John Patrick Gillese (

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

, March 7, 1920 –

Edmonton Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city ancho ...

, Canada, 23 October 1999) was an Irish-born

Canadian author This is a list of Canadian literary figures, including poets, novelists, children's writers, essayists, and scholars. __NOTOC__ A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X ...

whose prolific career spanned six decades from the early 1940s to the late 1990s. During this period he authored over 5,000 pieces including

novel A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...

s, short stories, and information columns that were published in many English-speaking countries. His 1957 novel, ''Kirby's Gander'', retitled '' Wings of Chance'', was the first full-length feature film ever shot in Canada by a Hollywood production company and was pivotal in the launching of Canada's professional film industry. Born in Ireland, his family moved to

Rochfort Bridge Rochfort Bridge is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Lac Ste. Anne County. It is located approximately northwest of Edmonton and east of Mayerthorpe. Rochfort Bridge is named for Cooper (Cowper) Rochfort, who with his associate, Percy Mich ...

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

, when he was six years old. In 1947, he married Thelma Elizabeth Ashby with whom he would have six children. They later adopted a child who had fled the war in

El Salvador El Salvador (; , meaning " The Saviour"), officially the Republic of El Salvador ( es, República de El Salvador), is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south b ...

. He has 4 great-grandchildren and 23 grandchildren, including Canadian comedian/writer

Kevin Gillese Kevin Gillese (born 24 December 1980) is a Canadian actor, writer and improvisor from Edmonton, Alberta. Career Gillese started as a performer with the improv company Rapid Fire Theatre and also works regularly with the Atomic Improv and perf ...

, and actress/writer Meeshelle Neal. As a founding director of Alberta Culture's Film and Literary Arts Branch, which he headed from 1971 to 1984, he was able to help many writers become established through workshops and contests; including the author of the book which launched the hit movie and subsequent television series 'Stargate,' Pauline Gedge. In addition to receiving the CAA

Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People The Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People, colloquially called the Vicky, is given annually at the Writers' Trust Awards to a writer or illustrator whose body of work has been "inspirational to Canadian youth". It is a top honour for ...

(1967), the Writers' Guild of Alberta Lifetime Achievement Award (1995), the City of Edmonton Outstanding Citizen Award, the Western Canadian Book Publishers' Association Award, and an Outstanding Albertans award, Gillese earned dozens of additional accolades, recognition and awards. Upon his death, the city of Edmonton named a park in his honour.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gillese, John Patrick 1920 births 1999 deaths Canadian male novelists Canadian male short story writers People from Lac Ste. Anne County Writers from Alberta 20th-century Canadian novelists 20th-century Canadian short story writers 20th-century Canadian male writers Irish emigrants to Canada