With April just around the corner, poets and poetry lovers around the province are planning all kinds of in person and/or online events to celebrate National Poetry Month. Attend a poetry reading, participate in an open mic, or submit a poem to Poetry in Transit (if your poem was published in book form in the last three years.)
Note: While we believe that the listings in this post may be of interest to FBCW members and the general writing community, the Federation of BC Writers is not directly affiliated with any of the following organisations or groups.
Submit your event or call-out to our next blog post here, or contact Rachel at rachel@bcwriters.ca.
Call for Submissions: Poetry in Transit 2023/2024
Now celebrating its 27th year, Poetry in Transit showcases BC poets on TransLink and BC Transit vehicles. Poems must be written by BC writers, published in book form by Canadian publishers, and submitted by publishers for consideration in the project. Submissions are now open, and will close Thursday, March 30.
Publishers will receive a $100 reprint fee for selected submissions. Poets will be offered an opportunity to read their work as part of the Poetry in Transit launch at Word Vancouver, subject to available programming space.
For more information and submission link, visit https://www.readlocalbc.ca/resources/poetry-in-transit/
Poetry Reading, Live and On Zoom
Wednesday, March 15, 2023, 7:30 PM
Fairleigh Dickinson University Auditorium, 842 Cambie St, Yaletown, BC
FREE
Join us for a reading featuring poets Kim Trainor and Dominque Bernier-Cormier, plus an OPEN MIC, both for those joining in person and via Zoom. Free to attend. Hosted by Poets Corner Reading Series, https://poetscorner.ca/
To register, go to https://tinyurl.com/2hjazhze. Email PoetsCornerReadingSeries@gmail.com
Poetry Reading: AN ITALIAN POET CRUISING THROUGH MANHATTAN
Saturday, March 18, 12:00 PM PST
Online Via Zoom
FREE
Italian Poet Sara Fruner will talk about her life in New York and read from her collection of poems inspired by the dark side of Manhattan.
Link to the RSVP and more information: https://www.dantesocietybc.ca/event-details/an-italian-poet-cruising-through-manhattan
Join Zoom directly here: ZOOM LINK
Poetry Reading: KADO HAIKU & TANKA
VerseFest 2023 – Ottawa’s International Poetry Festival
Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 4 PM PT (7 PM ET)
ONLINE (streaming live from Knox Church, Ottawa)
FREE
Hosted by Claudia Radmore, and featuring the poetry of kj munro and Philomene Kocher.
For more information, visit https://www.verseottawa.ca/event/kado2023
Poetry: Phyllis Webb Memorial Reading
Thursday, April 6, 2023 7- 9 PM
SFU Segal Building, Room G1300
500 Granville St, Vancouver BC
FREE
Join us for the Phyllis Webb Memorial Reading featuring Cecily Nicholson, with Otoniya J. Okot Bitek, Junie Désil and Stephen Collis.
Free registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/phyllis-webb-memorial-reading-tickets-541988210327
UNBOUND POETRY Festival
Saturday, April 15, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
North Delta Centre for the Arts
FREE registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/cc/2023-unbound-poetry-festival-1865509
The Delta Literary Arts Society is hosting an all-day poetry festival, featuring 9 workshops (including 2 for children), panels, readings, hands-on activities, a film screening room, Haiku Contest, vendors, Poetry Slam competition, food trucks and much more – including a 20-minute one-on-one WRITING CONSULTATION with one of our Blue Pencil Editors.
Short Form Poetry Workshop – Haiku 101
With Katherine Munro (kj)
April 17, 2023, 6:00-8:00 pm
Canada Games Centre Boardroom
200 Hamilton Blvd, Whitehorse, YT
A short form poetry that originated in Japan, haiku poems are often seasonal, depicting a moment of perception with concrete sensory images. This workshop begins with a history of English-language haiku, definitions and tips for both reading and writing haiku; it then moves on to a writing exercise. Pen, paper and encouragement provided.
For more information or to register, click here, or visit Katherine J. Munro’s website at https://kjmunro1560.wordpress.com/.
Poetry Reading
Saturday, April 22, 2023 2:00 – 3:00 pm
North Vancouver Public Library, Capilano Branch
3045 Highland Blvd, North Vancouver, BC
Join award-winning poets Susan Alexander and Rhona McAdam as they weave themes of spirituality, environment, food and family into powerful readings that will move, delight and inspire.
For more information, visit https://nvdpl.ca/event/taste-heaven-poems-feed-body-soul-and-nature
Register online at https://nvdpl.ca/node/5884/register or call 604-987-4471, ext. 8175
The Joy of Poetry: Reading and Open Mic
Thursday, April 27, 2023, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Third Space Coffee, 1708 Dolphin Ave, #103, Kelowna, BC
FREE
An evening of poetry by local poets, featuring readings by Robert Humphries, Fern G. Z. Carr, Lesley-Anne Evans and Sally Quon. An open mic will follow. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
