Kevin Connolly is a poet, editor, and arts journalist. His first collection of poems, Asphalt Cigar (Coach House, 1995), was nominated for the Gerald Lampert Award; his second book, Happyland (ECW), was published to wide acclaim in 2002; and his most recent collection, drift (Anansi, 2005), won the Trillium Book Award for Poetry. He lives with his partner, Gil Adamson, in Toronto.
The highly anticipated follow-up to the award-winning poetry collection drift, Kevin Connolly’s Revolver (House of Anansi Press, 2008) is a daring marriage of brilliant technical skill and explosive imagination. Each of the poems in this extraordinary collection is written in a different vocal register — “revolving” through poetic voices with precise control and sharp wit. The Globe and Mail says that “what astounds the reader is the virtuosity with which Connolly wields all the poetic tools at his disposal”. Connolly reveals himself to be one of the few poets in Canada who can pull off such a highwire act, and make it both thrilling and meaningful. Revolver was a finalist for the 2009 Griffin Poetry Prize and the 2009 Trillium Book Award.
Suzanne
Suzanne Steele - War Poet in Afghanistan
Suzanne Steele is one of five artists nationwide to participate as a war artist in the 2008-2009 Canadian Forces Artist Program (CFAP). She is the first poet to be chosen for the program and the only official war poet of the Afghan war. In the course of research for her "deployment" Suzanne spent thousands of hours interviewing military personnel, visiting military bases and training centres, armouries and military functions. She went on Ex (exercise) with the Royal 22eme Régiment just before they deployed for Afghanistan and the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry several times over the past 18 months. She flew to Afghanistan in November 2009 and flew outside the wire to witness 1PPCLI at the front.
Suzanne is an award-winning poet/writer (diploma for excellence, Scottish International Poetry Award, short-list Robert Louis Stevenson Award for Literature, National Library of Scotland/Scottish Arts Council), member of the Scottish School of Poets - Edinburgh, Banff Writers Studio 2006, St. Peter's Artist Colony, 2009 Leighton Artist Colony, and guest Raving Poet (Edmonton, Alberta). She has read and published in the U.K. and Canada and has been featured as a poet on the BBC World Service twice and the CBC nationally and regionally. Her war work is included in three English Lit. 12 and adult learner curricula, and three of her poems are being studied at the Master Level (English Lit./war literature) at the University of Glasgow in the U.K. as representative of the Afghan war.
Suzanne makes her home in Victoria, B.C
Tree is offering a series of one-hour poetry workshops that are co-ordinated by Pearl Pirie, an accomplished
local poet and experienced workshop facilitator. The workshops are free to anyone who wishes to attend.
They are held in the usual Tree venue between 6:45 and 7:45 on regular Tree evenings. Each series of four
workshops will be led by a different facilitator.
Pearl’s objective is to have the workshops will develop organically. They are to be a time and space for people
to talk about poetic practice, why poetry works and how to present ideas. It is a time to share inspiration and
get safe group feedback. Each facilitator will act as a unique catalyst, each facilitator bringing a special angle
on craft and practice in poetry to the round table. The facilitator brings a selected focus to each session.
The next series of pre-Tree Workshops will be led by rob mclennan. rob is a talented workshop facilitator who
will add enormously to the workshops.
rob mclennan
The next series of pre-Tree Workshops will be led by rob mclennan. rob is a talented workshop facilitator who
will add enormously.
Ottawa International Poets and Writers for human Rights (OIPWHR)
Comments