Charles Hugh Mountford
April 1, 1939 - October 13, 2024

On October 13, 2024, the literary world and Stratford lost one of its treasures. Charles Hugh Mountford, affectionately known as Charlie, passed away at the age of 85. Born in Fort William on April 1, 1939, Charlie was the only child of Charles Edward Mountford and Kathleen Auld. A lifelong learner, Charlie had an encyclopedic knowledge of literature, history, and art, with a deep love for music and the piano. After beginning his studies at Lakehead University, Charlie transferred to Western and completed an MA in English. He later pursued a career as a high school librarian, earning another MA in Librarianship from the University of London.

In 1987, Charlie married Ruth Gibson Crozier, the love of his life. Together, they enjoyed the Stratford Festival, art galleries, and annual trips to Quebec City. After retiring from teaching in 1998, Charlie focused on writing poetry, producing ten books and four librettos, which were performed in Stratford. He was known for his wit, humanity, and passion for nurturing young poets, founding Poetry Stratford and bringing Canadian poets to the forefront. Charlie’s work earned him multiple awards, including recognition at the prestigious UK Bridport Prize.

Charlie is survived by his beloved wife, Ruth, his stepdaughter Kathie, her husband Grant Skowby, and their daughters Emma and Kate. He was a member of the Baháʼí Faith and left behind a rich legacy of artistic and literary contributions.

Friends are invited to celebrate Charlie’s life at the W.G. Young Funeral Home, 430 Huron Street, Stratford, on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at 10:30 AM. Interment will follow at Avondale Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, you may plant a tree in Charlie’s memory by visiting the floral store.