Paul Bowdring

Paul Bowdring, writer, social activist and environmentalist passed away on Friday, June 7, at home. His family was assisted in providing palliative care by Eastern Health’s Home and Community Care Program. Paul is predeceased by his mother, Marie Bowdring.

Paul grew up on Bell Island but made St. John’s his home for much of his life. One critic says Paul made the city a character in his Winterset Award-winning novel, The Stranger’s Gallery. Fellow author and literary critic, Larry Mathews, said Bowdring was a “writer in complete command of his craft.” The onset of illness prevented Paul from finishing his fifth novel.

For twenty years Paul taught English at the College of the North Atlantic before deciding to write full-time. He was a long-time editor of Fiddlehead Magazine, and member of the Writers’ Union of Canada. He was especially proud of his role in creating the Writers’ Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Paul leaves behind his wife, Glenda Ellsworth; daughter Julia Bowdring; brother Adrian Doyle; sisters-in-law Greta and Beth Ellsworth; who assisted in his care; and close friends Don, Doreen, and Frank. He will also be missed by the many friends and colleagues with whom he worked as editor, mentor, and volunteer. When not writing, Paul enjoyed playing tennis, watching professional soccer, and walking in his beloved Newfoundland landscape that he described so beautifully in words.

Friends are invited to attend a celebration of Paul’s life at Carnell’s Funeral Home, 329 Freshwater Road, Friday, June 21, at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Paul’s name to the NL public libraries board. It can be done in person at your local library, or through this website: https://www.nlpl.ca/use-the-library/donate-to-your-library-online.html.