Scott Young
Encyclopedia
Scott Young was a Canadian journalist
, sportswriter, novelist and the father of musician Neil Young
. Over his career, Young wrote 45 books, including novels and non-fiction for adult and youth audiences.
, Young grew up in nearby Glenboro, Manitoba
where his father, Percy Young, owned a drug store. His mother was Jean Ferguson Paterson. After his father went broke in 1926, the family moved to Winnipeg
, but were unable to afford to stay there. His parents separated in 1930, and Young went to live with an aunt and uncle in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
for a year before moving back to Winnipeg to live with his mother. He left high school at 16 and began working for a tobacco wholesaler.
Young began writing while in his teens, submitting stories to various publications, most of which were rejected. At the age of 18, in 1936, he was hired as a copyboy at the Winnipeg Free Press
and was soon made sports reporter. He met Edna "Rassy" Ragland in 1937 and the two were married in 1940.
in 1941, covering news and sports for the Canadian Press
news agency. His first son, Bob Young, was born in 1942 and five months later, Young was sent to England to help cover World War II
for CP. He came back a year later and joined the Royal Canadian Navy
, where he served until his release from the service when the war ended in 1945. Young returned to CP and soon joined Maclean's
magazine as an assistant editor. His second son, Neil Young
, was born in Toronto in November 1945.
Young began to sell fiction to publications in Canada and the United States including the Saturday Evening Post and Collier's. He quit his job at Maclean's in 1948 to write short stories full-time.
In 1949, Young bought a house in Omemee, Ontario
near Peterborough
. The family's finances would vary with Young's success in selling his stories and he began taking assignments from Sports Illustrated
. His first novel The Flood was published in 1956. Young moved to Pickering, Ontario
and spent a year working in public relations for a jet engine company before joining The Globe and Mail
as a daily columnist in 1957 and moving back to Toronto. In 1959, Young met Astrid Mead while on assignment in British Columbia and, soon after, he and his wife separated. Following Young's divorce in 1961, he and Mead were married. They had a daughter, Astrid Young
, in 1962.
He was also a host on Hockey Night in Canada
until getting on the wrong side of Toronto Maple Leafs
co-owner John Bassett
. The Leafs threatened HNIC's sponsor and advertising agency until they agreed to fire Young.
near Omemee in Cavan Township and built a house there. In 1969, he asked to be transferred to the Globes news bureau in Ottawa
. Shortly after arriving in Ottawa, he got into a dispute with his paper over the publication rights to excerpts from a book he had just written with Punch Imlach
. The rights had been acquired by the Toronto Telegram
, but the Globe wouldn't allow Young's writing to appear in a competing newspaper. He quit the Globe and accepted a job offer from Bassett to become sports editor and columnist at the Telegram, moving back to Toronto within weeks of his move to Ottawa. Young remained at the Telegram until the paper folded in 1971. He then rejoined the Globe and Mail. Young and his second wife separated in 1976, and in the fall of 1977, he moved in with fellow Globe writer Margaret Hogan. The two married in 1980. At the same time, Young had a falling out with the Globe over stories critical of Imlach written by Donald Ramsay and quit. He worked with former Toronto Maple Leafs
owner Conn Smythe
on Smythe's autobiography, which would be published after Smythe's death in November 1980.
In 1988, Young received the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award
from the Hockey Hall of Fame
as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, and was also inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
. Young and his wife sold the farm in the late 1980s and moved to Howth, Ireland
, a suburb of Dublin. In 1990, Young received an honorary doctorate from Trent University
and donated many of his papers to the university's archives. The Youngs returned to Peterborough in 1992 and repurchased their old farm, which Young owned for the rest of his life. Scott Young Public School in Omemee was named in his honour in 1993. His autobiography, A Writer's Life, was published in 1994.
He and Margaret moved to Kingston, Ontario
in 2004, where Young died the following year at the age of 87.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, sportswriter, novelist and the father of musician Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
. Over his career, Young wrote 45 books, including novels and non-fiction for adult and youth audiences.
Early life
Born in Cypress River, ManitobaCypress River, Manitoba
Cypress River is a community in the Rural Municipality of Victoria in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Originally, the community was known as "Littleton".-Geography:...
, Young grew up in nearby Glenboro, Manitoba
Glenboro, Manitoba
Glenboro is a village in Manitoba, Canada, located about 80 km southeast of the city of Brandon. It is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of South Cypress. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 656...
where his father, Percy Young, owned a drug store. His mother was Jean Ferguson Paterson. After his father went broke in 1926, the family moved to Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, but were unable to afford to stay there. His parents separated in 1930, and Young went to live with an aunt and uncle in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert is the third-largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is situated in the centre of the province on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. The city is known as the "Gateway to the North" because it is the last major centre along the route to the resources of northern Saskatchewan...
for a year before moving back to Winnipeg to live with his mother. He left high school at 16 and began working for a tobacco wholesaler.
Young began writing while in his teens, submitting stories to various publications, most of which were rejected. At the age of 18, in 1936, he was hired as a copyboy at the Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg Free Press
The Winnipeg Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1872, as the Manitoba Free Press, it is the oldest newspaper in western Canada. It is the newspaper with the largest readership in the province....
and was soon made sports reporter. He met Edna "Rassy" Ragland in 1937 and the two were married in 1940.
