Constance Piers

Constance Piers (, Fairbanks; May 10, 1866 – 1939) was a Canadian journalist, poet, and editor from Nova Scotia. Despite an irregular early education due to ill health, she became a voracious reader and was largely self-taught. Piers began her career as a secretary and gradually took on more editorial responsibilities, eventually serving as assistant editor of the Halifax Critic and associate editor of The Caledonian-Record. She wrote numerous articles and poems for various periodicals, and her work was included in Dr. Theodore Harding Rand's A Treasury of Canadian Verse.

Early life and education Constance Fairbanks was born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Province of Canada, May 10, 1866. She belonged to an old provincial family nearly all of whose representatives demonstrated literary ability, and several of whom were long associated with the history of Nova Scotia. She was the second child and oldest daughter of Lewis Piers Fairbanks and Ella Augusta (DeWolfe) Fairbanks, granddaughter of Charles Rufus Fairbanks, Finding it necessary to obtain employment, she became, in 1887, secretary to Charles Frederick Fraser, the blind editor of the Critic, and in that position, gained a practical knowledge of the work which became her occupation. Gradually, as her ability to write became known, and as she developed a keen recognition of what was required by the public, Piers was placed in charge of various departments of the paper, until in June, 1890, the management of the editorial and certain other departments was virtually transferred to her. She took editorial charge of the Critic, as assistant editor, 1890–1892; and associate editor of The Caledonian-Record in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, 1893–1894.

In religion, she was a member of the Church of England.

She favored woman suffrage, but not militant methods.

Constance Fairbanks Piers died in 1939.

Selected works Piers, Harry & Fairbanks, Constance (ed.), Frankincense and myrrh. Selections from the poems of Mrs. William Lawson, 1893 (text) via Internet Archive