Celebrating the depth and diversity of BC publishing
Two of Canada’s most prominent authors read in Vancouver June 21
Poets Corner Reading Series is beyond excited to welcome two of the most prolific and influential names in Canadian literature today: Derek Beaulieu and Gary Geddes. The show starts at 7:30pm PST, June 21. Fans can attend in person at Fairleigh Dickinson University (842 Cambie Street), in Downtown Vancouver, or online via Zoom.
Beaulieu has authored twenty-six books of poetry, conceptual fiction, critical writing, as well as over 200 chapbooks and 6 edited volumes. His work is consistently praised as some of the most radical and challenging in contemporary Canadian writing. Best known for his concrete or visual poems, Beaulieu’s readings are often a fun mix of show and tell. A recent example is his description of a city upside down reflected in puddles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-1Ob9NyIUA
Beaulieu is also a major influence on emerging Canadian poets. Since 2018, he’s been Director of Literary Arts at the prestigious Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and has been recognized with nine teaching awards locally, provincially, and nationally for his contributions to university-level education. He was Calgary’s Poet Laureate from 2014 to 16, and is currently Banff’s Poet Laureate from 2022 to 2024.
Gary Geddes has written and edited more than fifty books of poetry, fiction, drama, non-fiction, criticism, translation and anthologies and been the recipient of a dozen national and international literary awards, including the Commonwealth Poetry Prize (Americas Region), the Lt.-Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence and the Gabriela Mistral Prize from the Government of Chile. His most recent works are Medicine Unbundled, The Resumption of Play, The Ventriloquist: Poetic Narratives from the Womb of War, and The Oysters I Bring to Banquets. He was writer-in-residence at Green College (UBC), University of Alberta, University of Missouri-St. Louis, and Distinguished Professor of Canadian Culture at Western Washington University in Bellingham. He lives on Thetis Island, B.C.
Derek Beaulieu and Gary Geddes are appearing courtesy of Poets Corner Reading Series, a nonprofit society which has provided a platform for a diverse range of poets since 2010. Run largely by volunteers, Poets Corner pays poets for reading, whether in person or on its popular One Minute Poem series on YouTube. Attendees can also register for three-minute time slots at the popular open mic – a draw for both emerging and established poets every month. Attendance is by donation (suggested amount $5), with money going to Poets Corner’s Pay the Poets fund.