Sasquatch - Jane Jordan Biography

Jane Jordan
Biography

Sometimes referred to as the godmother of poetry in Ottawa, Jane Jordan was instrumental in developing the poetry scene here and in Toronto.

Born Sara Jane Belfry Appleton in Toronto on 6 August 1926, she was a sixth generation Canadian of English, French, American, Canadian, Scottish and Irish heritage. Her father, Franklin Fletcher Appleton of Wm. Collins & Sons, published the works of many famous Canadian authors, including Two Solitudes by Hugh MacLennan.

Jane grew up in the Lawrence Park area of Toronto with her three siblings: Barbara, Tim and Kay. In 1946, she graduated from Havergal College then, in 1948, married G. Russell White, with whom she had four children: John, Holly and twins, Robert and Barbara. Although she wrote her first poem at age 7, it wasn’t until age 40 that she began writing seriously, producing work until 1972 under her married name Jane White. She remained in Toronto until 1971, then moved with her family to Ottawa.

It was in Toronto that Jane established a series of programs named Folk & Poetry at a number of locations in the city and in North York, to promote poets and artists from across Canada. Jane also co-established The House on Gerrard Street with Ted Plantos. After moving to Ottawa, she changed her name to Jane Jordan and, in response to a lack of literary activities and events in the city, established the Folk & Poetry – The Underground Up programs. These programs were held at libraries, community centres and various other venues including, notably, Le Hibou, Wallack’s Gallery and Pestalozzi College. When Jane retired from active involvement with the program in 1982, she turned it over to Juan O’Neill, who renamed the series Sasquatch based on Jane’s assertion that “Often, the artist is like a hairy beast hiding in the forest…”

Through her poetry programs, Jane brought many renowned Canadian poets to audiences in Toronto and Ottawa — Milton Acorn, Dorothy Livesay, Cyril Dabydeen, Bill Hawkins, Al Purdy, Patrick White, Alden Nowlan and Gary Geddes, to name a few.

In 1974 and 1976, Jane published two chapbooks. Her poems have appeared in numerous periodicals and anthologies, and have been broadcast on CKCU-FM, CHEZ-FM, Q101-FM and the CBC. Her book, The Chemistry of Instruments, was published by The Commoners and, in 2004, Penumbra Press published her book A Signature of Leaves.

In 1988, the Tree Reading Series established the Jane Jordan poetry contest, an honour that has been granted to only one other living Canadian poet — Irving Layton — and held competitions on an annual basis until a few years ago.

Although “retired”, Jane would appear occasionally at Ottawa’s poetry readings, sometimes as a guest reader or open-set participant and sometimes just to listen to others. And tirelessly, she continued to encourage local emerging writers.

The Poetry of Jane Jordan
(to follow)