COMMUNITY EVENTS AND CONFERENCES – February 1, 2017
Submit your writers event announcements to [email protected]
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BATTLE RIVER
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BATTLE RIVER WRITING CENTRE PRESENTS: POETRY WORKSHOP WITH DENNIS COOLEY
April 20 – 27, Battle River Writing Centre
Poetry Workshop April 20 – 23, 2017 with Canadian Poet, Dennis Cooley of Saskatchewan and University of Manitoba. Join us for a dynamic experience with ideas, words, and imaginative writing. For information, contact Jane Ross, Battle River Writing Centre, 780/672-9315. E: 780/672-9315.
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CALGARY
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AWCS: WRITER’S CIRCLE
Sundays & Wednesdays, February 5 – April 9, Various times, @cSpace King Edward, 403, 1721, 29th Ave SW
Join us every Sunday for fun and lively discussions on all things writing related. Each week will have a different theme and will be facilitated by a different writer. Address all your writing concerns. Meet other writers, chat over coffee or tea. Some sessions will be strictly discussion, while others will be short workshops. Fees may vary. Days and times vary. Sundays, 10am or 1pm. Some sessions may occur on a weekday or evening so if you can’t come on a Sunday, watch for other days. Check Calendar of Events for upcoming dates and times.
**NEW**
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? CALGARY’S ALL-AGES POETRY SLAM
Tuesday, February 7, 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm, Shelf Life Books
Come out to Calgary’s all-ages poetry slam and open mic as we gear up for the fourth annual provincial junior high and high school poetry slam competition. Poets of all ages are welcome to come out and share their words, competitively (in the slam) or non-competitively (open mic). For more information visit cyhmnslam.com.
EV SPELLING BEE – THE ALBERTA EDITION
Tuesday, February 7, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Loft 112, 535 8 Ave. SE
Join us the first Tuesday of each month for a fun round of spelling. This month’s theme: Alberta names. 1. Places 2. People 3. Natural Features (mountains, lakes, rivers) Choose from three categories and challenge other spelling arm chair enthusiasts to a battle of spelling exactness while learning the stories behind Alberta’s names. You can expect a bit of history and Doug Neilson’s hilarious sentences, plenty of laughs and tension. Come to compete or enjoy the competition. It’s a fun and challenging evening. $5 door/refreshments. RSVP encouraged: [email protected] Visit: facebook.com/events/253791178376222
**NEW**
BOOK LAUNCH FOR: VOICE IN THE WILD BY LAURIE SARKADI
Thursday, February 9, 7:00 pm, Shelf Life Books
Laurie Sarkadi launches her memoir Voice in the Wild. After plans to live in Africa shatter, young journalist Laurie Sarkadi moves to the Subarctic city of Yellowknife seeking wilderness and adventure. She covers the changing socio-political worlds of Dene and Inuit in the late ‘80s—catching glimpses of their ancient, animal-dependent ways—before settling into her own off-grid existence in the boreal forest. There, she experiences motherhood and its remarkable synchronicities with the lives of bears, caribou and other creatures. As a mother, and as a journalist, Sarkadi speaks up for abused women and children, creating controversies that entangle her in legal battles. When she looks to animals and the natural world for solace, she encounters magic. This evocative and exquisitely written memoir explores a more than two-decade long physical and spiritual journey into the wild spaces of northern Canada, around the globe and deep within. (Published by VERGE Communications, Yellowknife).
