Before Green Gables

Budge Wilson was a Canadian writer known for her children's books but wrote for all ages. She was born on May 2, 1927 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. She was a graduate of Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Arts degree (1949). She did postgraduate studies at the University of Toronto from 1949-1951. In 1953, she received a Diploma of Education, and a certificate in physical education.

Before becoming a writer, most of her work was in teaching. In 1978, she began to write full time. She published her first book in 1984 at the age of 56 entitled, The Best/Worst Christmas Present. She wrote over 30 books which included The Leaving (1990), Lorinda's Diary and Thirteen Never Changes (1989), Izzie (2002) and Friendships (2006). She wrote a prequel to the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery entitled, Before Green Gables (2008). It was a featured book at the 2008 Biennial Conference, 100 Year of Anne.

Wilson won numerous awards and honors which include 23 Canadian Children's Book Centre "Our Choice" selections, a Marianna Dempster Award, 2 Ann Connor Brimer Awards, a Canadian Authors Association Lilla Stirling Award, a National IODE Violet Downey Award, an Atlantic Independent Booksellers Award and an IBBY Honor Award. In 2004, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. In 2011, she received the Order of Nova Scotia.

She received honorary degrees from Dalhousie University in 2010 and Mount Saint Vincent University in 2012.

Budge Wilson, pioneer for Canadian children's writers, died on March 19, 2021 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. She was 93.

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