Showing 36 results

Authority record
Deverell, Rex
Person · 1941-

Rex Deverell began his working career in 1967 as the pastor of a small Baptist church in southern Ontario. Drama, both religious and secular, played an important role even in those days through acting, directing, writing.

In 1968 Deverell's "The Invitation" won the Playwrights' Award from the University of Western Ontario. He wrote several plays in the following few years. By 1970 he resigned his pastorate and devoted himself to theatre. From 1970 to 1975 Deverell and his family lived in Regina and Toronto. This same period also saw the production of plays for young audiences such as "Sam and the Tigers", "Shortshrift", "Copetown City Kite Crisis" and "Sarah's Play".

In 1975 Regina’s Globe Theatre, southern Saskatchewan's premiere theatre company, appointed Deverell as Playwright-in-Residence. He held this position until October 1989 when he moved to Toronto. "Boiler Room Suite" was produced in 1976. In 1978 this play won the Canadian Authors' Award. It enjoyed great success, became the libretto for an opera, and travelled to Vancouver, Toronto and London, England among other cities.
Deverell has served in various provincial and national organizations, including the Playwrights Union of Canada, the Guild of Canadian Playwrights. He was was a founding member of the Saskatchewan Playwrights' Centre

Deverell, Rita
Person · 1945-

Television broadcaster, theatre artist, academic, and social activist Rita Shelton Deverell was born in Houston, Texas in 1945. In 1967 she moved to Canada and in 1972 began her career in television as the producer of a children's program.

In 1974 Rita joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a host for the program 'Take 30'. She came to Saskatchewan as an actress on the Globe Theatre School Tour in 1971-72, was a tenured Professor and Acting Director of the University of Regina's School of Journalism, and later became one of the founders of the Canadian television network Vision TV. She was Head of Production and noted for wearing a flower in her hair when she hosted programs.

Rita Deverell served as news and current affairs director for the Aboriginal peoples Television Network from 2002 to 2005, mentoring her Aboriginal successor, and was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2005 for "pioneering innovation and creativity" and for her "unceasing drive for social justice."

Rita has a doctorate from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto, is the founding Chair of the Advisory Board of Canadian Multicultural Radio, has served as an adjudicator-at-large for the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, and is a board member of the Media Awareness Network.

In 2001-02 Rita was the University of Western Ontario's Reader's Digest Visiting Professor of Journalism, she was also a Visiting Scholar (with Neil Postman) in New York University's Department of Culture and Communication.

She is on the MacLean's Honour Roll of Outstanding Canadians, is a two time Gemini Award winner, is in the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, has been on the Board of the Obsidian Theatre Company in Toronto, was the first holder of the CanWest Global Fellowship at the University of Western Ontario in 2007, and Nancy's Chair in Women's Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University from 2009-2011.

Givner, Joan
Person · 1936-

Joan Givner was born in Manchester, England on September 5, 1936. Joan Givner (nee Short) graduated from the University of London with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in 1958 and a Ph.D. in 1972. She earned a Masters degree in Arts from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in 1965. While in the United States she taught high school from 1959 until 1961. She then taught English at Port Huron Junior College (now St Clair County Community College) from 1961 until 1965. Givner joined the predecessor of the University of Regina, the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus, as a Lecturer of English in 1965 and in 1972 became an Assistant Professor, in 1975 an Associate Professor and in 1981 she became a Professor of English. Joan retired from the University of Regina in 1995 to Victoria, British Columbia and taught creative writing at Malaspina College – Cowichan Campus during the spring of 1997.

Givner has published several books: Katherine Anne Porter: A Life (1982), Tentacles of Unreason, (1985), Katherine Anne Porter: Conversations, Introduction, (1987); Unfortunate Incidents (1988), Mazo de la Roche: The Hidden Life (1989), Katherine Anne Porter: A Life (Revised Edition) (1991), Scenes from Provincial Life (1991), The Self-Portrait of a Literary Biographer (1993), In the Garden of Henry James (1996), Thirty-four Ways of Looking at Jane Eyre: Essays and Fiction (1998) Half Known Lives (2001), Playing Sarah Berhardt (2004) and a series of books for young adults: Ellen’s Book of Life; Ellen Fremedon, Voluneteer; Ellen Fremedon, Journalist. She has also published numerous short stories, published articles in Studies in Short Fiction, Genre, International Fiction Review, Southwest Review and Descant to name a few. She has also contributed chapters for several books and delivered many papers and readings on Katherine Anne Porter and other topics across Canada and the United States

Givner currently resides in a small seaside town north of Victoria, B.C. Although she is retired from teaching, Joan still continues to write fiction books such as Half Known Lives and Ellen Fremedon as well as reviewing books for B.C. Bookworld, The Toronto Star, Books in Canada and other publications.