INNER CITY STORIES FEATURING ARITHA VAN HERK
Friday, February 10, 5:00 pm, Loft 112
Happy Hour gets even happier with story from one of Calgary’s most prolific and award winning story tellers. Join Aritha van Herk as she reads her tale, ‘Deep Cold on 11a’. This is a story inspired when she lived temporarily in a little rented house on 11a street, the tree-lined street in Kensington just behind Original Joe’s on Kensington Road. Meet the house’s ghost, learn a little bit of history of the neighbourhood and meet some (fictional) neighbours. facebook.com/events/381062962253949
LOFT 112 PRESENTS: TENT PEG ALL AGES PUBLIC READING
Sunday, February 12, 2:30 pm, Loft 112
Please join us for our next public reading based on the one line: ‘kids rang the bells on their bikes. ‘Enjoy Poetry by Elise Faucett & Lily Ga, Fiction by Titania Duska & Eva Potiuk, Song by Naomi Duska. With Deborah Willis (fiction) $5 entrance: tea+ cookies+one copy of chapbook of your choice.
**NEW**
WORDFEST PRESENTS: EDEN ROBINSON
Monday, February 13, 7:00 pm, John Dutton Theatre, Calgary Public Library, 2nd Floor, 616 Macleod Trail, Tickets $17 – $20, Use promo code: BEACH for 25% discount
Eden Robinson describes Native Traditions and modern realities with both beautiful, honest language and biting black humour. She is the Giller-shortlisted author of the iconic novel, Monkey Beach, and at Wordfest she presents her latest coming-of-age-novel, Son of a Trickster. Think “Harry Potter goes to reform school,” only edgier, as one advance reviewer called Robinson’s latest work. Read more about the author and the novel. Purchase tickets here
**NEW**
VALENTINE’S DAY BOOK LAUNCH FOR: THE DARK AND OTHER STORIES BY DEBORAH WILLIS
Tuesday, February 14, 7:00 pm, Shelf Life Books
Celebrate your Valentine’s Day at Shelf Life Books! Enjoy these energized, irreverent, novelistic stories full of longing, strange humour, and the complications of human entanglement from Governor General’s Award nominee Deborah Willis.
CALGARY DISTINGUISHED WRITERS PROGRAM PRESENTS AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL CHABON
Thursday, February 16, 7:30 – 10:30 pm, MacEwan Hall, University of Calgary, 402 Collegiate Blvd NW, FREE. Register at http://bit.ly/2igXhPT.
The Calgary Distinguished Writers Program presents Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon as this year’s Distinguished Visiting Writer. Chabon will be giving a free reading and book signing of his latest novel, Moonglow. Visit the CDWP’s website for more information.
**NEW**
LOFT 112 & LONG LUNCH QUICK READS PRESENTS: SUSAN CARPENTER’S “OLD BITCHES”
Friday, February 24, Noon – 2:00 pm, Loft 112
Eat and Read! February 24th from 12:00-2:00 for our Long Lunch Quick Read. Susan Carpenter’s ” Old Bitches”. Susan will join us at 1:00 to read a section from her story and answer questions. Pack your own lunch or pre-order for just $10 (Includes chapbook) [email protected]
AWCS: LITTLE BOOK CLUB FOR WRITERS
Monday, March 13, 7:00 pm, Owl’s Nest Books, 815A, 49th Ave SW
Book: The Vegetarian by Han Kang. AWCS and Owl’s Nest Books have once again joined forces to bring you another incredible event. Short novels and short stories. Only five books per season. Meetings every other month. This is not your usual* book club. Each meeting of the LBCW will focus on a short work of literature that uniquely lends itself to a facilitated discussion focused on, but not limited to, the elements of style & craft. Structure, theme, characterization, dialogue, setting/world building, voice, narrative mode etc. Anyone with a love of brief reads and an interest in the craft is welcome. AWCS Members: Free | Non-Members: $5. First meeting of the LBCW will be held at Owl’s Nest Books on March 13, 2017 @ 7-8:30pm. We will be discussing The Vegetarian by Han Kang, a short novel translated from Korean and winner of the 2016 Booker International Prize.
