W. O. Mitchell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
W. O. Mitchell
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| Born | William Ormond Mitchell March 13, 1914 Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Died | February 25, 1998 (aged 83) Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Notable works | Who Has Seen the Wind, Jake and the Kid |
| Spouse | Merna Hirth |
William Ormond Mitchell (born March 13, 1914 – died February 25, 1998) was a famous Canadian writer and radio personality. Many people loved his novel Who Has Seen the Wind, published in 1947. This book tells the story of life on the Canadian Prairies through the eyes of a young boy. It sold almost a million copies in Canada! Mitchell was also well-known for his radio show, Jake and the Kid, which aired on CBC Radio from 1950 to 1956. This show also shared stories about life on the Prairies.
Contents
W. O. Mitchell's Early Life and Career
W. O. Mitchell was born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. He studied interesting subjects like psychology and philosophy at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. Later, he earned his teaching certificate and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alberta in 1943.
Mitchell wrote many novels, short stories, and plays. His most famous work is Who Has Seen The Wind, which came out in 1947. It sold nearly a million copies in North America. He also wrote the radio series Jake and the Kid, which later became a collection of short stories in 1961. This collection even won the Stephen Leacock Award for humour! Both of these works show what life was like on the Canadian Prairies where he grew up. People often called him the "Mark Twain of Canada" because he told such lively stories about young boys' adventures.
In 1942, while Mitchell was teaching high school, three of his short stories were published. In 1947, his first and most famous novel, Who Has Seen the Wind, was released. It was very popular and received great reviews. In 1948, Mitchell moved to Toronto, Ontario, to work as the fiction editor for Maclean's magazine. While living in Toronto, he created Jake and the Kid, a weekly radio series for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. This show had 320 episodes and ran from 1950 to 1956.
Besides writing, Mitchell also taught creative writing at several Canadian universities. He was also the director of the writing division at the Banff Centre. In 1974, he returned to Winnipeg. There, he was a Writer in Residence at the Winnipeg School Division No.1. He also received an honorary doctorate from Brandon University. Mitchell spent his later years in Calgary, Alberta, where he passed away in 1998.
Awards and Special Honours
W. O. Mitchell received many important awards and honours during his life.
- In 1973, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest honours a Canadian can receive.
- He also received honorary doctorates from five different Canadian universities.
- On November 5, 1992, he was sworn in as a Member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada. This is a group of important people who advise the Queen (or King) on Canadian matters.
- In 2000, the government of Canada honoured Mitchell by putting his image on a postage stamp.
Two schools have been named after him:
- W.O. Mitchell School in Calgary.
- W. O. Mitchell Elementary School in Kanata, Ontario.
A Famous Quote
Canadian actor Donald Sutherland read a special part from Who Has Seen the Wind at the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
I would walk to the end of the street and over the prairie with the clickety grasshoppers bunging in arcs ahead of me, and I could hear the hum and twang of wind in the great prairie harp of telephone wires. Standing there with the total thrust of prairie sun on my vulnerable head, I guess I learned—at a very young age—that I was mortal.
Mitchell's Works
Novels He Wrote
- (1947) Who Has Seen the Wind
- (1962) The Kite
- (1973) The Vanishing Point
- (1981) How I Spent My Summer Holidays
- (1984) Since Daisy Creek
- (1988) Ladybug, Ladybug
- (1989) According to Jake and the Kid
- (1990) Roses are Difficult Here
- (1992) For Art's Sake
Radio Shows
- (1950–1956) Jake and the Kid - This show ran weekly on CBC Radio.
- (1951, 1965 published, 1974 play, 1993 book) The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon
Plays for the Stage
- (1978) Back to Beulah - This play won the Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award in 1976.
- (1982) For Those in Peril on the Sea
Audio Books
- (1997) An Evening with W.O. Mitchell - This audio book features Mitchell reading from his own work.
TV Appearances
- (1977) The Magic Lie as host
- (1980) Canada Vignettes: Melvin Arbuckle, Famous Canadian as writer and narrator
- (1981) Titans as Stephen Leacock
- (1990) Road to Avonlea (1 episode - The Quarantine at Alexander Abraham's) as Alexander Abraham
