Lorna Crozier
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Lorna Crozier, OC (born 24 May 1948) is a Canadian poet who holds the Head Chair in the Writing Department at the
University of Victoria The University of Victoria (UVic or Victoria) is a public research university located in the municipalities of Oak Bay and Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. The university traces its roots to Victoria College, the first post-secondary instit ...
. She has authored fifteen books and was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2011. She is credited as Lorna Uher on some of her earlier books.


Life

Crozier was born in
Swift Current Swift Current is the fifth largest city in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is situated along the Trans Canada Highway west of Moose Jaw, and east of Medicine Hat, Alberta. Swift Current grew 6.8% between 2011 and 2016, ending up at ...
,
Saskatchewan Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada, western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on t ...
in 1948. Crozier attended the
University of Saskatchewan A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...
where she received her B.A. in 1969, and the
University of Alberta The University of Alberta, also known as U of A or UAlberta, is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford,"A Gentleman of Strathcona – Alexander Cameron Rutherfor ...
where she received her
M.A. A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
in 1980. Before publishing her poems and stories, Crozier was a high school
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...
teacher and guidance counsellor. During these years, her first poem was published in ''Grain'' magazine. She also taught creative writing at the
Banff School of Fine Arts Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, formerly known as The Banff Centre (and previously The Banff Centre for Continuing Education), located in Banff, Alberta, was established in 1933 as the Banff School of Drama. It was granted full autonomy as ...
, the Saskatchewan Summer School of the Arts, and the Sechelt Summer Writing Festival. Crozier has served as the writer-in-residence at the Cypress Hills Community College in 1983, the
Regina Public Library The Regina Public Library is the citywide public library system of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Services *Information and reference services *Access to full text databases *Community information *Internet access *Reader's advisory services ...
, and the
University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...
in 1989. Crozier has authored fifteen books of work, which typically focus on human relationships, the natural world,
language Language is a structured system of communication. The structure of a language is its grammar and the free components are its vocabulary. Languages are the primary means by which humans communicate, and may be conveyed through a variety of met ...
, memory, and perception. Alongside partner Patrick Lane, Crozier has co-authored ''No Longer Two People'' (1979), and co-edited ''Breathing Fire: Canada's New Poets'' (1995) and ''Breathing Fire 2'' (2004). A book review from ''The Globe and Mail'' by Jacqueline Baker on Crozier's book, ''Small Beneath the Sky: A Prairie Memoir'', emphasized Crozier's prairie roots, and gave positive feedback on this memoir. In an interview with Joseph Planta of ''THECOMMENTARY.ca'' regarding the same book, she reveals the alcohol and poverty that surrounded her as a child. Although she grew up with a fairly difficult childhood, Crozier took her past and turned it into well renowned poetry. She has received a 1992
Governor General's Award The Governor General's Awards are a collection of annual awards presented by the Governor General of Canada, recognizing distinction in numerous academic, artistic, and social fields. The first award was conceived and inaugurated in 1937 by the ...
, the Canadian Authors Association Award for Poetry, the
National Magazine Award The National Magazine Awards, also known as the Ellie Awards, honor print and digital publications that consistently demonstrate superior execution of editorial objectives, innovative techniques, noteworthy enterprise and imaginative design. Or ...
(Gold Medal), and first prize in the National CBC Literary Competition. Crozier received the
University of Victoria The University of Victoria (UVic or Victoria) is a public research university located in the municipalities of Oak Bay and Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. The university traces its roots to Victoria College, the first post-secondary instit ...
's Distinguished Professors Award and the
University of Regina The University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchew ...
presented her with an honorary
Doctorate of Law A Doctor of Law is a degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country and includes degrees such as the Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D. or S.J.D), Juris Doctor (J.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and Legum Doctor (LL. ...
in 2004. Crozier has given various benefit readings for organizations such as the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals A Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is a common name for non-profit animal welfare organizations around the world. The oldest SPCA organization is the RSPCA, which was founded in England in 1824. SPCA organizations operate i ...
,
Wintergreen Studios Wintergreen Studios is an environmental education and wilderness retreat center located in South Frontenac, Ontario, Canada. Established in 2007, Wintergreen's programs focus on culture, education, and the environment. Programs are delivered at th ...
,
The Land Conservancy of British Columbia The Land Conservancy of British Columbia is a not-for-profit, charitable land trust based in British Columbia, Canada. The purpose of the Society is to protect plants, animals, natural communities and landscape features that represent diversity o ...
, the Victoria READ Society, and PEERS, a group devoted to getting
prostitutes Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, non-penet ...
off the streets. She has read her poetry on every continent other than
Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest contine ...
, and on 19 May 2005 Crozier recited a poem for Queen
Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...
as part of Saskatchewan's Centennial Celebration. In 2009 she was made a Fellow of the
Royal Society of Canada The Royal Society of Canada (RSC; french: Société royale du Canada, SRC), also known as the Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada (French: ''Académies des arts, des lettres et des sciences du Canada''), is the senior national, bil ...
and in 2011 Crozier became an Officer of the
Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the ...
.Lorna Crozier
Canadian Encyclopedia, Retrieved 17 May 2016
Her memoir ''Through the Garden: A Love Story (with Cats)'' was shortlisted for the 2020
Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction The Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction is a Canadian literary award, presented annually by the Writers' Trust of Canada to the best work of non-fiction by a Canadian writer. Canada's most lucrative non-fiction prize, the winner rec ...
.


Poetry

*''Inside Is the Sky'' – 1976 (as Lorna Uher) *''Crow's Black Joy'' – 1979 (as Lorna Uher) *''Humans and Other Beasts'' – 1980 (as Lorna Uher) *''No Longer Two People: A Series of Poems'' (with Patrick Lane) – 1981 *''The Weather'' – 1983 *''The Garden Going on Without Us'' – 1985 (nominated for a
Governor General's Award The Governor General's Awards are a collection of annual awards presented by the Governor General of Canada, recognizing distinction in numerous academic, artistic, and social fields. The first award was conceived and inaugurated in 1937 by the ...
) *''Angels of Flesh, Angels of Silence'' – 1988 (nominated for a
Governor General's Award The Governor General's Awards are a collection of annual awards presented by the Governor General of Canada, recognizing distinction in numerous academic, artistic, and social fields. The first award was conceived and inaugurated in 1937 by the ...
) *''Inventing the Hawk'' – 1992 (winner of the Governor General's Award for Poetry and the
Pat Lowther Award The Pat Lowther Memorial Award is an annual award presented by the League of Canadian Poets to the year's best book of poetry by a Canadian woman.Pat Lowther Award The Pat Lowther Memorial Award is an annual award presented by the League of Canadian Poets to the year's best book of poetry by a Canadian woman.Pat Lowther Award The Pat Lowther Memorial Award is an annual award presented by the League of Canadian Poets to the year's best book of poetry by a Canadian woman.Pat Lowther Award The Pat Lowther Memorial Award is an annual award presented by the League of Canadian Poets to the year's best book of poetry by a Canadian woman.Pat Lowther Award The Pat Lowther Memorial Award is an annual award presented by the League of Canadian Poets to the year's best book of poetry by a Canadian woman.1948 births Living people 20th-century Canadian poets 21st-century Canadian poets University of Saskatchewan alumni Governor General's Award-winning poets University of Victoria faculty People from Swift Current Canadian women poets Canadian non-fiction writers 20th-century Canadian women writers 21st-century Canadian women writers Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada Canadian women non-fiction writers Officers of the Order of Canada