WordWorks / Fall 2014
There’s also an email link for people who want to volunteer. Want a taste of what Cascadia poetry looks like, sounds like? Lantzville poet and publisher, Ursula Vaira, writes about kayaking through the region in her book And See What Happens: The Journey Poems, published by Caitlin Press in 2011. Here are two couplets from her extended poem, Frog River: Perfectly still, river becomes mountains becomes cloud. Canoe becomes bird. the hollow bone. Vaira will be part of the Cascadia 3 lineup - a lineup that brings together emerging and established poets. One of the featured participants, Brenda Hillman, just won the 2014 Griffin Poetry Prize. Taking the lead in organizing CPF3 is the small Nanaimo-based arts society called WordStorm (www. wordstorm.ca) - a dynamic group of writers who run monthly Spoken Word performances in local cafés (currently the Vault Café on Nanaimo’s Wallace Street). “Spreading the word that Nanaimo is not only a gorgeous place, but also a major arts destination, is one of the city’s key strategic goals,” says Fraser, who aside from his Cascadia chairing duties is also WordStorm’s Artistic Director and President. “It is gratifying that a small, volunteer group of poets is helping to manifest that strategic mission. “ • Check it all out here: www.cascadiapoetryfestival.org • On Facebook for news and updates: Cascadia Poetry Festival • To sponsor or volunteer, contact David Fraser at ascentaspirations@gmail.com
Ann Graham Walker is the Island Regional Representative on the Federation of BC Writers’ Board of Directors and Co-Chair of the Poetry genre on the WordWorks Editorial Board. Find out more about Ann on her Fed Writer’s Profile at: bcwriters.ca/profile/ann-graham-walker/ Page 21