Duncan Campbell Scott

Born in Ottawa, Ontario, on August 2, 1862, Duncan Campbell Scott became known as a poet, short story writer, and civil servant. He is often grouped with the Confederation Poets, and his writing helped shape a distinct Canadian literary voice in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Alongside his literary career, he spent decades in Canada’s Department of Indian Affairs and eventually served as deputy superintendent general. That part of his career has made him a highly contested historical figure, because he was involved in policies tied to the residential school system and the federal government's assimilation program toward Indigenous peoples.

Scott died on December 19, 1947. Today he is remembered in two sharply different ways: as an influential writer in Canadian letters, and as a public official whose actions contributed to lasting harm.