Is it possible to find beauty and profound meaning in the face of life's most challenging trials? Ulrich Schaffer, the German-Canadian author, poet, and photographer, demonstrates that not only is it possible, but that these experiences can birth art that resonates with raw honesty and universal truths.Schaffer's life has been a tapestry woven with threads of migration, love, loss, and artistic exploration. Born in Pomerania in 1942, his family's flight from the aftermath of World War II eventually led them to the vast landscapes of northern British Columbia, Canada, in 1953. This early exposure to both the harsh realities of displacement and the untamed beauty of nature profoundly shaped his artistic sensibilities. He pursued studies in German and English literature in Vancouver and Hamburg, later imparting his knowledge of European literature in translation at a college near Vancouver. His marriage to Waltraud in 1965 marked the beginning of a lifelong partnership, one that would later become the subject of his most poignant and deeply personal work.
Ulrich Schaffer: Biographical and Professional Overview
Full Name
Ulrich Schaffer
Birth Date & Place
December 1942, Pomerania (present-day Poland)
Nationality
German-Canadian
Occupation
Author, Poet, Photographer, Lecturer
Education
Studies in German and English Literature (Vancouver & Hamburg)
Academic Career
Taught European Literature in Translation at a College near Vancouver; Taught German Language and Literature at Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, B.C.)
Spouse
Waltraud (married since 1965)
Residence
Gibsons, British Columbia (since 1997)
Known For
Works exploring themes of love, spirituality, self-discovery, and coping with dementia.
Notable Works
Numerous books of poetry, photography, and prose, including works reflecting on his experiences with his wife's dementia. "Love Reaches Out: Meditations for People in Love." "Mit Dir, Ohne Dich" (With You, Without You).
