George G. Blackburn
| George Blackburn, CM, MC | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born | George Gideon Blackburn February 3, 1917 Wales, Ontario |
| Died | November 15, 2006 (aged 89) Ottawa |
| Occupation | World War II war veteran, playwright, writer |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Genre | Non-fiction, historical non-fiction, creative non-fiction essay, literary criticism |
| Notable works | The Guns of Normandy; The Guns of Victory; Where the Hell are the Guns? |
| Spouse | Grace Fortington (m. 1942–2002) |
| Children | Daughter Andrea of Tallahassee, sons Mark of Winnipeg and Ron of Ottawa: GRANDCHILDREN Kim Toronto, David Lanark, Nova Scotia, Aaron Winnipeg, Ben Winnipeg ; Maxine Ottawa, Great-Grandchildren: Victoria Toronto, Matthew Toronto, Thomas Winnipeg, Emily Winnipeg, Lochlan Lanark, Nova Scotia, Madelaine Lanark, Nova Scotia, Luke Winnipeg |
George Gideon Blackburn, CM, MC (February 3, 1917 – November 15, 2006) was a decorated Canadian veteran of World War II (Military Cross; French Legion of Honour), a playwright and award winning author. Born in Wales, Ontario, Blackburn worked as a newspaper reporter for the Ottawa Journal in Pembroke, Ontario.
This is a copy of the obituary for George G. Blackburn that was sent to the newspapers announcing his passing: OBITUARY FOR GEORGE G. BLACKBURN
"Peacefully, in his sleep, at 11:11 a.m. November 15, 2006 , in his 90th year at Ottawa ’s General Hospital where he’d been diagnosed with cancer. Predeceased by his wife of 60 years Grace Fortington , four years ago. Survived by three children, daughter Andrea of Tallahassee , Florida , his sons Mark of Winnipeg and Ron of Ottawa . George G. Blackburn is also survived by grandchildren Kim, David, Aaron, Ben, and Maxine, and by great-grandchildren Victoria, Matthew, Thomas, Emily, Lochlan, Madeleine and Luke.
A man of many talents, he suddenly found himself, late in life, with hundreds of new friends from around the world after authoring a World War II book trilogy, the first of which “Guns of Normandy,” was winner ten years ago of the Ottawa Citizen Book of the Year Award (1996). The books provided a first hand account of Canadian soldiers in action but did not include details of how the author, as a young artillery officer, was awarded the Military Cross for helping save a key bridgehead at the Twente Canal in the Netherlands, on April 3 and 4, 1945. Blackburn's other World War II medals included 1939–1945 Star; France & Germany Star; Defence Medal; War Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal.
Late-in-life he was awarded the Order of Canada and the French Legion of Honour.
Blackburn's literary awards include the Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction; the Ottawa Citizen Book of the Year Award and a Trillium Award jury citation that Guns of Normandy "May well contain the greatest Canadian memories of World War II."
Earlier awards included honours for plays and films of note.
After a pre-war stint as reporter for the Ottawa Journal in Pembroke, Captain George Blackburn returned from Europe to serve as Director of Information and Director of Fair Employment Practices, for the Federal Department of Labour. Starting in the 1950s he became producer of the longest-running radio show "Canada at Work", as well as an award-winning documentary film script writer, which films included topics on the Older Worker; Anti-Discrimination; a film starring Wayne & Schuster called "You Can Go a Long Way", encouraging teenagers to stay in high school rather than drop out and the country’s most successful government campaign, "Why Wait for Spring? Do It Now!" Winter Works Campaign, which revolutionized winter construction and employment during the winter months.
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