Globe Theatre
Corporate body · 1966-

The Globe Theatre is Saskatchewan's largest professional theatre company, it is a non-profit organization overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors, elected by the members of the Globe Theatre Society. It is Canada’s only permanent, professional "theatre-in-the-round", seating 406 patrons. The Theatre’s Main Stage season consists of six shows which run from October to May. The Shumiatcher Sandbox Series showcases work of new, or emerging artists. The Sandbox features six shows ranging from theatre, dance and multidisciplinary performances.

The Theatre moved to its current location, the heritage building called the Prince Edward Building (also known as the Old City Hall and formerly the Regina Post Office), in Regina’s downtown area in 1981. Prince Edward, a member of the Royal family granted royal patronage to the Globe Theatre in 1992.

The Globe Theatre was founded by Ken and Sue Kramer, the Artistic Directors have been:

Ken Kramer (1966-1989); Susan Ferley (1989-1998); Ruth Smillie (1998-present)

From 1966 to 1989 the Globe Theatre premiered a number of works by playwrights such as Brian Way and Rex Deverell as well as work by author/playwright Gail Bowen, theatre artist Joey Tremblay and many other notable playwrights.

The Globe Theatre is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian (PACT) Theatres, and employs its stage management, actors, and artists under the Canadian Theatre Agreement (CTA) through the Canadian Actors' Equity Association.

Harding, Beatrice
Person · 1913-2006

Beatrice (Bea) Harding was born in Morden, Manitoba. She attended the University of Manitoba and obtained a degree in Home Economics and Education. After marrying William (Bill) Harding she moved to Swift Current and later Regina, Saskatchewan where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in visual arts from the University of Regina. Beatrice taught high school in Saskatchewan for 10 years. In 1961 her husband Bill joined the United Nations presenting the family with opportunities to travel widely. The family travelled and lived in Liberia, West Africa, East Africa, South America and the United States. In 1971, while a resident of the Philippines, Beatrice became inspired by the life and art of Manuel Rodriguez Sr. a graphic artist and instructor with whom she was taking a class. Her book Survival Through Art is about this man and the development of the field of Graphic Arts in the Philippines.

Beatrice kept journals about their stays in Liberia and Siberia, and in Guyana, South America Beatrice wrote articles for the CBC and for weekly newspapers. Later, in London, England Beatrice studied journalism at the Regent Institute of Journalism. She has also written for Asia Magazine and the Winnipeg Free Press. Beatrice is the author of A Centennial History of Glencross Burial Grounds, a booklet about the place where her great-grandparents settled in the 1880’s. In 1999 Beatrice published Top Hats and Head Loads in which she explores the art and cultural practices of the Liberian people and depicts the vast differences between two societies there; the Americo-Liberians of the coast and the indigenous of the Hinterlands.

Beatrice passed away in March 2006.

Hawley, Helen
Person · 1937-

Helen Hawley was born in 1937 and grew up in Saskatchewan, Canada. After a fine arts course at Regina College studying under Ken Lochhead, Art McKay and Roy Kiyooka, she studied art history at universities in Toronto and Paris, France.

Since 1962 she has been a resident in England and is a professional artist who has exhibited widely in several countries.

As a poet, she has had several books published from which poems have been reprinted in anthologies. Some of her work tries to form bridges between Native and Non-Native Canadians, and in 1987 she was invited to send certain poems to that year’s North American Indian Conference of Elders where they were read aloud as part of the programme. The poem Concerto was published in her poetry book Gathering Fire by Thistledown Press in 1977. Although it was written before Caribou Factory was thought of, the themes are consistent. Caribou Factory was co-authored with Mary Thomas, whose contribution to the book where it regards First Nations people was invaluable.

Heath, Terrence
Person · 1936-2025

Terrence George Heath was born in Regina, Saskatchewan on August 25, 1936. He is the son of Harold Frost and Mary Kelly. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in 1961; the University of Oregon with a Masters of Art (Honours) in 1962 and Oxford University with a Doctor of Philosophy in 1966. He also studied Art History at the University of Munich in 1959-60.

From 1966 to 1972, he was an Associate Professor of History at the University of Saskatchewan. As Principal of Heath Consultants, he has worked as a freelance writer, consultant and curator from 1972-1976; 1981-1983 and 1986-present. From 1977 until 1980 he was Executive Director of the Western Development Museums of Saskatchewan. He was Director of the Winnipeg Art Gallery from 1983 to 1985.

He has published numerous books, including The Truth and Other Stories (1972), Interstices of Night (1979), The Last Hiding Place (1983), Casualties (2005) and Joe Fafard (2007) as well as two books of poetry with Anne Szumigalski, and written and/or curated over 20 exhibitions of visual artists for galleries in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and France. Articles and essays have appeared extensively in Border Crossings, C Magazine, ArtsCanada and other magazines and journals. Two short stories, “A Proper Burial” and “The Psalmist” were published in 1973 and 1974 respectively. His poetry has appeared in Canadian Forum, Waves, Fiddlehead, Malahat Review, Descant, Writing, ArtsManitoba, Prairie Fire and Grain. Several radioscripts and filmscripts were produced and/or purchased by CBC and the National Film Board. He has produced over 45 consulting reports for associations, agencies, individuals and government departments in Canada, France, Mexico and Kenya.

