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W. D. Valgardson
W. D. Valgardson
Born	7 May 1939 (age 85); Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Occupation(s)	Novelist, short story writer, poet
Notable work	Bloodflowers: Ten Stories (1973)

William Dempsey Valgardson (born 7 May 1939) is an Icelandic-Canadian fiction writer and poet.^[1] He was a long-time professor of writing at the University of Victoria in British Columbia.^[1]

His writing often focuses on cultural differences and involve irony and symbolism. His short stories involve normal people in normal situations, who, under certain circumstances, lead unusual and surprising lives.^{[citation needed]}

Valgardson has won numerous awards and accolades including the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize for The Girl With the Botticelli Face (1992) and the Books in Canada First Novel Award for Gentle Sinners (1980).^[2] His short story "Bloodflowers" was included in Best American Short Stories 1971, while "Trees" is listed in the 1977 issue of Best Canadian Stories.

Biography

Valgardson was born 7 May 1939 in Winnipeg, Manitoba to parents Dempsey Alfred Herbert, a fisherman of Icelandic descent, and Rachel Iris Valgardson.^[3] He was raised in Gimli, Manitoba, a community with a large Icelandic population.^[1]^[3] This upbringing greatly impacted his personal life perspective, as well as his future writing.^[3]

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba in 1960, followed by a Bachelor of Education in 1966.^[3] Three years later, he received a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Iowa after attending the Iowa Writers' Workshop.^[3]

Between his degree programs, Valgardson taught English in various schools across rural Manitoba;^[3] after receiving his master's degree, he taught English at Cottey College.^[3] During this time, he began writing and publishing, with his first short story collection, Bloodflowers: Ten Stories, coming out in 1973.

Valgardson began teaching writing at the University of Victoria in 1974.^[3]

Publications

Bloodflowers: Ten Stories short stories - Oberon Press, 1973
The Job Anthology, Toronto, CBC radio
God is Not a Fish Inspector short stories - Oberon Press, 1975
In The Gutting Shed poetry - Turnstone Press, 1976
"Trees" - In 77: Best Canadian Stories, ed. by Joan Harcourt & John Metcalf, 23-36. Kingston, ON: Oberon Press, 1977.
Beyond Normal Requirements Anthology, Toronto, CBC radio, 1977
Í Manitoba Utvarp Reykjavik, Rikis Utvarpid, Reykjavik, Iceland June 11, 1977
Red Dust short stories - Oberon Press, 1978
God is Not a Fish Inspector film Allan Kroeker, Dept.of Education, Manitoba, 1980.
Gentle Sinners novel - Oberon Press,1980
The Burning CBC Radio, Vancouver, 1981
Bloodflowers Stereo Sound Stage, CBC radio, Toronto, Oct. 30, 1982
The Pedlar based on "A Place of One's Own", film Directed by: Allan Kroeker Produced by: Michael Scott 1982, 54 min 32 s
Gentle Sinners CBC film 105 min, Director: Eric Till, 1983
Bloodflowers Sundary Matinee, Toronto, CBC radio, March 6, 1983
Granite Point Saturday Stereo Theatre, Toronto, CBC radio, Oct. 29 1983
The Cave Vanishing Point, Toronto CBC Radio, Dec. 28, 1985
An Unacceptable Standard of Cockpit Practice Disasters, CBC radio, Vancouver, 1985
Sælir eru einfaldirIcelandic National Radio, Reykjavik, Iceland, May 3–31, 1985
The Carpenter of Dreams : poems—Victoria, B.C. : Skaldhus Press, c1986
Bloðrot Icelandic National Radio, Reykjavik, Iceland, July 27, 1986
Carpenter of Dreams Sextet, Sunday Matinee, CBC Radio, Feb. 15, 1987
Seiche State of the Arts, CBC Radio, Jan. 10, 1987
Ukrainian Journey Morningside, CBC Radio, Jan. 22–26, 5 parts, 1987
Blóðrót, islensk þýðing Guðrúnar Guðmundsdóttir, ásamt inngangi eftir Harald Bessason—Kópavogi:Sigmar Þormar, 1989.
What Can't Be Changed Shouldn't Be Mourned short stories, Douglas&McIntyre, 1990
The Man From Snaefellsness Stereo Theatre, CBC Radio, (2 hour drama), Oct. 6, 13, 1991
Wrinkles Arts Encounters, CBC Radio, Winnipeg, 1991
The Girl With the Botticelli Face novel, Douglas&McIntyre, 1992
The Girl With The Botticelli Face Between The Covers, CBC, Toronto, Oct. 4–22, 1993
Thor children's picture book, illustrated by Ange Zhang - Groundwood, 1994
The Hockey Fan - 1st ed. -- Victoria [B.C.] : Published for the Hawthorne Society by Reference West, c1994
The Girl With The Botticelli Face On The Arts, CBC Radio, April 18, 25, 1994
The Man Who Was Always Running Out of Toilet Paper Icelandic National Radio, Reykjavik, Iceland, trans Solveig Jonsdóttir, Sept., 1994
The Girl with the Botticelli Face The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Nov. 10, 17 Nov. 11, 18, 1994
Ingibjorg's Christmas Gift performed by the Inuvik Choral and Theatrical Society, CBC North Radio, Dec. 18, 19, 20, 1995
Winter Rescue illustrated by Ange Zhang. 1st U.S. ed. 1995. -- New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, 1995, c1994.
Sarah and the People of Sand River children's picture book, illustrations by Ian Wallace - Groundwood, 1996
Thor teikningar eftir Ange Zhang; Guðrun B. Guðsteinsdóttir, Íslenkaði—Seltjarnarnes [Iceland]: Ormstunga, 1996
Garbage Creek and Other Stories young people's short stories - Groundwood, 1997
The Divorced Kids Club short stories for junior high - Groundwood, 1998
A Matter of Balance CBC Radio, Toronto, 1999
Frances novel for junior high - Groundwood, 2002
What The Bear Said: Skald tales from New Iceland folk tales from Lake Winnipeg - Turnstone Press, 2011