The Writers' Union of Canada

2004

online

Honour Roll

In Memoriam

Graham Westbrook Rowley
1912-2004

Born in Manchester, England, Graham Rowley received his B.A. from Cambridge in 1934 and his M.A. in 1936. From 1936 to 1939, Rowley engaged in an archaeological excavation in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. During this time, he discovered new islands in Fox Basin, carried out the original exploration of the Baffin Island coast, crossed Baffin Island by a new route, and excavated the first major site in Dorset culture. Because of his work with the Inuit and Dorset peoples, Rowley had a large island and river in the Arctic named after him.

In his book Cold Comfort: My Love Affair with the Arctic, Rowley recounts his experiences in the deep North during the excavations of the Dorset culture.

Rowley served in the Canadian Army during the Second World War and was stationed in the U.K., France, Belgium, Holland, and the Arctic. During the war, he participated in the planning of the invasion of Europe as a member of COSSAC and SHAEF. In 1946, he retired from the army with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

Love for Native culture took him to the Defence Research Board where he was responsible for Arctic research and the organization of the Joint Intelligence Bureau, as its first Director. From 1969 to 1974, Rowley was Scientific Advisor for the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

Many awards were conferred upon Rowley, including the Order of Canada (1980), the Coronation medals, 125 military service medals, the Jubilee medal, the Arctic and Antarctic Service Award, and the Northern Science Award.

Rowley Registry Data

Contributed by Barbara Grenier