BOOK LAUNCH FOR: TEN DAYS IN SUMMER BY SUAN CALDER
Tuesday, March 14 at 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm, Owl’s Nest Books, 815A 49th Avenue SW
Celebrate the release of Susan Calder’s new novel, book 2 of her Paula Savard mystery series. Ten Days in Summer. While Calgary, Alberta, celebrates its ten-day Stampede festival, insurance adjuster Paula Savard investigates a suspicious building fire that caused the death of a hoarder. The case turns personal when Paula’s daughter becomes involved with a suspect. To ensure her daughter’s safety, Paula must dig through the hoarder’s messy life. She unearths betrayal, family secrets and murder. facebook.com/events/234979350292287
ALBERTA MAGAZINES CONFERENCE AND AWARDS 2017
March 16 & 17, Hyatt Regency
To quote a survey respondent from the 2016 Alberta Magazines Conference: “This year’s event would be hard to beat.” Challenge accepted. The 2017 Alberta Magazines Conference and Awards Gala will take place on March 16 & 17 at the Hyatt Regency in Calgary, and will feature 15 speakers from some of the world’s leading media brands (like Bon Appetit, Food52 and the New Yorker just to name a few). These industry leaders, innovators and vanguards will be touching on topics in publishing, editorial, digital, design and ad sales. The full conference lineup will be released January 30, on a brand new website dedicated to all things conference, featuring interviews, podcasts, registration details and everything else you need to know about the event. For the complete sneak peek, click here.
MAYOR’S LUNCH FOR ARTS CHAMPIONS
Wednesday, March 22, Palomino Room, BMO Centre (20 Roundup Way SE), Doors Open: 11:00am; TELUS Youth Arts Showcase: 11:00am – 12:00pm; Lunch & Program: 12:00 – 1:30pm; Ticket Pricing: $95 (single), $950 (table of 10)
The Mayor’s Lunch for Arts Champions is our chance to expand the circle of Arts Champions and celebrate leaders like you who make our arts community thrive. Recognize the achievements of award-winning Calgary artists, be inspired by rich conversation and build momentum for the future. The power of the arts to transform a city is playing out in front of our eyes. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of it! Purchase tickets here
**NEW**
UNCHARTED: A PHOTOGRAPHIC WILDFLOWER AND BOOK EVENING WITH GRAEME CONNELL
Thursday, March 23, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre, Shannon Terrace, Fish Creek Provincial Park (13931 Woodpath Rd SW)
Calgary author Graeme Connell’s novel Uncharted recently won a Bronze Medal (fiction) at the Independent Publisher 2017 Illumination Awards. The novel centres on Calgary’s Fish Creek Provincial Park and the Rockies. The story’s main character, Brewster, has lost his wife and his reason to live – then, with help from a profoundly deaf woman and a family facing difficult times, his life finds new meaning through wildflowers and a botanical project in Fish Creek. It is a truly uplifting story for anyone who has experienced deep loss and found solace in nature. Graeme reads from Uncharted: An Inspirational Novel, and presents a show of dazzling wildflower photos from the Kananaskis region, including Fish Creek Provincial Park, and signs copies of his new book. Join host Friends of Fish Creek for the official launch of Uncharted and its bonus companion booklet Uncovered, a full colour collection of wildflowers! graemeconnellbooks.com
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EDMONTON
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BOOK LAUNCH FOR TALKING MUSIC 2 BY HOLGER PETERSON
Thursday, February 2, 7:00 pm, Audreys Books
Please join Holger for an intimate chat (led by fellow broadcaster Grant Stovel) at the launch of his new book Talking Music 2. All are welcome.
SCRIPT SALON PRESENTS: SLUMBERLAND MOTEL BY COLLIN DOYLE
Sunday February 5, 7:30 pm, Upper Arts Space, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 10037 84 Ave.
On Sunday February 5 SCRIPT SALON is pleased to present a new play by one of Edmonton’s most accomplished playwrights. It’s a hard luck comedy of cold reality and redeeming dreams: Collin Doyle’s SLUMBERLAND MOTEL. THE STORY: Overnighting in a seedy roadside motel, two down on their luck vacuum cleaner salesmen share a room. Tired and disappointed in their lives, Ed (Robert Benz) and Edward (Reed McColm) seem to be at the end of their ropes. But the unexpected arrival of a mysterious woman from the next room (Kate Ryan) transforms their world. A road weary comedy of disillusionment and dreams. Read by Robert Benz, Reed McColm and Kate Ryan.