Moves to Toronto
Unable to get a raise at the Free Press, Young moved to TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1941, covering news and sports for the Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Canadian Press Enterprises Inc. is the entity which "will take over the operations of the Canadian Press" according to a November 26, 2010 article in the Toronto Star...
news agency. His first son, Bob Young, was born in 1942 and five months later, Young was sent to England to help cover World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
for CP. He came back a year later and joined the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
, where he served until his release from the service when the war ended in 1945. Young returned to CP and soon joined Maclean's
Maclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
magazine as an assistant editor. His second son, Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
, was born in Toronto in November 1945.
Young began to sell fiction to publications in Canada and the United States including the Saturday Evening Post and Collier's. He quit his job at Maclean's in 1948 to write short stories full-time.
In 1949, Young bought a house in Omemee, Ontario
Omemee, Ontario
Omemee is a community within the city of Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada, formerly known as Victoria County. Omemee is one of the major communities in the Kawartha Lakes, as the proclaimed "city" is vastly rural and has but one major population centre...
near Peterborough
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
. The family's finances would vary with Young's success in selling his stories and he began taking assignments from Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
. His first novel The Flood was published in 1956. Young moved to Pickering, Ontario
Pickering, Ontario
Pickering is a city located in Southern Ontario, Canada immediately east of Toronto in Durham Region. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, the largest metropolitan area in Canada.- Early Period :...
and spent a year working in public relations for a jet engine company before joining The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
as a daily columnist in 1957 and moving back to Toronto. In 1959, Young met Astrid Mead while on assignment in British Columbia and, soon after, he and his wife separated. Following Young's divorce in 1961, he and Mead were married. They had a daughter, Astrid Young
Astrid Young
Astrid Young is a Canadian singer/songwriter. She is the daughter of Scott Young and Astrid Mead. After her half-brother and fellow musician Neil Young bought Astrid her first amp in the 1970s, she began to explore her own musical talents...
, in 1962.
He was also a host on Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
until getting on the wrong side of Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
co-owner John Bassett
John Bassett
John White Hughes Bassett, was a Canadian publisher and media baron.Born in Ottawa, Ontario, he was the son of John Bassett , publisher of the Montreal Gazette, and Margaret Avery. Bassett attended Ashbury College and graduated from Bishop's University with a BA in 1936...
. The Leafs threatened HNIC's sponsor and advertising agency until they agreed to fire Young.
Life on the farm
In 1967, Young bought a 100 acre (0.404686 km²) farmFarm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
near Omemee in Cavan Township and built a house there. In 1969, he asked to be transferred to the Globes news bureau in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. Shortly after arriving in Ottawa, he got into a dispute with his paper over the publication rights to excerpts from a book he had just written with Punch Imlach
Punch Imlach
George "Punch" Imlach , was an NHL coach and general manager. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.-Early career:...
. The rights had been acquired by the Toronto Telegram
Toronto Telegram
The Toronto Evening Telegram was a conservative, broadsheet afternoon newspaper published in Toronto from 1876 to 1971. It had a reputation for supporting the Conservative Party at both the federal and provincial level. The paper competed with the liberal Toronto Star...
, but the Globe wouldn't allow Young's writing to appear in a competing newspaper. He quit the Globe and accepted a job offer from Bassett to become sports editor and columnist at the Telegram, moving back to Toronto within weeks of his move to Ottawa. Young remained at the Telegram until the paper folded in 1971. He then rejoined the Globe and Mail. Young and his second wife separated in 1976, and in the fall of 1977, he moved in with fellow Globe writer Margaret Hogan. The two married in 1980. At the same time, Young had a falling out with the Globe over stories critical of Imlach written by Donald Ramsay and quit. He worked with former Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
owner Conn Smythe
Conn Smythe
Constantine Falkland Cary Smythe MC was a Canadian businessman, soldier and sportsman in ice hockey and horse racing. He is best known as the principal owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League from 1927 to 1961 and as the builder of Maple Leaf Gardens...
on Smythe's autobiography, which would be published after Smythe's death in November 1980.
In 1988, Young received the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award
Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award
The Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award is an award given "in recognition of distinguished members of the newspaper profession whose words have brought honour to journalism and to hockey". Recipients are selected by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association and gain automatic entrance into the Hockey...
from the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, and was also inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
The Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1985 when the first honoured members were named and plaques were erected in their honour. The first group of inductees was large in order to recognize the accomplishments of Manitoba players, coaches, builders and teams at the...
. Young and his wife sold the farm in the late 1980s and moved to Howth, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, a suburb of Dublin. In 1990, Young received an honorary doctorate from Trent University
Trent University
Trent University is a liberal arts and science-oriented institution located along the Otonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.The enabling legislation is the Trent University Act, 1962-63. The University was founded through the efforts of a citizens' committee interested in creating a...
and donated many of his papers to the university's archives. The Youngs returned to Peterborough in 1992 and repurchased their old farm, which Young owned for the rest of his life. Scott Young Public School in Omemee was named in his honour in 1993. His autobiography, A Writer's Life, was published in 1994.
He and Margaret moved to Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
in 2004, where Young died the following year at the age of 87.