George Malcolm Johnson
BIO
Biography

George M. Johnson was born in 1961 in Waterdown, Ontario. In 1984 he received an Honours B.A. in English and Psychology from the University of Western Ontario. He received an M.A. and Ph.D. from McMaster University, where he held a S.S.H.R.C. doctoral fellowship. Since 1991 he has taught at the University College of the Cariboo, now Thompson Rivers University, in Kamloops, British Columbia, where he is Professor of English. His play "Still Life With Nudes" won the Gladys Cameron Watt Award in the 67th Canadian One Act Playwriting Competition sponsored by the Ottawa Little Theatre in 2007, the 2007 National Playwriting Competition sponsored by the Regina Little Theatre (who produced the play in 2009), and was one of three finalists in the 2007 McLaren Memorial Comedy Play Writing Competition, sponsored by the Midland Community Theatre, Midland, Texas. His screenplay "The Wonder," an adaptation of  J.D. Beresford's classic 1911 science fiction novel "The Hampdenshire Wonder" was a finalist in the British Independent Film Festival and in the Contest of Contest Winners Screenplay Competition (L.A.). Another screenplay, "Peace Pledge," received Honourable Mention in the Euroscript Screenplay Competition (London), won the Wildsound Screenplay Competition (Toronto), was an Official Finalist in the Cannes Screenplay Contest, and won an Award of Excellence in the New Renaissance Film Festival (U.K.). His play "Mockus" was successfully produced by Chimera Theatre in Kamloops, B.C. in 2017 and will be produced by Jupiter Theatre in Calgary in 2024. His picture books "Marisa and the Mountains" (Simply Read) and "How Hope Became an Activist" (Dixi, London) have received critical acclaim. Two new picture books publish in 2023: "Sophia's Secrets" (Clavis), which won the Pacific Northwest Writers' Contest, and "Aldo Renaldo and the Renegade Alphabet" (Histria Kids). His award-winning eco-comedy play, Boomerangst, produced by Chimera Theatre, had a hugely successful run in Kamloops, June 8-17th, 2023. One of the show songs, "Climate Crisis," has just been released and the video can be viewed here:  https://youtu.be/Hy5qEgwUt9I

ADDRESS
City: Kamloops, Province/Territory: British Columbia
EMAIL
PUBLICATIONS
Publications
Title
Aldo Renaldo and the Renegade Alphabet
Publisher
Histria Kids Books
Year
2023
Title
Sophia's Secrets
Publisher
Clavis Books
Year
2023
LINKS
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
Presentation details
Audience Size
Audience size
50+
Presentation Genre
children's books and plays
Presentation Length
15-60 min.
School presentation details
Audience Size
0-50
Intended Audience
Gr.1-4
Presentation Length
15-60 min.
Programs & Interests
Interested in participating Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program:
All members are eligible for the Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program. Are you interested in participating in this pro
No
Interested in participating in the Northern Ontario WITS program:
The Union’s Northern Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program funds in-person visits to northern Ontario schools when possible. Ar
No