For many years poet and translator Downes published under G.V. Downes, no doubt partially because the given name Gwladys is invariably misspelled as Gladys. She has degrees from UBC and the Sorbonne. Downes travelled extensively in Europe prior to teaching French at Victoria College, now known as the University of Victoria, with some classes of English. Her most recent book of poetry, some of it reprinted from previous work, is House of Cedar from Ekstasis Editions. She is the author of three previous books, Lost Diver (Fiddlehead, 1955) When We Lie Together (Klanak, 1973), both out of print, and Out of the Violent Dark (Sono Nis, 1978) which contains translations from Quebec poets as well as most of her original poems up to that date. She served on the Board of Directors of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria for many years during its formative period, wrote reviews of exhibitions and has been the volunteer archivist since 1983. At the University of Victoria, she helped to build the university's art collection.

[BCBW 2003] "Translation" "Poetry"