**NEW**
LOUGHEED COLLEGE PRESENTS: COMMUNICATION – THE BRIDGE WORTH UNDERSTANDING WITH AHMED KNOWMADIC
Monday, February 6, 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm, Lecture Hall L1-490, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 87 Ave.
We feel we have authority over how we communicate, but there are subconscious thoughts and schematics that often control how we speak. Communication is more than exchanging information, it is an intricate process of give and take. Ahmed Knowmadic will instigate some though provoking ideas and demonstrate how communication is more important and subtle than we understand. This event is a free public lectures. Attendees are asked to register and bring their tickets (printed or mobile) to the event. Tickets available here
**NEW**
OPEN MIC FEATURING DWENNIMMEN
Tuesday, February 7, 7:00 pm, Massawa Café & Bistro, 10153-97 St.
Breath In Poetry’s first feature of 2017 is Edmonton-based poet Dwennimmen, who will be re-releasing her chapbook, Horn. Don’t forget to arrive 15 mins early to sign up for the open mic! Find out more!
**NEW**
CLC PRESENTS: BROWN BAG LUNCH WITH VIVEK SHRAYA
Wednesday, February 8, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Rutherford (Humanities and Social Sciences) Library, University of Alberta
CLC’s Brown Bag Lunch presents Vivek Shraya. Vivek Shraya is a Toronto-based artist whose body of work includes several albums, films, and books. Her first book of poetry, even this page is white, is longlisted for CBC’s Canada Reads and was listed as one of the Best Books of 2016 by The Walrus. Her debut novel, She of the Mountains, was named one of The Globe and Mail’s Best Books, and her first children’s picture book, The Boy & the Bindi, was featured on the National Post Bestseller List. Vivek has read and performed internationally at shows, festivals and post-secondary institutions, including sharing the stage with Tegan & Sara. She is one half of the music duo Too Attached. Read more at: facebook.com/events/1725988984398057.
BE A PART OF A STUDIO AUDIENCE!
Wednesday, February 8, 7:00 pm -8:00 pm, 145 Whitemud Crossing Shopping Centre, 4211 – 106 St.
Public presentation for adults. No charge. Please arrive before 7:00 due to filming. Joan Marie Galat’s Dot to Dot in the Sky astronomy presentation is being videotaped at the Whitemud Crossing Library. Help her fill the seats while enjoying a presentation that partners science and storytelling. Discover how to locate constellations, tell the difference between stars and planets, and find out how black holes and supernovas occur. Additional details: joangalat.com/events-2.
**NEW**
WORKSHOP WEST-BLACK ARTS MATTER
February 9 – 19, ATB Financial Arts Barns, 10330 – 84 Ave.
BAM! (Black Arts Matter) is a new event featuring dozens of black artists in performance, workshops, dance, spoken word, and music! workshopwest.org chinookseries.ca Produced by WWPT and curated by Edmonton’s Youth Poet Laureate, Nasra Adem!
EAC WINTER SOCIAL
February 13, 2017, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm, Needle Vinyl Tavern, 10524 Jasper Ave.
This is an annual opportunity to mingle with members of the arts community, combined with the presentation of our Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund awards, and a celebration for the recipients of our Cultural Diversity in the Arts project grants. The evening will include a special screening of two short films by Jason Gondziola of mtset Productions to highlight award and grant recipients. Join the arts community at this celebratory event over drinks (cash bar), light refreshments and entertainment. RSVP via email…
SHARING HOPE: A COMMUNITY OPEN MIC
Second Tuesday of each month (February 14, March 14, April 11, May 9), 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Good Earth Coffee House – Campus Tower, 8623 112 Street
The Canadian Mental Health Association presents a FREE event for young people to share music, spoken word, or other creative expression that raises awareness of living with mental illness, inspires hope and reduces stigma. 25 yrs and under are given priority at the mic but ALL ages welcome in the audience! On evenings with small groups, you can look forward to lively discussion with like-minded people interested in raising awareness about mental health and ending stigma.
