Sally’s View of the River

Biography for MICHAEL BARNES, C.M.
An author of books for adults and children
Abstract: Michael Barnes, a career educator for 35 years both in England and Canada, started writing professionally in 1968 and has authored close to 50 books held in Canadian libraries, many U.S. universities and some of the world’s English speaking national libraries. His field has been northern Canada, communities, mining and other resources, police work and characters. His bibliography is available on request. He is an accomplished speaker and broadcaster.
Main References: Members’ Pages, The Writers’ Union of Canada, /Wikipedia,/ Republic of Mining ( A blog by Stan Sudol).
Make Contact: Box 881, Haliburton, Ontario Canada K0M 1S0 telephone 705 457 9361
michaelbarnes53@hotmail.com
Background: Born 1934 London, UK, attended grammar school and college (now Brunel Univ.) migrated to Canada 1956, citizen, 1961, teacher and principal 35 years; BA Western ’64, M.Ed Toronto ’71; married Joan Wyatt ’59, three children grown and gone.
Some interests: has been library & trustee 27 years, OLS North Vice Chair, Police Services Board Chair, Trillium Bd. Foundation member, Anglican lay reader and vestry member, is still member Masonic Lodge Kirkland Lake & Haliburton, St. Peters Church Maple Lake.
Writer; multi published author of books, has been Globe & Mail correspondent, CBC freelance radio broadcaster, speech writer, ghost writer, annual report author, script researcher & television writer, Consultant/researcher for ON Heritage, Sony Tristar, CBC, TVO, History Channel (special on Killer Fire),six books digitalized for Univ. Calgary, consultant to Heat-Line, mining books accepted by ROM earth sciences gallery library. Quotes: John Robert Columbo-‘Most prolific writer in and about Northern Ontario’ 1994; Pierre Berton on being told that some consider Michael Barnes to be the poor man’s Pierre Berton-“That’s fine as long as he stays that way’. Mining books accepted by Royal ON Museum for mineral gallery library.
Speaker: Topics have included Order of Canada, northern history and related, gold mining, communities and their improvement, the OPP and subjects related to own books. Venues in Canada and USA have included Canadian Club, ON Arts Council reader, schools, Rotary, Probus, Lions, Chambers of Commerce, historical societies. Has been part time lecturer at ON OPP academy.
Honours: Wolf Pack Overture dedicated to M. Barnes by composer A. Hillo, 2005, Opted out of Citizenship Court Judge process due to writing commitments 2004, Hon. Member OPP Veterans 2004, Queens Golden Jubilee Medal 2002, Member Canadian Honour Roll 1998, Member Kirkland Lake Hall of Fame 1998, Finalist for book Ontario, Silver Birch Award of OLA 1996, Appointed Presiding Officer Canadian Citizenship Ceremonies, 1996, Member Order of Canada 1995, Kirkland Lake book winner Econ Dev Council Canada Gold Leaf award for best promotion of a community 1994, Ontario Volunteer Award 1994, Canada 125 Medal 1992, Hon. Inspector OPP 1991.
References: Northern Life, Sudbury,Sept 1 2006 ‘The Godfather of Northern Ontario History’, Contemporary Who’s Who of Professionals, Raleigh NC 2005, Who’s Who Canada 1996, Ontario 1995,profiled in Country Roads by T. Culbert, GSPH, 1995, included in Writers’ Map of Ontario, J.R.Columbo, 1994, Intl. Authors & Writers Who’s Who, Cambridge UK,1999, Intl. Dict. of Biography, Cambridge, UK, 1993, Something About the Author, Detroit, Gale, 1989.