Bill Mason

Bill Mason was an award winning author, commercial artist, painter, filmmaker, and environmentalist, noted primarily for his popular canoeing books, films, and artwork. He was born in 1929 in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, and graduated from the University of Manitoba School of Art in 1951. He developed and refined canoeing strokes and river-running techniques, especially for complex whitewater situations. He canoed all of his adult life, ranging widely over Canada and the United States. He produced several classic books, films, and artwork on the subject of canoeing and environmentalism.

Related Topics:
Author - Commercial artist - Painter - Filmmaker - Environmentalist - Canoeing - 1929 - Winnipeg - Manitoba - Canada - 1951 - Strokes - River-running - Whitewater - Environmentalism

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His favorite boat was a red Chestnut Prospector, a 16 foot canvas covered wood canoe that he claimed was the most versatile design ever manufactured, in spite of the popularity of more durable and modern construction techniques and materials. After his death, this canoe was donated to the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, Ontario, where it is on display.

Related Topics:
Canvas - Canadian Canoe Museum - Peterborough, Ontario

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Bill won several honors, including being featured on a Canadian postage stamp in 1998. After his death, a warden at Nahanni National Park Reserve informally started calling the dramatic rock spire, in the midst of Virginia Falls, Mason's Rock. This usage appears to have become widespread, although it has not yet been made official.

Related Topics:
Stamp - 1998 - Nahanni National Park Reserve - Spire - Virginia Falls

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Bill died in 1988. His wife, Joyce, and children, Paul and Becky, frequently traveled with him and contributed to his later books and films, and have continued his business and environmentalism.

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