Canadian Women Writers

Throughout history, there have been many Canadian women writers who have made significant contribution to the field. The list includes many familiar and great Canadian female writers such as Margaret Atwood, Naomi Klein, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Jane Jacobs, Alice Munro.
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Lucy Maud Montgomery
5
Birthdate: November 30, 1874
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New London, Canada
Died: April 24, 1942
Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery is best remembered for her iconic novel Anne of Green Gables and its sequels. She had also authored countless short stories, poems, and essays. Most of her novels are set in her native Prince Edward Island. She was honored with the OBE.
 2 
Margaret Atwood
(Poet, Novelist, Literary Critic & Environmental Activist)
Margaret Atwood
33
Birthdate: November 18, 1939
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Ottawa, Canada

Margaret Atwood is a Canadian poet and novelist. Her works encompass themes, such as religion and myth, climate change, and gender and identity. An award-winning writer, many of Atwood's works have been made into films and television series; her work, The Handmaid's Tale, has had several adaptations. Perhaps, Margaret Atwood's most important contribution is her invention of the LongPen device.

 3 
Alice Munro
(Canadian Short Story Writer and Winner of 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature)
Alice Munro
4
Birthdate: July 10, 1931
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Wingham, Canada

Her mother’s struggle with Parkinson's disease pushed Alice Munro into reading as an escape route. Munro later became a housewife, but soon soared to fame for her short story collections such as Too Much Happiness. The Canadian author later won the Nobel Prize and the Man Booker Prize, too.

 4 
Jane Jacobs
(Journalist and Author Best Known for Her Book ‘The Death and Life of Great American Cities’)
Jane Jacobs
4
Birthdate: May 4, 1916
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: April 25, 2006

American-Canadian journalist Jane Jacobs is best known for her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities. A specialist in urban culture and its issues, she was one of the few women who excelled in a male-dominated field. The Vincent Scully Prize winner was initially scorned at as a housewife.

 5 
Naomi Klein
(Canadian Author and Activist Best Known for Her Books: ‘No Logo’, ‘The Shock Doctrine’ and ‘This Changes Everything’)
Naomi Klein
5
Birthdate: May 5, 1970
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Montreal, Canada

Canadian author, social activist, and filmmaker Naomi Klein is known for her criticism of corporate globalization and capitalism. She became internationally known following the release of her alter-globalization book No Logo. She often appears on global and national lists of top influential thinkers and is the recipient of the 2016 Sydney Peace Prize. She is a prominent environmentalist as well.

 6 
Samantha Bee
(Comedienne, Actress, Writer and Television Host)
Samantha Bee
4
Birthdate: October 25, 1969
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada

Samantha Bee is a Canadian-American political commentator, television host, comedienne, producer, and writer. Bee achieved international recognition for her 12-year tenure as a correspondent on the late-night talk and satirical news program The Daily Show. In 2017, she was named in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world list. In 2017, she also won a Primetime Emmy Award.

 7 
Louise Penny
(Canadian Author of Mystery Novels Set in the Canadian Province of Quebec)
Louise Penny
6
Birthdate: July 1, 1958
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
Once a CBC journalist, Louise Penny is now an award-winning mystery writer. Her bestselling Armand Gamache series of novels have been published in over 20 languages. The five-time Agatha Award-winning author has also launched an award for budding Canadian mystery writers. She had met her husband on a blind date.
 8 
Keegan Connor Tracy
(Actress)
Keegan Connor Tracy
8
Birthdate: December 3, 1971
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Windsor, Ontario Windsor, Ontario, Canada
 9 
Meg Tilly
(Actress)
Meg Tilly
5
Birthdate: February 14, 1960
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Long Beach, California, USA

Meg Tilly is an actress best known for her role in the drama mystery film Agnes of God, for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She began her career as a dancer and eventually took up acting roles. She loves to write as a hobby and is the author of many novels. 

 10 
Chrystia Freeland
(10th Deputy Prime Minister of Canada )
Chrystia Freeland
5
Birthdate: August 2, 1968
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Peace River, Canada
Known as the Minister of Everything, Christina Freeland is Canada’s 10th deputy prime minister. She is also Canada’s finance minister and the first woman to hold the office. She has previously worked with the Financial Times, Thomson Reuters, and The Globe and Mail. She has also authored a bestselling book. 
 11 
Diana Hart
(Model, Writer)
Diana Hart
4
Birthdate: October 8, 1963
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
 12 
Margaret Trudeau
(Canadian Activist)
Margaret Trudeau
7
Birthdate: September 10, 1948
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada
 13 
Justine Musk
(Canadian Author Known for Her Novel 'Bloodangel')
Justine Musk
11
Birthdate: September 2, 1974
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Peterborough, Canada

Ex-wife of business magnet Elon Musk, Justine Musk is a Canadian author most recognised for her contemporary fantasy novel, BloodAngel. She wrote two more books Uninvited and Lord of Bones, both of which were appreciated. A Queen’s University graduate, she was employed as an English teacher in Japan before she moved back to US and later married Elon Musk.

