Close to 100 of North America’s finest poets will gather in Vancouver October 19 to 22 to exchange ideas, read poems and inspire a new generation of poets as part of Vancouver 125.

The conference features four days of readings, panel discussions and cabaret nights and is open to writers, academics and poetry lovers. With its focus on a new generation of poets working in a wide range of styles, the event is being touted as a landmark exchange of poetry and poetics.

Vancouver 125 Poetry Conference highlights:

Vancouver Day: The opening day of the conference will feature an all-Vancouver line-up including Elizabeth Bachinsky, Stephen Collis, Jeff Derksen, Mercedes Eng, Ray Hsu, Evelyn Lau, Dorothy Trujillo Lusk, Catriona Strang and more (Oct.19).

Cabaret Nights at the Vancouver International Writer’s Festival featuring Christian Bök, Wayde Compton, Matthea Harvey, David McGimpsey, Ken Babstock, Srikanth Reddy, Suzanne Buffam, Evelyn Lau and more, plus musical guests (Oct.20 and 21).

Keynote reading by Don McKay, Fanny Howe and Martin Espada (Oct.21).

Inauguration of the third Vancouver Poet Laureate in a ceremony with Mayor Gregor Robertson and current Poet Laureate Brad Cran (Oct.22).

“Directions in Contemporary Poetry” grand finale panel with poets Clint Burnham, Ken Babstock, Suzanne Buffam Christian Bök, Steven Heighton, Jen Currin, Sachiko Murakami and Stephanie Bolster (Oct.22).

Conference passes and schedule information are available online at V125PC.com. Bursaries awarded through Downtown Eastside writing groups including Thursdays Writing Collective, Intrepid Pens, Megaphone Magazine and Heart of the City Festival will allow up to 20 poets to participate free of charge.

The Vancouver 125 Poetry Conference is part of Vancouver’s year-long celebration of its 125th anniversary and 2011 Cultural Capitals of Canada designation, which also includes major events, a grants program supporting over 130 community events, public art commissions, murals and civic initiatives like Viva Vancouver and Vancouver Archives digitization projects.

Media contact:
City of Vancouver Corporate Communications
604.871.6336
[email protected]