Earle Birney was a Canadian writer and editor recognized for his work across poetry, fiction, and criticism. A chronicler and interpreter of life in Canada, his writing often reflected on themes of war, love, and nature. Over the course of his career, Birney taught at a number of universities, most notably at the University of British Columbia where he founded Canada’s first department of creative writing. Birney was the recipient of two Governor General’s Awards for poetry.