Roy Kenzie Kiyooka was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in 1926, and grew up in Calgary, Alberta. He was known as a painter, sculptor, photographer, musician, poet, and author. His book, Pear Tree Pomes, was nominated for a Governor General's Literary Award. In 1978, Kiyooka was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. Roy Kiyooka died in 1994 at the age of 68.

Smaro Kamboureli is Professor with the School of English and Theatre Studies, Canada Research Chair, and Director of TransCanada Institute, University of Guelph. Her award-winning work, Scandalous Bodies: Diasporic Literature in English Canada, was republished in 2009. She lives in Toronto.