Fun screen presentation of Poetry Placards from the People’s Republic of Poetry (a.k.a. Wally Keeler) (bio below)

Ekphrastic display – a collaboration between The Cobourg Art Club and Spirit of the Hills Writers and Poets

Poet Mia Burrus’ display of multimedia bricolage and original verse (bio below)

Win a bundle of poetry collections: Tickets  $2 for 1 or $5 for 3 – Draw at the end of the readings

Gwynn Scheltema’s poetry has been published in Canada and South Africa, online and in print. Her debut collection Everchild was released by Aeolus House in fall of 2023. Gwynn is a Zimbabwean-Canadian whose work is inspired by the natural world, the sensory and sensual.

Bänoo Zan is a poet, translator, and poetry curator, with over 290 published pieces and three books. She is the founder of Shab-e She’r, Canada’s most diverse and brave poetry series. Bänoo is the co-editor of the forthcoming anthology with Guernica Editions: Woman, Life, Freedom: Poems for the Iranian Revolution. 

Abigail Grimes is a Canadian multi-genre author of fiction and poetry. Abigail’s work centers on relatable, yet flawed women. She is the author of the poetry and prose collection “For the Quiet” and is a member of the Writing Community of Durham Region. For poetry, stories and more, check out abigailgrimes.com.

Mia Burrus lives in the country north of Cobourg in a restored one-room schoolhouse, where she writes and creates collage/bricolage. She has published a poetry chapbook, What I Don’t Know, and several of her artworks were chosen for recent juried shows at local galleries. Visit her own gallery at miaburrus.com .

Bruce Kauffman lives in Kingston and is a poet and editor. His published works include three chapbooks and five collections of poetry. He hosts a monthly open mic reading series, “And the Journey Continues.’” He produces and hosts the weekly radio show, “Finding a Voice”, on CFRC 101.9fm, http://www.cfrc.ca

Merkat (Katie Hoogendam) is a poet, writer, and interdisciplinary artist. Her poetry collections include Mothertongue, Courage, Spring Thaw,  and Materials at Hand. Her current radio project, “Nightfall with Merkat,” considers poetry from years past, with an emphasis on folks outside the conventional canon. Find her @merkatart and follow her work at merkatart.substack.com

Sheniz Janmahomed (video poem) is a poet, spoken word artist, educator and nature artist, has performed her poetry nationally and internationally for 15 years. She is published in Arc Poetry Magazine, Descant and Canthius. She is a regular reviewer for Quill & Quire. Her three poetry collections published by Mawenzi House are: Bleeding Light (2010), Firesmoke (2014) and Reminders on the Path (2021). 

Marie-Lynn Hammond (song video)

Allan Briesmaster’s newest book, Later Findings (Ekstasis Editions, 2024), was preceded by The Long Bond: Selected and New Poems (Guernica Editions, 2019) and Windfor (Ekstasis, 2021). A freelance editor and publisher, he runs his own small press, Aeolus House, specializing in limited-edition books of poetry. He lives in Thornhill, Ontario. 

Antony Di Nardo is an award-winning poet and author of seven books of poetry. His latest collection, Forget-Sadness-Grass (Ronsdale Press), was a CBC Books’ poetry pick. His work appears widely in journals and anthologies across Canada and has been translated into French, German and Italian. He lives in Cobourg, Ontario.

Gavin Barrett is born in Mumbai and based in Toronto. His book Understan (Mawenzi House) was a CBC Books recommendation. Gavin’s poetry appears in Ranjit Hoskote’s anthology of 14 contemporary Indian poets, Reasons for Belonging and many other anthologies. He founded and curates the Tartan Turban Secret Readings, a Toronto reading series that gives IBPOC writers a stage. 

Felicity Sidnell-Reid writes poetry and fiction. She’s the co-host/producer of the literary radio series, “Word on the Hills.” She’s published a novel Alone; A Winter in the Woods (HBP, 2015, e-book 2020) and two poetry collections, The Yellow Magnolia, (Glentula Press, 2021) and The Many Faces, (Aeolus House 2022, e-book 2023).

Wally Keeler aka Peoples Republic of Poetry is a performance poet; published in Canada’s major literary journals; East European correspondent for Rampike magazine in 1980s; smuggling poetry, art, music in and out and in between the commie countries. Wally is now preparing to laser etch poetry onto picnic table tops.