Canada Jacks is based on the book “The Province of Calgary” by Lee Larson

Lee was born and raised just north of Windsor, Ontario (Detroit, Michigan to be exact). His theatrical career began in 1949, when he was chosen to play Joseph in the Escanaba Methodist Church Summer Bible School production of Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors. Later, he delivered the opening line in his high school’s Senior Play performance of Shaw’s Anthony and Cleopatra, “Try yet again, O Persian – double or nothing.”

After University, he joined the Royal Oak (Michigan) Civic Theater, where he played Patrick in Auntie Mame and Fredrick in A Far Country. In 1965, he won the prestigious Jules Parnes Best Actor Award for his performance in the title role of Another Island. He also wrote and performed the words and lyrics for the music in that production and collaborated with the playwright, having suggested the poignant lines that concluded the second act, “Frankly, Jane, I don’t give a damn. The sun will come up tomorrow – you can bet your bottom dollar. Anyway, here’s looking at you, kid.”

At the zenith of his acting career, Lee left the stage to work as an electrical engineer for eight years. When he lost interest in current events, he became a lawyer and moved from Detroit to Cleveland, Ohio. His legal career brought him often to Toronto and Kitchener in the TNSAF, where he became infected with spiritus canadiansis while learning how to pronounce ‘Etobicoke’ and ‘Queens Quay’ (and spell it without the apostrophe, to boot). Having written volumes of fiction in his thirty years as a lawyer, he joined several million of his countrymen in their quest to write the Great American Novel. After failing at several attempts to do so, he decided instead to write the Great Canadian Novel, at which he was ultimately more successful (since the book only had to be one-tenth the size). In 1997, inspired by a geographically-challenged Toronto secretary, he wrote The Province of Calgary.

Lee is also the author of The Complete History of Canada in 25 Words or Less and the sequel, Why Sheila Copps Can’t Tell You Her Phone Number in 25 Words or Less. He is presently writing an autobiography of Ralph Klein, Governor of the Province of Calgary. When he’s not cruising the 401, Lee lives in Chagrin Falls, Ohio with his current wife, Susan and their dog and cat, Chelsea and Titty. Don’t ask. Lee can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it