 14 
Gail Simmons
(Canadian-American Cookbook Author and Food Writer)
Gail Simmons
4
Birthdate: May 19, 1976
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
 15 
Emma Donoghue
(Novelist)
Emma Donoghue
3
Birthdate: October 24, 1969
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland

Alex Awards winning Irish-Canadian playwright, literary historian, short story writer, novelist, and screenwriter Emma Donoghue is best known for authoring award winning novels like Room and Hood. Room, an international best-seller, was adapted into a film bearing same title that not only emerged as a critical and commercial success but also garnered four Oscar nominations at the 88th Academy Awards.

 16 
Anna Olson
(American Pastry Chef )
Anna Olson
3
Birthdate: May 4, 1968
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
 17 
Miriam Toews
(writer)
Miriam Toews
3
Birthdate: May 21, 1964
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Steinbach
 18 
Rupi Kaur
(Canadian Poet, Illustrator, Photographer, and Author)
Rupi Kaur
14
Birthdate: October 4, 1992
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Punjab, India

Rupi Kaur is an Indian-born Canadian poet, photographer, illustrator, and author. Born in India, she moved to Canada at an early age. She began performing in 2009 and gained international fame through her Instagram posts. She often explores her South Asian identity and femininity in her work. Her latest poetry collection, Home Body, released in 2020, was a resounding success. 

 19 
Lisa Jakub
(Writer)
Lisa Jakub
4
Birthdate: December 27, 1978
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
 20 
Margaret Laurence
(Novelist, Writer, Children's writer)
Margaret Laurence
3
Birthdate: July 18, 1926
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Neepawa
Died: January 5, 1987
 21 
Nellie McClung
(Writer, Human rights activist, Politician)
Nellie McClung
3
Birthdate: October 20, 1873
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Chatsworth, Ontario, Canada
Died: September 1, 1951

Canadian author and social reformer Nellie McClung had struck gold with her first novel, Sowing Seeds in Danny, a bestseller. She also spoke widely about woman suffrage and was part of the Alberta legislature. She was part of The Famous Five, a group of women who launched the Persons Case.

 22 
Irshad Manji
(Ugandan-born Canadian Educator and Writer)
Irshad Manji
3
Birthdate: 1968 AD
Birthplace: Kampala, Uganda
 23 
Severn Cullis-Suzuki
(Canadian Environmental Activist, Speaker, Television Host, and Author)
Severn Cullis-Suzuki
3
Birthdate: November 30, 1979
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada

Canadian activist Severn Cullis-Suzuki is known for her fight for environmental issues and intergenerational justice. Born to environmentalist David Suzuki, she began her journey as an environmental activist in fifth grade. She was also honored in the UNEP’s Global 500 Roll of Honour and supports the Slow movement.

 24 
Kari Skogland
Kari Skogland
3
Birthplace: Ottawa
 25 
Anne Carson
(Linguist, Poet, Translator, Writer, University teacher, Literary critic)
Anne Carson
4
Birthdate: June 21, 1950
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Toronto

Born to a banker in Toronto, Anne Carson grew up to study Classics and later taught at institutes such as Princeton University. Her signature style consists of a mix of prose and poetry. One of her notable works, Autobiography of Red: A Novel in Verse, was inspired by Greek mythology.

 26 
Janette Oke
(Writer, Novelist, Children's writer)
Janette Oke
3
Birthdate: February 18, 1935
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Champion, Alberta
 27 
Kelley Armstrong
(Novelist, Writer)
Kelley Armstrong
3
Birthdate: December 14, 1968
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Greater Sudbury
 28 
Mavis Gallant
(Canadian Writer Best Known For Her Short Stories)
Mavis Gallant
2
Birthdate: August 11, 1922
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Montreal, Canada
Died: February 18, 2014

Mavis Gallant was a Canadian writer who specialized in writing short stories. A critically acclaimed writer, Gallant was honored with several prestigious awards including the Matt Cohen Prize. In addition to short stories, Mavis Gallant also wrote novels, plays, and essays.

 29 
Elisabeth Brooks
(Actress, Singer)
Elisabeth Brooks
1
Birthdate: July 2, 1951
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died: September 7, 1997
 30 
Susanna Moodie
(British-Born Canadian Author Who Wrote About Her Experiences as a Settler in Canada)
Susanna Moodie
3
Birthdate: December 6, 1803
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Bungay, England
Died: April 8, 1885

English-Canadian writer Susanna Moodie is best known for her realistic depictions of her life in “the bush” or the wilderness of Canada, which was a British colony back in her time. Her most popular work remains Roughing it in the Bush. She had initially also penned several children’s stories.

