Persona

Heath, Terrence, 1936-

Saskatchewan writer, poet, cultural consultant, curator, museum and art gallery director, and historian, Terrence George Heath was born in Regina, August 25, 1936. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Art (Honours) in 1961; the University of Oregon with a Master of Arts in 1962; and Oxford University with a Doctor of Philosophy in 1966. He also studied Art History at the University of Munich in 1959-60. Terrence Heath taught as an Associate Professor of History at the University of Saskatchewan from 1966-1972, but left that institution to pursue a career as a writer and consultant. He was Executive Director of the Western Development Museums of Saskatchewan (1977-1980), and Director of the Winnipeg Art Gallery (1983-1985). Between these appointments and subsequently, Heath has worked as a freelance writer, curator, and cultural consultant. As a writer, Heath's articles and essays have appeared extensively in "Border Crossings", "C Magazine", "ArtsCanada" and other magazines from 1968 to the present. His poetry has been published in "Canadian Forum", "Waves", "Fiddlehead", "Descant", "Writing", "ArtsManitoba", "Prairie Fire", and "Grain". He is the author or co-author of seven books of poetry, short stories, fiction, and biography including: 1) The Truth and Other Stories (short stories, 1972); 2) Interstices of Night (poetry, 1979); 3) Wild Man's Butte (poems with Anne Szumigalski, 1979); 4) The Last Hiding Place (novel, 1982); 5) Uprooted: The Art and Life of Ernest Lindner (1983); 6) Journey/Journee (with Anne Szumigalski, 1988); 7) Memories of a Governor-General's Daughter (with Joan Michner-Rohr, 1991). Several of his radioscripts and filmscripts were produced and/or purchased by CBC and National Film Board. He has written catalogues for and/or curated over 20 art exhibitions for galleries in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Scotland and France, and has produced over 45 consulting reports for associations, agencies, individuals and government departments throughout Canada and in Nairobi, Kenya. Terrence Heath's professional activities and memberships include: Chair, Council of the Ontario College of Art (1993-); PEN International Conference (member, 1989); Harbourfront Public Programming Advisory Committee (member, 1989); Writers' Union of Canada, Copyright Committee (member, 1988); the Niagara Institute Taskforce on Buildings and Grounds (member, 1988-90); Public Lending Rights Commission (member 1987-88); Olympic Sculpture Commission (Judge, 1988) and others. He has received a number of grants, scholarships, and awards, including a Silver Medal in the National Awards for Poetry in 1986, and the Saskatchewan Award of Merit in 1984. From his first marriage Heath has three sons; Paul, Joseph and Simon. He married Louise Harris on August 16, 1986, and they reside in Toronto and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.