Poets’ Haven – April 3

Up Next at the Haven!

Upper Crust Café, 10909 86 Ave.

Monday, April 3, 7:00 pm, $5 admission (includes desserts and coffee)

Features Poetry by:  Kim Mannix, Laurel Sproule, Dan Knauss, & Jannie Edwards

Mic Host: Jessica Coles
Door Host: Loren Marsden

Open Mic:  Sign-up (2-min. poem)

Welcome all! See you at the Haven! Bring your friends! New and first readers are always welcome and given priority during the Open Mic.

2023 Stroll Anthology Cover Art Winner

The 2023 Stroll of Poets Anthology was revealed during the AGM on March 19.

Congratulations to Katherine Weinmann, winner of the 2023 cover art competition, who writes, “Most Sunday mornings I walk in our river valley with Edmonton’s chapter of Camino pilgrims. Taken the last day of 2022 while walking toward Hawrelak Park, the photo, titled ‘Waiting and Welcomed,’ evokes a poem’s invitation to pause, take a seat—alone or together—and to then behold the beauty of our surroundings. This photo’s light and perspective suggest unspoken, or yet to be known, possibilities—with all the rich diversity and insight that both photography and poetry evoke. Contemplative by nature, I have grown to love winter’s silence and stillness, finding therein a perfect cocoon for my writing.”

2023 Anthology Pick-Up

The Stroll of Poets board would like to request that all members who have not yet acquired their 2023 anthology, please adhere to the following procedure. First, since we will be distributing anthologies at all of the remaining Stroll events this season, we ask that you endeavour to attend one of them to also pick up your copy. The remaining events include: Haven readings at the Upper Crust on April 3rd, April 17th, and May 1st; the Blinks poetry event at The Aviary on April 23rd; the Stroll History and Fund raising event at Unity Centre on June 17th.

IF it is not possible for you to make it to any of these events, then we ask that you please contact the board at strollquestions@gmail.com in order that we may make arrangements for you to obtain your copy.

**Update – The Blinks: Ignition

Sunday, April 23, 2023
6:30 pm, doors open at 6:00 pm
The Aviary, 9314 – 111 Ave. N.W.
Free

Start your poetry engine—the Blinks is back! We’ve had to idle for a couple of years, but it’s time to rev up again in a fast-paced evening where dozens of poets will step up to the stage and turn the key.

What’s a Blink poem? It’s Edmonton’s own feat of poetic engineering, a sleek sparkplug of words, a poem delivered in—gasp—less than 30 seconds.

Words have the power to move. They can make us laugh, wonder, weep. So, fire up that creativity, sign up to take part and craft that powerful image to ignite hearts. Or just come along to the Aviary and hear how much energy can be injected into half a minute.

The rules are easy:

  • Sign up through THIS LINK
  • Prepare your 30 second poem – rhyme, rap or haiku. You can’t go over 30 seconds or the Blinks Philharmonic will rev up and drown you out.
  • Sign up through the link we will provide here on April 2nd
  • Show up on the night and …
  • Make us blink!

Sign-up now open                            Sign-up deadline April 15th

Poets’ Haven, March 26 – Audreys Books

Up Next at the Haven!

Audreys Books, 10702 Jasper Ave.

Sunday, March 26, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm (no admission fee)

Features Poetry by:  Gary Garrison, Phyllis Shuell, Naomi McIlwraith, Daniel Poitras

Mic Host: Max Vandersteen

Open Mic:  Sign-up (2-min. poem)

Welcome all! See you at the Haven! Bring your friends! New and first readers are always welcome and given priority during the Open Mic.

AGM Afterwords – A message from the president

Our thanks go out to all the Stroll members who ventured downtown to the Stanley A Milner Library to take part in our Annual General Meeting last Sunday. Seeing all the faces of those in attendance was a pleasure that we have been unable to enjoy for a few years. The conversations, the discussion and the in person meeting were all pleasurable. The library loft location was a fine spot to convene. The election was a success and the Open Mic was enjoyable. The exit from the parkade, however, was a formidable challenge!

Our ultimate gratitude is extended to Janis Dow, our outgoing president, for her infinite efforts in running the board and the Stroll of Poets during the past two years, particularly in light of the challenges arising due to the Covid restrictions. What a terrific job she has done in enhancing the legacy of the Stroll of Poets Society. And appreciation is offered as well to John Leppard for the moving tribute he shared in honour of Janis.

Recognition also goes out to Trudy Grienauer, our Returning Officer, to Ellen Kartz, our registrar, and Deborah Lawson our Anthology editor and distributor that day.

The drive, commitment, and dedication of the following individuals is truly to be acknowledged. It looks to be a fruitful and promising year ahead.

Congratulations go out to the members elected to the 2023/2024 Stroll Board:

  • Max Vandersteen – President
  • Naomi McIlwraith
  • Alice Major
  • Ann Gerard Marshall
  • Markus Eymann
  • Kayleigh Cline
  • Leslie Dawson
  • Audrey Brooks

A warm welcome also to associate board members:

  • Dorothy Lowrie
  • David Fraser  

In peace and poetry;
Max