 When The Tower of Babble was released in April 2012 , a little over one and a half years had elapsed since its author Richard Stursberg left the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation ( CBC ) , in August 2010 . Stursberg had been recruited by CBC president Robert Rabinovitch , as his vice @-@ president in charge of English services . Stursberg had previously worked in the media business , most recently as the director of Telefilm Canada ( 2001 – 2004 ) . He entered CBC in October 2004 , to replace the retiring Harold Redekopp , with the idea of changing the network 's direction , away from its focus on high arts and towards popular content . Though Rabinovitch supported him , Stursberg understood how difficult that transition would be and that he would face resistance and criticism . Stursberg 's vision was not supported by Rabinovitch 's successor , Hubert Lacroix , who eventually replaced Stursberg with Kirstine Stewart . The 63 @-@ year @-@ old Stursberg left CBC in August 2010 and by October 2011 publisher Douglas & McIntyre acquired the world rights to his memoir . Douglas & McIntyre 's parent company , D & M Publishers , filed for bankruptcy in October 2012 , still owing Stursberg $ 13 @,@ 000 . 
