Article

Will R. Bird

Published Online April 2, 2008

Last Edited April 3, 2014

William Richard Bird, novelist (b at East Mapleton, NS 11 May 1891; d at Sackville, NB 28 Jan 1984). Bird had a diverse career while at the same time publishing almost annually for 4 decades.

William Richard Bird, novelist (b at East Mapleton, NS 11 May 1891; d at Sackville, NB 28 Jan 1984). Bird had a diverse career while at the same time publishing almost annually for 4 decades. He homesteaded in Alberta, served with the 42nd Royal Highlanders in the First World War, and was a touring lecturer before settling into a Nova Scotia bureau of information position from 1933 to 1950.

He first published in 1928 with the nonfiction A Century at Chignecto. Other nonfiction works include books about the Maritimes. Two of his most popular novels, Here Stays Good Yorkshire (1945) and Judgement Glen (1947), won the Ryerson fiction award.

From 1949 to 1950 Bird served as president of the Canadian Authors Association. During his long career he was awarded the Queen's Coronation medal, a DLitt from Mount Allison U (1949), a Canada Council Fellowship (1961-62) and a national award in letters from U of Alberta (1965).