 31 
Jeanne Sauvé
(Politician)
Jeanne Sauvé
3
Birthdate: April 26, 1922
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Prud’homme, Canada
Died: January 26, 1993
 32 
Shulamith Firestone
(Writer, Feminist)
Shulamith Firestone
3
Birthdate: January 7, 1945
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Ottawa
Died: August 28, 2012
 33 
Lisa Codrington
(Canadian Actress and Playwright Best Known for Her Comedy Series 'Letterkenny')
Lisa Codrington
1
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Canadian actor and playwright Lisa Codrington is best known as Gail from the sitcom Letterkenny. She traced her Barbadian ancestors back in the CBC documentary Big Sugar and also appeared in supporting or minor roles in series such as The Handmaid's Tale and plays such as A Midsummer Night's Dream.

 34 
Rosie Shuster
(Screenwriter)
Rosie Shuster
3
Birthdate: June 19, 1950
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Toronto
 35 
Carol Shields
(Novelist)
Carol Shields
2
Birthdate: June 2, 1935
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Oak Park, Illinois, United States
Died: July 16, 2003
The Pulitzer Prize-winning Canadian novelist Carol Shields was known for capturing and highlighting domesticity in her writings. Most of her writings centred around the lives of women, the genesis of art, notions of gender, etc. Her seventh novel, The Stone Diaries, won a Pulitzer Prize for fiction (1995), and was shortlisted for a Booker Prize.
 36 
Terri Tatchell
(screenwriter)
Terri Tatchell
3
Birthdate: 1978 AD
Birthplace: Canada
 37 
Maureen Jennings
(novelist, writer)
Maureen Jennings
3
Birthdate: 1939 AD
Birthplace: Birmingham
 38 
Joyce Cheng
(Singer, Actress)
Joyce Cheng
0
Birthdate: May 30, 1987
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada
 39 
Fannie Farmer
(Cook)
Fannie Farmer
2
Birthdate: March 23, 1857
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Died: January 15, 1915
 40 
Marjorie Gross
(Writer, Television producer, Screenwriter)
Marjorie Gross
3
Birthdate: April 18, 1956
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Toronto
Died: June 7, 1996
 41 
Gabrielle Roy
(Writer, Novelist)
Gabrielle Roy
2
Birthdate: March 22, 1909
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Saint Boniface
Died: July 13, 1983
 42 
Ann-Marie MacDonald
(Canadian Actress, Playwright, Author, and Broadcast Host)
Ann-Marie MacDonald
2
Birthdate: October 29, 1958
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: CFB Baden–Soellingen, Germany

Ann-Marie MacDonald is a Canadian actress, playwright, author, and broadcast host. Her maiden novel, Fall on Your Knees, received the Commonwealth Writers Prize. Ann-Marie MacDonald is perhaps best known for her play Goodnight Desdemona, which earned her several awards including the Governor General's Award for Drama, the Canadian Authors Association Drama Award, and the Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award. 

 43 
Tara Moss
(Author, Model)
Tara Moss
1
Birthdate: October 2, 1973
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Victoria, British Columbia
 44 
Sheila Copps
(Journalist, Politician, Autobiographer, Writer)
Sheila Copps
4
Birthdate: November 27, 1952
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Hamilton
 45 
Deborah Ellis
(Writer, Children's writer)
Deborah Ellis
3
Birthdate: August 7, 1960
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Cochrane
 46 
Mariko Tamaki
(Canadian Writer and Artist Who Writes For 'DC Comics' and 'Marvel')
Mariko Tamaki
0
Birthdate: December 22, 1975
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada

Mariko Tamaki is a Canadian writer and artist best known for her graphic novels like This One Summer and Skim. In 2016, she started writing for both DC Comics and Marvel. Mariko Tamaki is the recipient of several prestigious awards such as the Joe Shuster Award, Ignatz Award, and Doug Wright Award.

 47 
Christie Blatchford
(Columnist, Writer)
Christie Blatchford
0
Birthdate: May 20, 1951
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Rouyn-Noranda, Canada
Died: February 12, 2020

Canadian journalist and author Christie Blatchford had created history as her country’s first sports columnist. Also known for her award-winning book Fifteen Days, which was based on her experiences in Afghanistan, she was associated with publications such as National Post. She unfortunately died of lung cancer at age 68.

 48 
Lisa Robertson
(Canadian Poet, Essayist and Translator)
Lisa Robertson
2
Birthdate: July 22, 1961
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada

Lisa Robertson is a Canadian poet, freelance writer, and teacher. She studied at Simon Fraser University and once ran an independent bookstore. She explores different literary forms in her work. Her book of poetry, Debbie: An Epic (1997), was nominated for a Governor General’s Award. She has taught at the California College of Art and the University of Cambridge.

 49 
Esi Edugyan
(Novelist)
Esi Edugyan
0
Birthdate: 1978 AD
Birthplace: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
 50 
Pauline Johnson
Pauline Johnson
2
Birthdate: March 10, 1861
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation
Died: March 7, 1913