David Newland is a musician, writer, and scholar, currently working on a Phd in Canadian Studies at Trent University. David won the 2023 prize for Best MA (or Equivalent) Thesis or Major Research Paper in Canadian Studies from the Canadian Studies Network. In 2022, he was awarded a Cobourg Civic Award for Distinguished Arts and Culture. David is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
David earned an MA in English (Public Texts) from Trent, and a BFA in Photography from Concordia University. He holds a John Wadland Scholarship in Canadian Studies and is a past recipient of Trent’s Bagnani Graduate Award. He is also a graduate of Lester B. Pearson United World College, where he received a full scholarship as a representative of Ontario.
David has received Ontario Arts Council grants for both music, and literature. His most recent album, NORTHBOUND, was inspired by his Arctic journeys, and recorded live in Cobourg with Inuit artists Siqiniup Qilauta and a cast of global roots artists.
David’s recent writings include articles for Grief Stories, University Affairs, Watershed, Penguin Eggs, and The Link.
David spent seven years travelling with Adventure Canada as a Zodiac driver, performer and host.
David has hosted numerous festivals and events, including Summerfolk, and Mariposa Folk Festival. He emceed the long-running Gordon Lightfoot celebration The Way We Feel for fifteen years. He has also hosted numerous radio programs and podcasts; most recently, Spirit of the Song on Northumberland 89.7. David hosted the 2021 Northumberland Diversity Festival, broadcast in six episodes on GlobalTV Peterborough. David voiced the video web series Top of the World. He appears in the shows Mighty Cruise Ships and Canada’s Greatest Ride, for which he also wrote the theme song.
Born in Ottawa, raised on the shores of Georgian Bay near Parry Sound, David crisscrossed Canada and travelled the world before settling in Cobourg, Ontario, where he lives with his wife and family. He is passionate about pollinator gardens and rainwater collection.
More information on David’s creative endeavours can be found on his Press Page.
facebook.com/davidnewland
instragram.com/david_l_newland
David Newland
178 University Avenue West
Cobourg Ontario K9A 2H2
david DOT newland AT gmail DOT com
Updated March 18, 2024.