Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Margaret Atwood

Writer

Born in Ottawa in 1939.

Prolific writer, internationally famous since the popular and critical success of her 1984 novel, The Handmaid's Tale.

Studied at the University of Toronto from 1957 to 1961 (E.J. Pratt Medal, 1961) and at Radcliffe College, Harvard (MA, 1962).

Among the most-honored authors of fiction in recent history; winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award and Prince of Asturias award for Literature, shortlisted for the Booker Prize five times, winning once, and finalist for the Governor General's Award seven times, winning twice.

Began her career in the 1960s, teaching English and at first publishing poetry, short stories and literary criticism.

Her novels include Surfacing (1972), Cat's Eye (1988), Alias Grace (1996) and the 2000 Booker Prize winner, The Blind Assassin.

Recipient of many honorary doctorates, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Companion of the Order of Canada and Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

www.canadianencyclopedia.com
www.library.utoronto.ca

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Josée Kurtz

Commanding Officer

Born in Joliette, Québec; studied in Ottawa.

Enlisted in the Navy in 1988.

Studied at the University of Ottawa where she obtained her B.A.; Masters in Defence Studies from the Royal Military College in Kingston.

First woman to command a major Canadian warship as of April 8, 2009; took control of the frigate HMCS Halifax which has a crew of 225.

www.canada.com
The Ottawa Citizen, April 8, 2009, A5