Why a Booktrail?
1940s, 1950s: The story of Canadian lumberjacks as seen through the eyes of the artist William Kurelek
Lumberjack
What you need to know before your trail
When William Kurelek was young, he went into the bush to work as a lumberjack twice. Realizing that the traditional life of a lumberjack was disappearing, he decided to record in pictures and text a job that helped to make Canada the country it is. Kurelek takes readers through a day in the bush, from the first wake-up to breakfast, to the different phases of cutting wood, to how the men spent their free time. Hardship and pleasures were shared in the creation of these unforgettable paintings.
Travel Guide
William Kurelek was born in Whitford, Alberta, in 1927 and died in Toronto in 1977. He grew up in the town of Stonewall Manitoba and painted what he saw whilst growing up and exploring the landscape around him .
He worked as a lumberjack and was fascinated with the everyday activities as well as the work and strength involved. In these paintings, he captures snapshots of what life was like – how Canada was born. The life of a lumberjack, the terms they used and the nature of their work not to mention the way they lived in those camps. A true insight into this ancient industry – through the eyes of a man who was part of it.
Many of his paintings and work is displayed at the Niagara Falls Art Gallery, while some are housed in other museums all across Canada. So you can literally do a Kurelek trail of Canada such is the legacy he left.
Streetview Maps
A) MB - Stonewall
B) AB - Whitford
Booktrail Boarding Pass Information: Lumberjack
Author/Guide: William Kurelek Destination: Manitoba, Canada Departure Time: 1930s, 1940s
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