Person

Bissett, Bill, 1939-

1939-

Bill Bissett (born William Frederick Bissett) was born on November 23, 1939, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

He is a Canadian poet, artist, musician, and publisher, known for his unconventional style. He had a tumultuous childhood, often ran away from home, and developed peritonitis, resulting in years of hospitalizations. He also experienced bullying because of his sexuality. He attended Dalhousie University (1956) and the University of British Columbia (1963-1965). He founded blewointment press in British Columbia (1962) as a medium for young poets and published several of his own volumes under its imprint. In 1965, a CBC filmed a documentary about Bissett’s poetry and art, entitled “Strange Grey Day This.” In 1983, financial hardship, plus a desire to focus on his own writing and visual art, led him to sell blewointment press (which later became Nightwood Editions). Bissett is the author of several books of poetry including, “Fires in the Temple” (1966), “Nobody Owns the Earth” (1972), “Medicine My Mouths on Fire” (1974), “Canada Gees [sic] Mate for Life” (1985), and “Inkorrect thots” [sic] (1992). He has had several one-man art exhibits in Vancouver, Toronto, and London (Ont.). From 1986 to 1991, Bissett was the lyricist and vocalist in the London, Ontario band Luddites, releasing audio tape cassettes and discs including, “Luddites” (1988), “Shining spirit” (1989), and “Luddites dreemin uv th nite” [sic] (1991). In 2007, Bissett was awarded the George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to literature in British Columbia. In 2008, he received an Honorary Doctorate in Literature from Thompson Rivers University. In 2019, Talonbooks published an anthology of poems from nearly every previously published Bissett's book, entitled "breth." Bissett is now based in Mattawa, Ontario and Toronto.