Personal life In 1968, Urquhart married Paul Keele who was then a student at the Ontario College of Art, and later at the Nova Scotia College of Art and design. Urquhart worked as an assistant to the information officer for the Royal Canadian Navy while Keele was still in school. Tragically, Keele died in a car accident in 1973 when Urquhart was only 24. Keele's death spurred Urquhart to return to school: "I wanted to study art history, partly to honour him and partly to be near a number of friends we had made while we lived in and around Guelph."Cooper, Rachelle. "Urquhart returns to Guelph as Writer-in-Residence." At Guelph. 50.14. Web. 15 Feb 2012. The experience of loss at such a young age shaped Urquhart's writing, particularly Whirlpool, whose protagonist was similarly a young widow. "I think the fact that Paul died when he did, when we were both so young, allowed me to remember what it was like to experience such a devastating loss early in life, as my characters do in this book," she explains.Roger, Robin. "And, Even More, the Overpainter - Robin Roger talks with Jane Urquhart." Books in Canada. 16 February 2012.
Personal life In 1968, Urquhart married Paul Keele who was then a student at the Ontario College of Art, and later at the Nova Scotia College of Art and design. Urquhart worked as an assistant to the information officer for the Royal Canadian Navy while Keele was still in school. Tragically, Keele died in a car accident in 1973 when Urquhart was only 24. Keele's death spurred Urquhart to return to school: "I wanted to study art history, partly to honour him and partly to be near a number of friends we had made while we lived in and around Guelph."Cooper, Rachelle. "Urquhart returns to Guelph as Writer-in-Residence." At Guelph. 50.14. Web. 15 Feb 2012. The experience of loss at such a young age shaped Urquhart's writing, particularly Whirlpool, whose protagonist was similarly a young widow. "I think the fa,ct that Paul died when he did, when we were both so young, allowed me to remember what it was like to experience such a devastating loss early in life, as my characters do in this book," she explains.Roger, Robin. "And, Even More the Overpainter - Robin Roger talks with Jane Urquhart." Books in Canada. 16 February 2012.