Biography

Posted on: June 7th, 2023 by

Harry Thurston was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1950. He graduated with a B.Sc. in biology from Acadia University in 1971.  He was awarded Honorary Doctorates by Acadia University in 2013 and by St. Thomas University in 2021.

Since 1977 he has been a full-time poet, journalist, and editor. He is currently a mentor in the Masters of Fine Arts program in Creative Non-Fiction at University of King’s College in Halifax, N.S. He has taught poetry at Saint Mary’s University and journalism at University of King’s College in Halifax, and served as writer-in-residence at Mount Allison and Acadia universities. In 2009-10 he served as the Haig-Brown Writer-in-Residence in Campbell River, B.C.  He was the 2014-15 Chair of the Writers Union of Canada.

Travelling the globe, Harry has been a contributor to more than 30 North American magazines–specializing in environmental issues and natural history (including National Geographic, Audubon, Equinox, Harrowsmith, Canadian Geographic, International Wildlife)–where his articles have garnered several national journalism awards. These have included the National Magazine Award for Science & Technology and the Canadian Science Writers’ Association Science & Society Awards.  He also received the Visionary Award of the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, “for increasing public awareness on environmental issues”.

Likewise, his books of poetry and nonfiction have received numerous honours.  A four-time winner of the Evelyn Richardson Prize for the best non-fiction book by a Nova Scotian, he has also received the Dartmouth Book Award and Atlantic Booksellers’ Choice Award for Tidal Life, A Natural History of the Bay of Fundy.  His A Place Between The Tides, A Naturalist’s Reflections on the Salt Marsh, was a finalist for the Drainie-Taylor Biography Prize and the inaugural British Columbia Award for Canadian Non-fiction and winner of the Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Award in the U.S.  A Ship Portrait, A Novella-in-Verse, was a finalist for the Atlantic Poetry Prize and was later adapted for the stage. Ova Aves was nominated for the National Magazine Award for Poetry.  The Atlantic Coast: A Natural History received the City of Dartmouth Book Award for Nonfiction as well as the Lane Anderson Award for Best Science Writing in Canada.

He served as contributing editor to Equinox magazine for two decades and established himself on the Atlantic Canada literary scene as editor and publisher of the literary journal, Germination, a Hotbed of Verse Culture.

A biologist and naturalist, he is among Canada’s best-known nature writers. He lives in Tidnish Bridge, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada.  Email: harry@harrythurston.ca

AWARDS:

Honorary Doctorate of Letters, St. Thomas University, 2021

Honorary Doctorate of Literature, Acadia University, 2013

Relit Poetry Award, shortlist for Keeping Watch at the End of the World 2016

Lane Anderson Award for Best Science Writing in Canada for The Atlantic Coast: A Natural History, 2012

The Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Award for A Place Between The Tides, A Naturalist’s Reflections On The Salt Marsh, 2005

Evelyn Richardson Memorial Literary Awards for: The Atlantic Coast: A Natural History, 2012; Island Of The Blessed, The Secrets of Egypt’s Everlasting Oasis, 2004; for The Nature of Shorebirds, 1996; and for Tidal Life, A Natural History of the Bay of Fundy, 1991.

City of Dartmouth Book Award for The Atlantic Coast: A Natural History, 2012 and for Tidal Life, A Natural History of the Bay of Fundy, 1991; Finalist for If Men Lived on Earth 2001

Atlantic Poetry Prize finalist for A Ship’s Portrait, a Novella in Verse, 2006

Best Regional Non-Fiction (Canada-East) Independent Publisher Book Awards (USA) for The Sea’s Voice: An Anthology of Atlantic Canadian Nature Writing 2006

British Columbia Award for Canadian Non-Fiction finalist for A Place Between the Tides, 2005

Drainie-Taylor Biography Prize finalist for A Place Between the Tides, 2005

Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, Visionary Award, “for increasing public awareness on environmental issues”, 1994.

Atlantic Booksellers’ Choice Award for Tidal Life, A Natural History of the Bay of Fundy, 1991.

Canadian Science Writers’ Association Science & Society Awards, 1986 & 1987

National Magazine Award for Science & Technology Silver Medal 1983; Honorable Mention, Poetry for Ova Aves, 2012

Foundation for the Advancement of Canadian Letters, Author’s Award Public Affairs 1982 & Personality Profile 1982 & 1987

Dorothy Shoemaker Award for Poetry, Mid-western Ontario Library System. 1976

 

 

7 Responses to Biography

  1. Sharon Bird (Anderson when Harry met me) had this to say about that:

    As a friend of Janet McNaughton, I was advised to contact Harry regarding a 2nd non-fiction I’m working on. The first was self published. Anyway will fill in details when I get in touch with him. I did a workshop with him years ago at the NB Writer’s Workshop in Fredericton. I’m working on a submission for Nimbus and want a non-fiction writer’s second opinion. You can email me. Thanks Sharon

  2. Rebecca Scott had this to say about that:

    Thank you for a wonderful reading last night at the Osprey Arts Centre!

  3. David Crane had this to say about that:

    I met Harry Thurston on Sept 26/12 at a creative writing social where my friend and I were performing poetry as “Bardsonbikes”. I wanted to send Harry a letter of thanks for him staying to see us but I can’t find a mailing address. Can you provide?
    Thanks.
    Davey

    • htadmin had this to say about that:

      David:

      I just found your comment on my website, a place I rarely go. I thought your reading was wonderful–energetic, fun, profound, sincere… in every possible way a positive experience and I couldn’t pull myself away. A pleasure meeting you both. I hope we cross paths again soon, and that I will have another opportunity to hear you.

      Harry

  4. Virgil Kay, Editor, Fowlpox Press had this to say about that:

    Love “If Men Lived on Earth”. Would love to include some of your poetry in April ’13 issue of Fowl Feathered Review. Please consider us.
    Warm Regards,
    Virgil Kay
    Editor
    Fowl Feathered Review

  5. Bev Dahmer had this to say about that:

    How can Harry have, “never lived more than 50 miles from the sea”, while working at the University of Guelph, Ontario, as many of his biographies state?

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