Jack Bumsted Wins J. W. Dafoe Prize

Winnipeg scholar Jack Bumsted has won this year's John Wesley Dafoe Prize for his book, Lord Selkirk: A Life. The book chronicles the life of Lord Selkirk (born Thomas Douglas), who led the Selkirk settlers to the Red River Settlement. In an interview with the Winnipeg Free Press, Bumsted said that Selkirk led a "fascinating life." "He started out his life as a scientist and a rationalist, and in his struggles with the North-West Company, he became a romantic adventurer." The administrators of the award said it was "exhaustively researched and masterfully written."