Mark Bourrie was born in Toronto and grew up in Collingwood and Midland. He received his B.A. in History from the University of Waterloo and also holds a diploma in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Guelph. He has been a staff writer for the Hamilton Spectator, the Globe and Mail, and the London Free Press, and the Toronto Sun. Since 1989, he has been a correspondent fo rthe Toronto Star, writing news, features, and columns. As well, he has been a frequent contributor to the Law Times and the London Free Press. His articles have appeared in newspapers across Canada, and he has received eight jounalism awards for writing on subjects as diverse as archaeology, witnessing a tornado, and exposing illegal toxic waste dumping. He is married and lives in Ottawa, Ontario.