Writer, journalist and broadcaster Pierre Berton passed away Tuesday, November 30 at age 84. He wrote over 50 novels and was a long time panelist on the CBC news quiz show Front Page Challenge.

Best known for for his bestsellers based on Canadian history, he also wrote the children’s fantasy, The Secret World of Og. Illustrated by Berton’s daughter, Patsy, and animated as an ABC Weekend Special, the novel sold over 200,000 copies.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Janet, his children Penny, Pamela, Patricia, Peter, Paul, Peggy, Perri and Eric and more than a dozen grandchildren.