Brian Brett | |
---|---|
![]() Brett in 2009 | |
Born |
Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada | April 28, 1950
Died | January 17, 2024 | (aged 73)
Alma mater | Simon Fraser University |
Occupation(s) | Poet, novelist |
Brian Brett (April 28, 1950 – January 17, 2024) was a Canadian poet, journalist, editor and novelist. [1] Brett wrote and published extensively, starting in the late 1960s, and he worked as an editor for several publishing firms, including the Governor-General's Award-winning Blackfish Press. He also wrote a three-part memoir of his life in British Columbia.
Brian Brett was born in British Columbia. He grew up with a rare endocrine disorder, Kallmann syndrome, which prevented his body from entering puberty; he later wrote a memoir about the effect this has had on his life. [2] [3] Brett attended Simon Fraser University between 1969 and 1974, studying literature.
Brett began writing in the 1960s. In the early 1970s, he worked as a freelance journalist and critic for The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, the Vancouver Sun, The New Reader, Books in Canada, and the Victoria Times-Colonist. He was a poetry critic and columnist for Vancouver's The Province. He also wrote articles for many other newspapers in Canada, and his essays appeared in many magazines. For ten years he wrote a monthly newspaper column called CultureWatch for the Yukon News.
Brett inaugurated the B.C. Poetry-in-the-Schools program, which for several years introduced students to world poetry. He has presented many writing workshops across Canada.
Brett was a member of P.E.N. International and the Federation of BC Writers, and the Writers' Union of Canada. He embarked on a national reading tour organized by the League of Canadian Poets, of which he was also a member.
Brett gave readings of his work on CBC Radio as well at universities, Harbourfront, Vancouver International Writers Festival, Saltwater Festival, Sechelt Writers' Festival, Wordfest: Banff Calgary International Writers Festival, the Winnipeg International Writers Festival, National Book Festival, and the Canada Council.
In May 2005, Brett became chair of the Writers' Union of Canada. [4]
In 2004 Brett published a book, Uproar's Your Only Music, about his struggles with Kallmann syndrome. [2]
In November 2009, Brett won Canada's Writers' Trust Non-Fiction Prize for Trauma Farm: A Rebel History of Rural Life. The book describes a typical day in the life of his farm, with insight into the natural history of farming. [5] [6]
In 2016, the Writers' Trust of Canada awarded Brett the Matt Cohen Lifetime Award to honour his body of work. [7]
Brett lived on his farm on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. [8] He took testosterone to mitigate the effects of Kallmann syndrome, which included pain and osteoporosis. [2] Brett died on January 17, 2024, at the age of 73. [9]
Brian Brett | |
---|---|
![]() Brett in 2009 | |
Born |
Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada | April 28, 1950
Died | January 17, 2024 | (aged 73)
Alma mater | Simon Fraser University |
Occupation(s) | Poet, novelist |
Brian Brett (April 28, 1950 – January 17, 2024) was a Canadian poet, journalist, editor and novelist. [1] Brett wrote and published extensively, starting in the late 1960s, and he worked as an editor for several publishing firms, including the Governor-General's Award-winning Blackfish Press. He also wrote a three-part memoir of his life in British Columbia.
Brian Brett was born in British Columbia. He grew up with a rare endocrine disorder, Kallmann syndrome, which prevented his body from entering puberty; he later wrote a memoir about the effect this has had on his life. [2] [3] Brett attended Simon Fraser University between 1969 and 1974, studying literature.
Brett began writing in the 1960s. In the early 1970s, he worked as a freelance journalist and critic for The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, the Vancouver Sun, The New Reader, Books in Canada, and the Victoria Times-Colonist. He was a poetry critic and columnist for Vancouver's The Province. He also wrote articles for many other newspapers in Canada, and his essays appeared in many magazines. For ten years he wrote a monthly newspaper column called CultureWatch for the Yukon News.
Brett inaugurated the B.C. Poetry-in-the-Schools program, which for several years introduced students to world poetry. He has presented many writing workshops across Canada.
Brett was a member of P.E.N. International and the Federation of BC Writers, and the Writers' Union of Canada. He embarked on a national reading tour organized by the League of Canadian Poets, of which he was also a member.
Brett gave readings of his work on CBC Radio as well at universities, Harbourfront, Vancouver International Writers Festival, Saltwater Festival, Sechelt Writers' Festival, Wordfest: Banff Calgary International Writers Festival, the Winnipeg International Writers Festival, National Book Festival, and the Canada Council.
In May 2005, Brett became chair of the Writers' Union of Canada. [4]
In 2004 Brett published a book, Uproar's Your Only Music, about his struggles with Kallmann syndrome. [2]
In November 2009, Brett won Canada's Writers' Trust Non-Fiction Prize for Trauma Farm: A Rebel History of Rural Life. The book describes a typical day in the life of his farm, with insight into the natural history of farming. [5] [6]
In 2016, the Writers' Trust of Canada awarded Brett the Matt Cohen Lifetime Award to honour his body of work. [7]
Brett lived on his farm on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. [8] He took testosterone to mitigate the effects of Kallmann syndrome, which included pain and osteoporosis. [2] Brett died on January 17, 2024, at the age of 73. [9]