Introduction by Stratford Tourism
Timothy Findley, author
Timothy Findley, we are assured, is the person being honoured in the naming of Findlay Place, despite the difference in spelling.
Timothy Findley (1930-2002) was one of Canada’s leading authors, having written more than 15 books, eight plays and three memoirs, and coined the term Southern Ontario Gothic for his style of writing.
He was an original company member of the Stratford Festival. See his two roles played at Stratford here Shakespeare in Performance.
Findley made the penthouse at 70 Ontario St. his final Canadian home, and could often be seen in Pazzo’s Pizzeria taking refreshment with his lifelong partner Bill Whitehead. Where he lived was the long-ago site of the Stratford Inn and for many years it was the Brown's Men's and Boys' Wear store.
The Stratford Festival produced Findley's play, The Stillborn Lover, in 1995, and in 2000 commissioned Elizabeth Rex, which enjoyed great success at Stratford and went on to win the 2000 Governor-General's Award for Drama. Elizabeth Rex has since been produced across North America and in England.
Spadework, Findley’s last novel (2001) is set directly in Stratford. He changed few place names and the original printing of the novel includes a map to the downtown core.
Findley was the recipient of the Governor General’s Award, the Order of Ontario, and the Trillium Book Award. Source: Stratford-Perth Archives Walking tours.
* On July 1, 2008, he was honoured by the city with a Bronze Star near the Avon Theatre.