Award-winning poet and novelist Patrick Lane has died at age 79.
Publisher McClelland & Stewart made the announcement Thursday evening, calling Lane “one of Canada’s most renowned writers.”
His accolades include the Governor-General’s Award for Poetry, the Canadian Authors Association Award and three National Magazine Awards.
Lane’s website says his career spanned 50 years and included 25 volumes of poetry and award-winning books of fiction and non-fiction.
He was named an officer of the Order of Canada in 2014, and had been a writer-in-residence and teacher at several universities.
Born in Nelson, B.C., in 1939, Lane lived near Victoria with his wife, poet Lorna Crozier.