Evelyn M. Richardson
Encyclopedia
Evelyn M. Richardson, born Evelyn May Fox (1902–76) was a Canadian writer who won the Governor General's Award
in non-fiction for her 1945 memoir, We Keep a Light. The annual Evelyn Richardson Memorial Literary Award
is given in her honour to a Nova Scotia writer of non-fiction.
and raised on Cape Sable Island, the daughter of Hattie (Larkin) and Arthur Douglas Fox. Her father was a teacher. She attended high school at Halifax Academy in Halifax, Nova Scotia
and later studied at Dalhousie University
in that city, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. She taught at several schools before marrying Morrill Richardson in 1926. For a time they lived in Massachusetts. In 1929 they returned to Nova Scotia where Morrill Richardson had purchased the 600 acres (242.8 ha) Bon Portage Island near Shag Harbour
, where he took over duties as the lightkeeper. There, they spent the next thirty-five years.
While raising three children and helping to run the lighthouse, she embarked on a writing career, penning several books and numerous articles, many which chronicled her experiences on the island. She wrote in winter when there were few interruptions from visitors. They left the island in 1964 when the light was mechanized. In her retirement, she lived near Barrington, Nova Scotia
.
The Evelyn Richardson Memorial School in Shag Harbour was named in her memory. Bon Portage Island is now owned by Acadia University and is used by students for biological research.
Governor General's Award
The Governor General's Awards are a collection of awards presented by the Governor General of Canada, marking distinction in a number of academic, artistic and social fields. The first was conceived in 1937 by Lord Tweedsmuir, a prolific author of fiction and non-fiction who created the Governor...
in non-fiction for her 1945 memoir, We Keep a Light. The annual Evelyn Richardson Memorial Literary Award
Richardson Award
The Richardson Award, also known as the Evelyn Richardson Memorial Literary Award, is a Canadian literary award, presented annually by the Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia, to the best work of adult non-fiction published in the previous year by a writer from Nova Scotia. They were named to honour...
is given in her honour to a Nova Scotia writer of non-fiction.
Life
She was born on Emerald IsleStoddart Island
Stoddart Island, Nova Scotia is a privately-owned, tract of land located off the Southern coast of that Atlantic maritimes province, proximate to the small Canadian town Shag Harbour in Shelburne County, Nova Scotia.The island gained some measure of fame as the site of the lighthouse wherein...
and raised on Cape Sable Island, the daughter of Hattie (Larkin) and Arthur Douglas Fox. Her father was a teacher. She attended high school at Halifax Academy in Halifax, Nova Scotia
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
and later studied at Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
in that city, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. She taught at several schools before marrying Morrill Richardson in 1926. For a time they lived in Massachusetts. In 1929 they returned to Nova Scotia where Morrill Richardson had purchased the 600 acres (242.8 ha) Bon Portage Island near Shag Harbour
Shag Harbour, Nova Scotia
Shag Harbour is a small fishing village found along the South Shore of Nova Scotia. It is one of several small villages found in the Municipality of Barrington, Shelburne County. It has a population of roughly 400-450...
, where he took over duties as the lightkeeper. There, they spent the next thirty-five years.
While raising three children and helping to run the lighthouse, she embarked on a writing career, penning several books and numerous articles, many which chronicled her experiences on the island. She wrote in winter when there were few interruptions from visitors. They left the island in 1964 when the light was mechanized. In her retirement, she lived near Barrington, Nova Scotia
Barrington, Nova Scotia
Barrington is a municipal district in western Shelburne County, Nova Scotia.Barrington forms the southernmost part of the province and contains Cape Sable, the eastern boundary between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine.- Demographics :...
.
The Evelyn Richardson Memorial School in Shag Harbour was named in her memory. Bon Portage Island is now owned by Acadia University and is used by students for biological research.
Non-fiction
- We Keep a Light, Toronto: Ryerson, 1945
- We bought an island Philadelphia: Macrae Smith, 1954
- My Other Islands, Toronto: Ryerson, 1960
- Living island, Toronto: Ryerson, 1965
- A Voyage to Australia, 1976
- B ... was for Butter and Enemy Craft, Halifax: Petheric, 1976 (posthumous)
Fiction
- Desired Haven, Toronto: Ryerson, 1953
- No Small Tempest, Toronto: Ryerson, 1957.
Collections
- Where my roots go deep: The collected writings of Evelyn M. Richardson, Halifax: Nimbus, 1996.
Further reading
- Evelyn Richardson Fonds, Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management, Halifax, Nova Scotia