Doug Beardsley
Encyclopedia
Doug Beardsley is a Canadian poet and educator. He has collaborated with numerous other writers including Al Purdy
, Theresa Kishkan and Charles Lillard
.
He was born in Montreal
, Quebec
and studied at Sir George Williams University. There, Beardsley came under the poetic tutelage of Irving Layton
, with whom he corresponded until Layton's death in 2006. Beardsley has lived in Victoria
, British Columbia
since 1974.
Beardsley earned a Bachelor's degree
in Creative Writing from the University of Victoria
and an M.A.
in English
from York University
. He has lectured and taught at the University of Burgundy
in Dijon
, France
; the University of Bordeaux
; the Victoria Indian Cultural Centre, and the University of Victoria
(where he taught from 1981 until retirement in 2006). He is the author of eleven volumes of poetry which been widely anthologized. In 1989, he was shortlisted for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize
, and trees were planted in Israel
in 1996 in recognition of his services to Holocaust
remembrance and education.
In 2005, Beardsley caught the media's attention when he began offering a second-year English
course on "Hockey Literature and the Canadian Psyche," examining the place of hockey
in the literature
and culture of Canada
.
Al Purdy
Alfred Wellington Purdy, OC, O.Ont was one of the most popular and important Canadian poets of the 20th century. Purdy's writing career spanned more than fifty years. His works include over thirty books of poetry; a novel; two volumes of memoirs and four books of correspondence...
, Theresa Kishkan and Charles Lillard
Charles Lillard
Charles "Red" Lillard was a poet and historian specializing in British Columbia, Southeast Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.He was born in Long Beach, California and raised in Ketchikan, Alaska...
.
He was born in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and studied at Sir George Williams University. There, Beardsley came under the poetic tutelage of Irving Layton
Irving Layton
Irving Peter Layton, OC was a Romanian-born Canadian poet. He was known for his "tell it like it is" style which won him a wide following but also made enemies. As T...
, with whom he corresponded until Layton's death in 2006. Beardsley has lived in Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
since 1974.
Beardsley earned a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Creative Writing from the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
and an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
from York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
. He has lectured and taught at the University of Burgundy
University of Burgundy
The University of Burgundy is a university located in Dijon, France.The University of Burgundy is situated on a large campus called Campus Montmuzard, 15 minutes by bus from the City Centre...
in Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
; the University of Bordeaux
University of Bordeaux
University of Bordeaux is an association of higher education institutions in and around Bordeaux, France. Its current incarnation was established 21 March 2007. The group is the largest system of higher education schools in southwestern France. It is part of the Academy of Bordeaux.There are seven...
; the Victoria Indian Cultural Centre, and the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
(where he taught from 1981 until retirement in 2006). He is the author of eleven volumes of poetry which been widely anthologized. In 1989, he was shortlisted for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize
Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize
The Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize, established in 1986, is awarded annually to the best collection of poetry by a resident of British Columbia, Canada.One of the B.C. Book Prizes, the award was originally known as the B.C. Prize for Poetry...
, and trees were planted in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in 1996 in recognition of his services to Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
remembrance and education.
In 2005, Beardsley caught the media's attention when he began offering a second-year English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
course on "Hockey Literature and the Canadian Psyche," examining the place of hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
in the literature
Canadian literature
Canadian literature is literature originating from Canada. Collectively it is often called CanLit. Some criticism of Canadian literature has focused on nationalistic and regional themes, although this is only a small portion of Canadian Literary criticism...
and culture of Canada
Culture of Canada
Canadian culture is a term that explains the artistic, musical, literary, culinary, political and social elements that are representative of Canada and Canadians, not only to its own population, but people all over the world. Canada's culture has historically been influenced by European culture and...
.
Non-fiction
- Country On Ice (Polestar Books, 1987)
- No One Else Is LawrenceD. H. LawrenceDavid Herbert Richards Lawrence was an English novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, literary critic and painter who published as D. H. Lawrence. His collected works represent an extended reflection upon the dehumanising effects of modernity and industrialisation...
! (Harbour, 1998), with Al PurdyAl PurdyAlfred Wellington Purdy, OC, O.Ont was one of the most popular and important Canadian poets of the 20th century. Purdy's writing career spanned more than fifty years. His works include over thirty books of poetry; a novel; two volumes of memoirs and four books of correspondence...
Anthologies edited
- The RocketMaurice RichardJoseph Henri Maurice "the Rocket" Richard, Sr., was a French-Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League from 1942 to 1960. The "Rocket" was the most prolific goal-scorer of his era, the first to achieve the feat of 50 goals in 50...
, The FlowerGuy LafleurGuy Damien "The Flower" / "Le Démon Blond" Lafleur, OC, CQ is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player who is widely regarded as one of the most naturally gifted and popular players ever to play professional ice hockey...
, The Hammer, and Me (Polestar Books, 1988) - Our Game: An All-Star Collection of Hockey Fiction (Polestar Books, 1997)
- The Man Who Outlived Himself: An Appreciation of John DonneJohn DonneJohn Donne 31 March 1631), English poet, satirist, lawyer, and priest, is now considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His works are notable for their strong and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs,...
(Harbour Publishing, 2000), with Al PurdyAl PurdyAlfred Wellington Purdy, OC, O.Ont was one of the most popular and important Canadian poets of the 20th century. Purdy's writing career spanned more than fifty years. His works include over thirty books of poetry; a novel; two volumes of memoirs and four books of correspondence...
Poetry
- Going Down Into History (Oolichan Books, 1976)
- The Only Country in the World Called Canada (Sesame Press, 1976)
- Six Saanich Poems (Victoria Indian Cultural Education Centre, 1977)
- Play on the Water: The Paul Klee Poems (Press Porcepic, 1978)
- Premonition & Gifts (Privately printed, 1979), with Theresa Kishkan
- Poems (Islomane Press, 1979), with Charles LillardCharles LillardCharles "Red" Lillard was a poet and historian specializing in British Columbia, Southeast Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.He was born in Long Beach, California and raised in Ketchikan, Alaska...
- Pacific Sands (League of Canadian Poets, 1980) - pamphlet
- Kissing the Body of my Lord: The Marie Poems (Longspoon Press, 1982)
- A Dancing Star (Thisteldown, 1988)
- Free to Talk (Hawthorne Press, 1992)
- Inside Passage (Thistledown, 1993)
- Wrestling With Angels: New & Selected Poems, 1960-1995 (Signal Editions, 1996)