Biography

Marian Frances White grew up in a family of twelve. She was born on November 18, 1954 in Carbonear, Newfoundland. Her parents are Florence and Terrence White. Marian attended Memorial University of Newfoundland where she studied English, French and Spanish and later went to Carleton University, Ottawa to study Journalism. Marian traveled extensively in France before returning to Newfoundland and to Memorial University where she studied poetry and film.On the subject of film, in the 1990's Marian studied film in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia and at the Algonquin College Filmmakers Summer School in Ottawa. She has also trained at NIFCO - Newfoundland Independent Filmmakers Co-op where she took courses in writing and directing for film.She is currently working on a sensual feast of a novel called Ah Paris! set in the 1980's and based in Newfoundland and Paris, France. In “In Her Glory”,  a book  of poetry that will include a selection of her photographs,  White celebrates the life of her mother, Florence White, mother of twelve children. In all her work, no matter the genre, Marian explores her life-long admiration for the Island of Newfoundland where she was born and lives.Below is a selection of career highlights:

 

 

2019-2022

Intensive work on In Her Glory, White's third book of poetry, celebrating the life of her mother, Florence White.

Island Vegan cookbook, released by Breakwater Books in 2019. Winner of the 2020 Gourmand World Cookbook Award, Local Region - Canada.

 

2019 

  • Circus By Komatik; a one hour documentary on the circus outreach in Labrador done by Wonderbolt Circus and Beni Malone. View anytime on CBC GEM.

  • Island Vegan Cookbook to be released by Breakwater Books, June 2019

2018

Live animated film "Sights Before Christmas" released and aired on NTV in December 2018.
https://nifcocloud.dyndns.org/index.php/s/SS8EJ3tzcttDn3X


2017 - 2019

Produced by the St. John's Status of Women Council and published by Breakwater Books
 - A Woman's Almanac (introduction) released in 2017


2013
- Reflexology Certification


2009

  • Marian is working on a sensual feast of a novel called Ah Paris! that takes place in Newfoundland and Paris, France.
  • Since her mother's passing in 2007 she has been collecting poetry and photos that celebrate her mother's life.  This limited edition book will be called "Good Grief".


2007

  • White released the film Tricksters, a documentary that takes viewers for a unique circus adventure to northern native communities in Labrador. There we experience the hardship and beauty of remote Labrador life, juxtaposed against the backdrop of international circus artists as they bring the first ever circus festival to Labrador.


2005

  • Co-produced docu-drama Stealing Mary: Last of the Red-Painted Tribe
  • Released children’s book, Sights Before Christmas, co-authored with Beni Malone
  • Invited Guest for Words Aloud Poetry Festival, Durham, Ontario


2004

  • League of Canadian Poets, readings in St. John’s, Toronto and Montreal
  • Participated in Random Acts of Poetry with 27 Canadian poets


2003

  • Mind Your Eyes poetry book published by Killick Press


2003

  • Producer/Scriptwriter, LaughterShock kids TV series (in development0


2000-2002

  • Director/Scriptwriter for Fool Proof circus documentary


1999

  • Producer/Scriptwriter for historical docudrama The Untold Story


1998

  • Published The Untold Story Chapbook #1, a booklet that outlines the research to unearth the story of Newfoundland Suffragists


1997 - 1998

  • Co-Writer of Social History Series #2. Produced by the Writers Alliance of NF


1996

  • Skinny Dipping, White’s first book of poetry. Published by gynergy books, P.E.I.


1995

  • WTN (now called WE) Writing On The Wall, featured poetry on TV program


1995

  • The Eldamar Cookbook, a fine vegan cuisine Published by Creative Publishers, NF. Celebrating recipes from twenty years as a vegetarian


1993-1996

  • Writer/Editor A Woman’s Almanac - Voices from Atlantic Canada, an annual agenda book that profiled twelve women each year. Creative Publishers


1994

  • DISCOVER CANADA -- NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
  • GROLIER LTD. A current history of the province. Second edition released in 1997; French Translation 1998


1994

  • A Woman’s Labour - book and tape series that includes interviews and stories from various A Woman’s Almanac profiles. Published by WANL.


1987-1992

  • Writer/Editor A Woman’s Almanac - Newfoundland and Labrador edition, Published by Breakwater Books, NF


1992

  • The Finest Kind, Writer/Editor. A compendium of seventy-two Almanac profiles


1991

  • Not A Still Life - the art and writings of artist Rae Perlin Killick Press, NF: over 100 art reproductions; editor.


FILMOGRAPHY

2009

  • Perry's Cove Revisited is a short poetic film shot during a family reunion at their ancestral homeland.  It uses existing footage of her father reciting a poem about his boyhood, later White recites her poem while walking along the 'goats paths of Perry's Cove'.


2008

  • Released Voodooville, a live show of Wonderbolt Circus.


2007

  • White released Tricksters, a documentary that takes viewers to remote areas of Labrador where youth and elders learn circus skills with Wonderbolt Circus.2007 White released Tricksters, a documentary that takes viewers to remote areas of Labrador where youth and elders learn circus skills with Wonderbolt Circus.

2005

  • Co-produced Stealing Mary: Last of the Red Painted Tribe – a docu-drama on the demise of the Beothuk Indians of Newfoundland.


2004

  • Room, her ancestral home on the eastern edge of the Atlantic Ocean


2003-2004

  • Writer for film script The Elsie Holloway Story: a personal look at the life and work of a major Newfoundland photographer, including the historical landscape of photography


2003


2002

  • Script writer/director for clown/circus documentary, Fool Proof, released December 2002, Vision TV and NTV


2000

  • Chapbook for the Department of Education and Women’s Policy office to accompany the high school classroom study of my film, The Untold Story of the Suffragists of Newfoundland


1999

  • Producer/Scriptwriter The Untold Story -- a docudrama on the women’s suffrage movement of NF, 1892 - 1925

 

AWARDS AND AFFILIATIONS


2004-2008

  • League of Canadian Poets Atlantic Canada Rep.


2007

  • Stealing Mary took the Chris Award at the 54th AnnualColumbus International Film & Video Festival on November 11, 2007


1997 - 2002

  • Member of Producers Association of Newfoundland
  • Member of Writers Alliance of Newfoundland & Labrador
  • Member of League of Canadian Poets
  • Member St. John’s Status of Women Council
  • Member of FOG, Friends of the Botanical Garden


2000

  • Artist of the Year 2000 Named by the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council, Sponsored by Newtel and CBC TV


2000

  • Nominated for History Documentary Award
  • Yorkton Film Festival, Saskatchewan


1999

  • Documentary, 3rd place Award at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, California


1995

  • Poetry Award, Department of English, MUN


1973-74

  • Carlton University

1972-73

  • Memorial University