<b>Brief Bio and Travels of E. Russell Smith</b>

Brief Bio and Travels of E. Russell Smith

(updated Dec. 2011)

Born in Toronto, E. Russell Smith was educated at the University of Toronto Schools and McGill University (M.Sc.). He married Barbara Emms of Montreal in 1955. After a period of casting about for a suitable career, he was forced by impending fatherhood in 1958 to settle on teaching high school in Wingham, Ont. This turned out to be a serendipitous move, as teaching suited him, and he suited teaching.

After two years and the birth of two daughters, Terry and Allison, the family moved to Ottawa where they have been more or less continuously ever since. A son, Greg, arrived in 1965. When Russ left teaching in 1988, he had been the Head of Science at Gloucester High School for 25 years.

A turning point in his life had occurred, however, in 1970-71, when the family spent a sabbatical year at Cambridge University. Ostensibly studying history of art, Russ was to discover during this year a bent toward creative writing. Back in Ottawa, he proceeded toward an M.A. in English (1983) at the University of Ottawa.

Russ finally left teaching in order to write full time. Previously he had published a considerable body of technical material, mostly on contract, but thenceforth his efforts were to be directed chiefly toward fiction and poetry.

They liked to travel in the spring and fall, and enjoy Ottawa's winter and summer delights. They explored Europe and the Middle East as far as Egypt, Turkey and Israel. In the other direction they penetrated China to its western extremities. In Canada they have been from Point Pelee to Cambridge Bay NWT, and from Nain Labrador to Tofino BC, traveling by car, train, bus, plane and canoe, as appropriate.

Widowed since 2002, Russ still makes frequent trips, recently in the company of Areta Crowell.
See below: In each case click on the picture for larger views. Then click on "View All" and "Slideshow". Controls are docked at the bottom of the screen.

Kauai, Hawaii 2011
Kauai, 2011