**NEW**
EDMONTON STORY SLAM
Wednesday, February 15, 7:30 pm, The Mercury Room, 10575-114 St.
Check out this month’s story slam, where the theme is “True Stories, No Censorship.” Go for the atmosphere, stay for the fantastic Edmonton talent. Learn more here!
**NEW**
ANTI-RACISM POETRY JAM
Saturday, February 18, 7:00 pm, Massawa Café & Bistro, 10153-97 St.
The annual Anti-Racism Festival is back in Edmonton! Help #MakeItAwkward at this free open-mic event. There’s still time to sign up to perform!
**NEW**
BOOK LAUNCH FOR: ENCOUNTERING RIEL BY DAVID ORR
Saturday, February 18, 7:00 pm, Boyle Street Community League, 101 Boyle Street Plaza, 9538 103 A Ave.
Join Stonehouse Publishing for their Spring 2017 launch, which will take place at 7 p.m. on February 18, 2017, at Boyle Street Community League, 101 Boyle Street Plaza, 9538 103 A Avenue, Edmonton. Stonehouse will be introducing three novels, which are to be published on February 15th. They are David Orr’s Encountering Riel, Della Dennis’s Something Unremembered, and the classic Evelina, by Frances Burney. Read more about these titles at: stonehousepublishing.ca/fall-20162017
AUTHOR BOOKSIGNING WITH RICK LAUBER
Saturday, February 25th, Noon – 4:00 pm, Chapter’s – Strathcona, 10504 – 82nd Ave.
Do you know someone getting older? If so, chances are good that you will become a caregiver for an aging parent, friend, partner or spouse. Learn what to expect, how to manage and where to find help in Rick Lauber’s book, Caregiver’s Guide for Canadians (published by Self-Counsel Press). Rick will be signing copies of his book on Saturday, February 25th, 2017 at Chapter’s – Strathcona (10504 – 82nd Ave.) from noon – 4:00 p.m.. ricklauber.com.
BOOK LAUNCH FOR: THE IT GIRL AND ME BY LAINI GILES
Sunday, April 2 at 2 pm – Audreys in Edmonton
Local historical author Laini Giles of Edmonton will debut her new novel, The It Girl and Me, the 2nd in her Forgotten Actresses series. Join her at Audreys for the launch, with snacks and fun. “Daisy DeVoe, the hairdresser for silent film actress Clara Bow, becomes Clara’s personal secretary, and finds the job may be more than she can handle. The “It” Girl of the Jazz Age is scandalous on and off the screen. Thanks to Daisy, Clara’s bank account is soon flush with cash. And thanks to Clara, Daisy can finally shake off her embarrassing Kentucky roots and achieve respectability for herself and her family. The trouble begins when Clara’s newest fiancé, cowboy star Rex Bell, wants to take over, and he and Daisy battle for control. Torn between her loyalty to Clara and her love for her family, Daisy has to make a difficult choice when she ends up in the county jail. Here, Daisy sets the record straight, from her poverty-striken childhood to her failed marriage; from a father in San Quentin to her rollercoaster time with Clara, leaving out none of the juicy details.” For more info, visit lainigiles.com.
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GENERAL
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**NEW**
LITCON IS COMING TO MOOSE JAW
April 22, Moose Jaw, SK
The Saskatchewan Festival of Words has partnered with the Moose Jaw Public Library and McFarlane Books to host LitCon: A Free Indie Writers Conference. Don’t miss out on this amazing event where you can attend FREE informative sessions on writing, publishing, and marketing, as well as have a chance to meet indie published authors and get one-on-one editing critiques. subscribepage.com