Heath is the recipient of a Silver Medal for the National Awards for Poetry in 1986; and the Saskatchewan Award of Merit in 1984.

Hill, Gerald
Person · 1951-

Gerald (Gerry) Hill was born in 1951 to parents Alice and Don Hill of Herbert, Saskatchewan. Don, an educator and Superintendent of Schools in Herbert, would later move his family to Regina where he worked at the University of Regina until his retirement.

In Regina, Hill attended Massey School and Campbell Collegiate. Upon graduation from Campbell in 1968, just 16, he studied for two years at University of Regina in the faculty of Administration. At the beginning of his third year, he switched to Arts, then dropped out altogether, moving to Calgary, where he worked for Canada Post as a letter carrier.

Eventually he went back to school at the University of Calgary, completing a Bachelor of Education degree in 1975. He taught junior high Language Arts for two years at Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, and then went to Papua New Guinea as a Canadian University Services Overseas (CUSO) high school teacher in 1978. He returned to Canada in 1981 and took part in a one year creative writing program at David Thompson University Centre (DTUC) in Nelson, B.C.. The influence of three writers from DTUC - Fred Wah, Tom Wayman and Dave McFadden - remained an influence on Gerald’s evolving writing style.

Hill moved back to Regina in 1982, supporting himself with teaching jobs, and joined the Saskatchewan Writers Guild. He met theatre artist Ruth Smillie at a writing retreat in Fort San. They married in 1984 and moved to Edmonton, where Ruth ran a theatre company and Hill taught adult education; they had three children before ending the marriage in 1992.

In 1990 Hill earned a Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Alberta and began work on his Ph.D. (unfinished). Gail Scott, Robert Kroetsch, Daniel Defoe, and Hélène Cixous were subjects of his academic articles; he also earned a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada doctoral fellowship.

Freelance writing and editing projects still supplement his income, and annual retreats, to Emma Lake and St. Peter’s Abbey and other residencies, national and international, provide large amounts of writing time. His first poetry collection, Heartwood, was published in 1985 by Thistledown Press in Saskatoon, and by the 1990’s his work had been published in more than two dozen literary magazines as well as several anthologies.

The Man from Saskatchewan, Hill’s second collection, was published in 2001 by Coteau Books as well as a collection of mini-biographies of Saskatchewan men killed in World War II, Their Names Live On, published by the Canadian Plains Research Centre with Doug Chisholm. Gerald Hill’s third collection, Getting To Know You, won the Saskatchewan Book Award for Poetry in 2004, and My Human Comedy was published by Coteau in 2008. Hill’s next poetry collection, 14 Tractors, was published in 2009 by NeWest Press and won his second Saskatchewan Book Award for Poetry. In 2012 Hill published Hillsdale, a Map (with designer Jared Carlson) and a chapbook, Street Pieces, with Alfred Gustav Press. Work from both of those projects appeared in Hillsdale Book, a poetry collection published by NeWest Press in 2015. Also in 2015, Hill published Still A Round: A History of Regina’s Globe Theatre.

In 2015, Gerald Hill retired from his Instructor position teaching English and Creative Writing at Luther College, University of Regina. In 2016 he served as Poet Laureate of Saskatchewan.

Kirk, Florence
Person · 1909-1999

Florence Kirk was a Canadian missionary and member of the English Department at Ginling College in Nanjing China. She, and her sister Lillian, were both on the staff at Ginling College, which was the first Christian women’s college in China. Florence was there before and during the Second World War, as well as the civil war that followed and the Communist takeover. She completed her Ph.D. in English at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

In 1991 at age 89, Kirk self-published her memoir entitled Sunshine and Storm; a Canadian Teacher in China, 1932-1950.

Florence Kirk was also the author of a short story “One Hundred Dollars”, 1975, co-author with W. Gordon Kirk for the Kirk Family Tree: from Scotland to Ireland to Canada: An Account of One Branch of the Kirk Family from the 18th Century to the Present; 4 articles in the Islander (Time-Colonist) Heigh-Ho, the Holly, 1983; Mistletoe – All Healer or Tree Thief; 1984, The Ginko Tree – a Living Fossil, 1984 and The Metasequoia - a Living Fossil, 1986; and 2 articles in Prime Time Organize Christmas to Recapture Joy, 1984; and China After Thirty Years, 1985.

She was also the final editor of The History of West China University, Chengtu, Szechwan, China in the early 1970’s and the author of a sonnet called A Walk in Nanking, 1984.