Farley Mowat

Farley McGill Mowat (May 12, 1921 – May 6, 2014) was a Canadian writer and environmentalist. He wrote many books that were translated into 52 languages, and more than 17 million copies of his books were sold all around the world.

He became famous for his books about the Canadian north, especially People of the Deer from 1952 and Never Cry Wolf from 1963. The story in Never Cry Wolf about his time with wolves in the Arctic was turned into a film of the same name in 1983. In 1970, he received the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature for his work as a writer.

Mowat was also known for speaking up about environmental causes. Some people praised him, while others criticized him for saying he "never let the facts get in the way of the truth." But many believe his stories helped people pay attention to important issues and changed some rules in government. He was remembered for his strong beliefs and beautiful writing, even though some people did not always agree with him.

Early life and education

Farley Mowat was born on May 12, 1921, in Belleville, Ontario and grew up in Richmond Hill, Ontario. His father, Angus Mowat, fought in the Battle of Vimy Ridge during World War I. Mowat began writing poetry when his family lived in Windsor from 1930 to 1933.

In the 1930s, the Mowat family moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. There, as a teenager, Mowat wrote about birds for the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix and created his own nature newsletter called Nature Lore. He studied zoology at the University of Toronto but did not finish his degree. In 1939, he went on his first trip to collect animals with a friend, Frank Banfield. They sold what they collected to the Royal Ontario Museum to help pay for their journey. Later, Mowat served in World War II in Europe.

War service

During World War II, Farley Mowat joined the Canadian Army and became an officer. He fought in battles in Sicily and Italy. Later, he helped organize food drops for people in the Netherlands near the end of the war, which saved many lives.

Mowat also collected items from the war, like vehicles and a special rocket, which are now shown in museums in Canada. After the war, he left the army with the rank of captain.

Post-war

In 1947, Mowat worked with American naturalist Francis Harper to study caribou in the Nueltin Lake area, now part of Nunavut. Two young Inuit, Luke Anoteelik and his sister Rita, joined them. Luke later became famous for his special carvings that are kept in the National Gallery of Canada.

Later, Mowat helped with another caribou study led by Frank Banfield for the Canadian Wildlife Service. However, he was let go because some local people were unhappy and he didn’t have proper approval for some of his work.

Literary career

After serving in World War II, Farley Mowat went to the University of Toronto. His first book, People of the Deer, came out in 1952. It was inspired by a trip he took to the Canadian Arctic while he was studying. The book talked about the tough lives of the Inuit people in Northern Canada and made Mowat well-known.

Mowat wrote many more books, including Lost in the Barrens, which won an award called the Governor General's Award. In 1963, he wrote Never Cry Wolf about his time with Arctic wolves. Some of his books tell stories from his own life, like Owls in the Family about his childhood and The Boat Who Wouldn't Float about his time in Newfoundland.

Criticism

Some people disagreed with Farley Mowat's books. In a review, one scientist compared Mowat's book Never Cry Wolf to the story of Little Red Riding Hood, saying they were similar in how much real facts they contained. Another review in The New York Times Book Review was not kind to his book People of the Deer. Even so, many people liked this book and gave it good reviews around the world.

Some experts also said Mowat’s stories were not always accurate. One person who studied languages said Mowat could not have learned a complicated language in just two months, as he claimed. Even with some criticism, Mowat’s books sparked discussions and encouraged others to explore new ideas.

Awards and honours

Farley Mowat received many awards and honours throughout his life. In the 1950s, he won several awards for his books, including the Governor General's Award for Juvenile Fiction in 1956 for Lost in the Barrens and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award in 1953 for People of the Deer.

In later years, he continued to be recognised for his work. He won the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour in 1970 for The Boat Who Wouldn't Float and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Outdoor Book Award in 2005. In 2014, a life-sized sculpture of him was unveiled at the University of Saskatchewan.

Mowat was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1981 and received many other medals over the years. He was also the inspiration for a beloved sheepdog character in the comic strip For Better or For Worse.

Honorary doctorates

Farley Mowat received many special degrees from universities to honor his work. Some of these degrees were given by Laurentian University, University of Lethbridge, and University of Toronto, among others.

He was also awarded degrees by University of PEI, University of Victoria, Lakehead University, McMaster University, Queen's University, and Cape Breton University.

Affiliations

Farley Mowat supported the Green Party of Canada and was a close friend of its leader Elizabeth May. In June 2007, the Green Party sent a direct mail fundraising appeal using Mowat’s name. That same year, Mowat gave more than 200 acres (0.81 km²) of his land on Cape Breton Island to the Nova Scotia Nature Trust. He was also an honorary director of the North American Native Plant Society. People described him as someone who cared deeply about fairness and helping others.

Farley Mowat Library

In 2012, a Canadian publisher named Douglas & McIntyre started the Farley Mowat Library series. They began releasing many of his popular books again, with new designs and introductions, in both print and e-book formats.

Farley Mowat's papers and notes are kept at the William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

Later life

Farley Mowat and his second wife Claire lived their later years in Port Hope, Ontario. Every summer, they stayed at a farm on Cape Breton Island. They visited a local church there often, though Mowat was more about feeling connected to the world than following strict religious rules.

Mowat passed away on May 6, 2014, at the age of 92. Even close to the end of his life, he cared deeply about protecting Canada's wild areas. Just days before he died, he spoke on the CBC Radio One program The Current, sharing his thoughts on why Wi-Fi shouldn’t be placed in national parks. He is buried at the historic St. Mark's Anglican Church cemetery in Port Hope.

Works

Farley Mowat wrote many books about his adventures and life. Some of his popular works include People of the Deer, Lost in the Barrens, The Dog Who Wouldn't Be, and Never Cry Wolf. Many of his books were turned into films, such as Lost in the Barrens and Never Cry Wolf.

He also wrote about his travels, like Westviking and The Snow Walker, and shared stories about Canada, such as Canada North and Canada North Now. His writings covered many topics, from nature to history, and his books continue to be read around the world.