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Northern Belle: The Life Story of Haliburton's Ethel Curry, Including Her Connections to the Group of Seven
An avid collector of Canadian art, writer Robert Popple is a former executive of Ontario Hydro with over 32 years of experience in their nuclear-electric program. With extensive research and vivid imagery, he brings the pioneering history of Haliburton to life, leading up to the arrival of Ethel’s family onto the village scene in 1906. Twenty years later, her father had become the town’s leading citizen through hard work and unswerving perseverance.
Ethel, his eldest daughter, who had exhibited artistic talent even as a teenager, headed off to the Ontario College of Art in 1924. There she met the likes of J.E.H. MacDonald and Arthur Lismer, then on the college faculty and like most students of the day, began to emulate their artistic style. She graciously hosted several college faculty and students at her parents’ home in the 1930’s and 1940’s, thereby contributing immeasurably to placing Haliburton on the Canadian art map, painting herself extensively locally and in the Gaspe.
Although she never married, her oft-times fiancé was a famous Canadian baritone Wishart Campbell, known nation-wide as the “Golden Voice of Radio.” An art teacher of outstanding ability to motivate her students, she taught at Northern Secondary School in Toronto for over 30 years until her retirement in 1965.
Ethel, his eldest daughter, who had exhibited artistic talent even as a teenager, headed off to the Ontario College of Art in 1924. There she met the likes of J.E.H. MacDonald and Arthur Lismer, then on the college faculty and like most students of the day, began to emulate their artistic style. She graciously hosted several college faculty and students at her parents’ home in the 1930’s and 1940’s, thereby contributing immeasurably to placing Haliburton on the Canadian art map, painting herself extensively locally and in the Gaspe.
Although she never married, her oft-times fiancé was a famous Canadian baritone Wishart Campbell, known nation-wide as the “Golden Voice of Radio.” An art teacher of outstanding ability to motivate her students, she taught at Northern Secondary School in Toronto for over 30 years until her retirement in 1965.
255 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 15, 2003
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9 people want to read
About the author
Robert Popple
8 booksRobert Popple was born in 1941 and raised in Penetanguishene, Ontario. He attended Midland-Penetanguishene District High School, graduating in 1959. He obtained a B.Sc. from Queen’s University in 1963 in Engineering Physics and went on to a 32-year career with the former Ontario Hydro in their nuclear-electric generation programme. On retirement in 1996, he formed his own consulting firm - RTP Associates Inc. - that specializes in nuclear power plant performance assessment.
In May, 2015, Mr. Popple met Lawrence Fox and transformed Fox's remembrances of his MI-6 exploits, written down not long after they occurred, into a riveting narrative on his five missions behind the Iron Curtian as an espionage courier in the 1950s and 1960s. His first mission was into Budapest in November, 1956, only hours after the Russians had moved 1000 tanks into the city. The action was fierce.
Mr. Popple studied piano in Huronia in the 1950s. He first encountered John Arpin at the Midland Kiwanis Music Festival at that time and they became life-long friends. Arpin, of course, went on to master virtually all musical idioms on the keyboard, attaining a stupendous musical reach and recording over 70 albums, second only to Oscar Peterson's over 200 for a Canadian musician. Mr. Popple still plays some piano, although not to the standard of the late, great Mr. Arpin. Few do or have.
Mr. Popple has had a longtime interest in writing and in 2003, published his first book, Northern Belle: The Life story of Haliburton’s Ethel Curry - through RTP Publications. He is also an avid collector of early Canadian art and follows its major auction proceedings closely.
Mr. Popple and his wife Heather have three grown children, Catherine, Beth and Steven and five grandchildren, Cameron, Leo, Adelaide, Bridget. and Courtney.
Mr. Popple currently resides on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
In May, 2015, Mr. Popple met Lawrence Fox and transformed Fox's remembrances of his MI-6 exploits, written down not long after they occurred, into a riveting narrative on his five missions behind the Iron Curtian as an espionage courier in the 1950s and 1960s. His first mission was into Budapest in November, 1956, only hours after the Russians had moved 1000 tanks into the city. The action was fierce.
Mr. Popple studied piano in Huronia in the 1950s. He first encountered John Arpin at the Midland Kiwanis Music Festival at that time and they became life-long friends. Arpin, of course, went on to master virtually all musical idioms on the keyboard, attaining a stupendous musical reach and recording over 70 albums, second only to Oscar Peterson's over 200 for a Canadian musician. Mr. Popple still plays some piano, although not to the standard of the late, great Mr. Arpin. Few do or have.
Mr. Popple has had a longtime interest in writing and in 2003, published his first book, Northern Belle: The Life story of Haliburton’s Ethel Curry - through RTP Publications. He is also an avid collector of early Canadian art and follows its major auction proceedings closely.
Mr. Popple and his wife Heather have three grown children, Catherine, Beth and Steven and five grandchildren, Cameron, Leo, Adelaide, Bridget. and Courtney.
Mr. Popple currently resides on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 16, 2014
This is a beautifully produced and written book about a remarkably talented Canadian artist. The author has captured both her personality and talent, as well as the period in which she lived and the northern Ontario landscape she painted. Long neglected, Robert Popple has made Ethel Curry alive and appreciated by a new generation of Canadians. A real contribution in addition to being a good read.
February 20, 2014
This is an excellent book, describing a wonderful but relatively unknown artist, Ethel Curry. She was a pal of Doris McCarthy, painted as well as Doris McCarthy, but never enjoyed her fame. Popple does a superb job of describing the life of this important chapter in Canadian art.
February 18, 2014
This author, a man of both letters and science, paints a vivid word portrait of the outstanding Canadian artist, Ethel Curry. Curry will inspire young painters of any era.
March 15, 2014
A wonderful book about a wonderful artist!
October 16, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews