Alfred Wellington ‘Al’ Purdy was born 30 December 1918 in Wooler, Ontario and grew up in Trenton. During World War II, he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force and then worked as a labourer until he was able to support himself as a writer. In addition to poetry, Purdy wrote travel articles, book reviews, plays for the CBC, and also edited poetry anthologies. He died on 21 April 2000 of lung cancer in Sidney, British Columbia. On 23 September 2001, the public library in Ameliasburgh, Ontario was renamed the Al Purdy Library to honour the hamlet's famous resident.

Photo: Julia Ashberry