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Inuktitut linguist dies in Toronto

On Jan. 30, after a period of treatment for heart disease, Alexander (Alex) Edward Spalding, former Hudson’s Bay Company Post manager, government education administrator, scholar, writer and poet, passed away peacefully at Toronto General Hospital, at the age of 78.

Spalding was a noted Inuktitut linguist, author of several "Eskimo" grammars and a recently published Inuktitut dictionary. He also published a memoir called Aivilik Adventure, about his years in the north, along with several studies and poems based on Inuit myths relayed to him by his friend and fellow linguist, Thomasie Kusugaq.

Spalding was born in Craik, Saskatchewan, on Dec. 7, 1923, and went north to Repulse Bay with the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1946. He subsequently joined the education division of the department of northern affairs as an administrator, and worked as interpreter/translator aboard the federal government’s Arctic patrol vessel C.D. Howe.

Spalding went on to complete a university undergraduate degree, a Masters degree in English literature and a Doctorate on the work of English poet William Wordsworth.

Spalding spent his last years in Toronto among friends at Dorset Fine Arts.

At his request, his ashes will be returned to Repulse Bay, where a memorial service and burial will take place.

Any inquiries can be directed to Dorset Fine Arts, (416) 960-3055.

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