happy to continue to be part of the Montgomery community.

Highlighted experience: Research Assistant and Writer for “L.M. Montgomery’s PEI Map”

Jo Godden: Master’s of Island Studies student, UPEI.

I inherited an intergenerational love of Anne and L.M. Montgomery from my mom and grandmother. Montgomery’s stories have been with me though her novels, the 1980s films, and the television series Road to Avonlea that we watched over, and over, and over. It is because of my mom’s love for Montgomery that we first decided to road trip from Ontario to Prince Edward Island for a family vacation when I was nine. We spent a week in Malpeque Bay at a cottage  called “Pots and Pans.” I remember the long, unmown grass that flowed like water in the wind, the old porch that croaked when soaked with rain, and the giant red cliffs we weren’t allowed near without an adult. After that trip, every other summer my mom, dad, three younger sisters, and I suffered the sixteen-hour drive from our driveway all the way up to Rivière-du-Loup, then down again to the bridge. We sang all the way across the bridge, always something from Anne of Green Gables- The Musical.

Thanks to this connection, a week before classes started in September of 2017, after a failed year of Journalism at Humber College, my mom decided to apply to the University of Prince Edward Island on my behalf; without me knowing. On Friday we flew out to PEI, spent the weekend, and by Monday she had gone. Although at first this caused great distress, I am so thankful that Anne (and my mom) brought me to the island. Eight years later I am still living in Charlottetown, working on my Master’s of Island Studies at UPEI. The island is still as I remember, and I still sing at the top of my lungs driving over the bridge.

Highlighted experience: Presenter at the Workshop, “In the Classroom and Beyond: Teaching L.M. Montgomery in the Twenty-First Century” at the upcoming LMMI Conference. 

Anagha Rajithkumar: Bachelor of Science student in Financial Mathematics, UPEI.

My first encounter with Lucy Maud Montgomery came when I was gifted a copy of Anne of Green Gables. I remember being very engrossed in the story, reluctant to put it down until I turned the final page. Anne’s vivid imagination and Montgomery’s gentle storytelling made Avonlea feel like home.

While Anne’s optimism is unforgettable, it was Matthew Cuthbert who left the deepest impression on me. His kindness and quiet support showed me that compassion and understanding are powerful. From him, I learned that gentleness is not weakness, but one of the greatest strengths a person can have.

Years later, I chose to attend the University of Prince Edward Island, only later realizing that I had come to study in the very province where Lucy Maud Montgomery herself once lived and wrote. My connection to her legacy deepened further when I got my first job at the Anne of Green Gables Store, owned by George Campbell, Montgomery’s cousin. I loved talking about Montgomery and seeing her story come to life for visitors from around the world, all drawn to the same stories that once captivated me as a child. Montgomery’s work not only shaped my love of reading but also inspired my passion for writing. Her stories remind me that words have the power to create worlds, connect people, and leave lasting impressions across generations.

Highlighted experience: Staff member at the Anne of Green Gables Store.

Tatiane Rodrigues Lopes dos Santos: PhD Candidate in Literature, São Paulo State University in Brazil. Visiting Scholar, UPEI (2023 and 2026).

A whole life can change the moment one opens a book. I was fortunate enough to experience this transformation twice. The first time was when I was eleven and encountered Reinações de Narizinho, by Monteiro Lobato, a Brazilian children’s classic that, coincidentally, features a spirited red-haired character. In my family, reading was not part of daily life: many of my closest relatives are not literate, and my parents have never been drawn to books. It seemed unlikely that someone raised in such an environment would choose a life shaped by literature. And yet, I did—I pursued a degree in Languages (Portuguese and English), becoming the first in my family to be admitted to a well-renowned university.

The second transformation came years later, when I read Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. Unlike many readers, I did not, unfortunately, grow up with Anne; her novels only began to receive wider recognition in Brazil in recent years, largely due to the TV series Anne with an ‘E’. Later, when I had to present a university assignment paper on a book available in Brazilian public school libraries, I chose Anne of Green Gables. When I realized that most scholars in Brazil were unfamiliar with Montgomery’s work, what began as admiration soon became something else–something more: I made it my mission to introduce it into academic conversations in my country.

That decision shaped my scholarly path: Montgomery’s work became the focus of both my master’s and (ongoing) PhD research. Today, my academic life gravitates around Montgomery’s legacy. To stand in Prince Edward Island and engage directly with the landscapes that inspired her writing once felt unimaginable. Yet literature made it possible. Montgomery did not simply influence my studies—she reoriented my life, giving it both direction and a quiet, enduring sense of wonder.

Highlighted experience: Co-author of “The Reception of L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables in the Brazilian Context,” Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies.

A Heartfelt Thank You From Sophie

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the creation of this piece. Having the opportunity to journey through a global path of connection, memories, and stories of L.M. Montgomery’s impact has been quite a surreal experience. On a personal note, I am eternally grateful for Montgomery’s work and am able to live my life in a more fulfilling and curious way because of it. Thank you to Fleur, Heidi, Jo, Anagha & Tatiane for your time and effort in telling your story. I hope that this will serve as a reminder of the importance of strong academic role models, female writers, and the lasting impact of a good book.