Sandra Birdsell facts for kids

Sandra Louise Birdsell is a Canadian writer born on April 22, 1942. She is known for her novels and short stories. Sandra has a unique background, being of both Métis and Mennonite heritage. She was also made a Member of the Order of Canada, which is a very high honour.

About Sandra Birdsell

Sandra Birdsell was born in Hamiota, Manitoba, Canada. She was the fifth of eleven children in her family. Most of her early life was spent in Morris, Manitoba, where her family moved in 1943. Her father was a French-speaking Cree Métis, and her mother was a Low-German speaking Mennonite from Russia.

When Sandra was six years old, her sister passed away. This made her feel quite lonely. She often spent time by herself in parks and by rivers, which helped her imagination grow.

Early Life and Education

In 1950, her hometown of Morris experienced a big flood. Sandra's first three stories in her book Night Travellers are based on this event. She left home when she was fifteen. Later, she studied at the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba.

Sandra started her writing journey when she was 35. She enrolled in a Creative Writing program at the University of Winnipeg. Just five years later, her first book, Night Travellers, was published by Turnstone Press.

Where Sandra Lives

In 1996, Sandra Birdsell moved to Regina, Saskatchewan. She now lives in Ottawa, Ontario. She is a mother to three children and a grandmother to four children.

Special Honours

Sandra Birdsell has received many important awards for her writing. In January 2007, she was the Carol Shields writer in residence at the University of Winnipeg for four months. This means she worked there to help other writers.

In 2010, Sandra was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest honours a Canadian citizen can receive. In 2012, she also received the Saskatchewan Order of Merit (SOM).

Awards and Recognition

Sandra Birdsell has won many awards for her books and stories. These awards show how important and well-loved her writing is.

• 1984: Gerald Lampert Award for Night Travellers
• 1990: Books in Canada First Novel Award for The Missing Child
• 1992: Shortlisted for the Governor General's Award for English-language fiction for The Chrome Suite
• 1993: Marian Engel Award
• 1997: Shortlisted for the Governor General's Award for Fiction for The Two-Headed Calf
• 1997: Shortlisted for the Silver Birch Award and the Saskatchewan Children's Literature Award for The Town That Floated Away
• 2001: Shortlisted for the Giller Prize for The Russländer
• 2001: Saskatchewan Book of the Year, Best Saskatchewan Fiction, and City of Regina awards for The Russländer
• 2007: Longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award for Children of the Day
• 2007: Saskatchewan Best Fiction Award for Children of the Day
• 2010: Shortlisted for the Governor General's Award for English fiction for Waiting for Joe
• Nominated for a Juno Award for her radio play, The Town that Floated Away
• Received the Joseph S. Stauffer Prize from The Canadian Council in 1992 for her achievements in the arts.
• Received a National Magazine Award nomination for her short fiction.
• Chosen as one of the ten most promising writers under 45 by The Canadian Book Information Center (45 Below Award).
• Awarded writing grants from The Manitoba Arts Council, The Canadian Council, and the Saskatchewan Arts Board.