Atwater Poetry Project

We celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Atwater Poetry Project (APP) on September 28, 2019 with a festive evening of words, music, discussion and refreshments. Outgoing Curator Deanna Radford, who planned the special event, thanked the many contributors to the success of the poetry reading series and announced that poet Rachel McCrum will serve as Curator for the next year. Atwater Library Executive Director Lynn Verge opened the evening by paying tribute to founder Oana Avasilichioaei and the other Coordinator-Curators who have all served voluntarily.

From September 2004 through January 2019, the Atwater Poetry Project featured 278 poetry readings. Click here for the 15th anniversary slideshow with poets’ photos and names.

The Canada Council for the Arts awarded funding for the period from September 2019 to June 2020. The Atwater Library also continues to make a substantial contribution.

Please send inquiries to APP Curator Rachel McCrum: racheljmccrum@gmail.com.

2020 Atwater Poetry Project Events

Friday, January 31, 2020 – 4:00 to 6:00 pm
Bodies in Lyric – Tanya Evanson on Spoken Word: 
A co-presentation at CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY’S 4TH SPACE of the Atwater Writers Exhibition, SpokenWeb, and the Atwater Poetry Project. This talk will examine some current states in spoken word and look at the work of artists Kaie Kellough, Moe Clark and Cat Kidd. We round it all out with a live performance featuring Tanya Evanson on vocals, Jahsun on percussion and Jean-Michel Frédéric on keys.
NOTE that this event is NOT at the Atwater Library but instead, at CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY’S 4TH SPACE, LB 103, 1400 De Maisonneuve W.

Saturday, February 1, 2020 – 10:30 am to 4:30 pm
The Page with Ears Open – A Spoken Word Workshop at the Atwater Library with workshop leader Tanya Evanson, Antiguan-Canadian writer and performer. A co-presentation of the Atwater Writers Exhibition, SpokenWeb, and the Atwater Poetry Project.
Space is limited and ADVANCE REGISTRATION is required: Elise Moser at elise.m@videotron.ca.

Past 2019 Atwater Poetry Project Events

Thursday, January 24, 2019 – 12:30 to 1:30 pm
In honour of ROBBIE BURNS DAY, poet and musician Ilay Ian Charles Ferrier (aka Ian Ferrier) performed his poetry with accompaniment by clarinetist and composer Louise Campbell.
Ian Ferrier is one of the best known spoken word performers in Canada. He, his son and his fathers before him are all named after that fabulous whiskey isle in the Hebrides, Islay.
Presented jointly by the Atwater Library Lunchtime Series with funding arranged by Deanna Radford from the League of Canadian Poets.
Special treats provided by Shortbread by Gryphon served with coffee.
2:00 to 4:00 pm
Poet and musician Ian Ferrier led an Atwater Writers Exhibition memoir writing activity, “Moments in the Story of Your Life.”
Generously supported by the Community Cultural Action Fund (CCAF) of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Saturday, September 28, 2019 – 7:00 to 9:30 pm
15th Anniversary Celebration with poets Oana Avasilichioaei, founder of the Atwater Poetry Project and first curator (2004 – 2009); Nicole Brossard; Faizal Deen; Ian Ferrier; Katia Grubisic, series curator (2009 – 2013); and H. Nigel Thomas, panel discussion moderator. With Rachel McCrum and curated by Deanna Radford. Facebook event.
Saturday, November 2, 2019 – 6:00 to 8:00 pm
Readings by the poets shortlisted for the 2019 Quebec Writers’ Federation A. M. Klein Prize for Poetry: Kaie Kellough, Tess Liem and Shannon Webb-Campbell.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019 – 6:00 to 8:00 pm
Readings by Gail Scott and Armand Garnet Ruffo. Facebook Event.

Atwater Poetry Project Coordinators and Curators

Oana Avasilichioaei – 2004 – 2009

Katia Grubisic – 2009 – 2013

Darren Bifford – 2013 – 2014

Symon Jory Stevens-Guille and Charlotte Harrison – 2014 – 2015

Deanna Radford – 2015 – 2019

Rachel McCrum – 2019 – 2020

Archives

Note: Audio recordings of poet readings can be found at the bottom of each poet’s biography page. 

Thank-Yous

We thank our community of poets, audiences, funders, publishers, CEGEPs, co-presenters and other collaborators for their support over the past 15 years.

In addition to the coordinators and curators listed above, this list includes: the Atwater Library and Computer Centre, the Canada Council for the Arts, the League of Canadian Poets, The Writers’ Union of Canada, University of New Brunswick’s Poetry Weekend, the Quebec Writers’ Federation and its Writers Out Loud series, Vallum Magazine, Lectures Logos Readings, the Gail Scott Reading Series, Poetry In Voice/Les voix de la poésie, the Suoni Per Il Popolo festival, iPLAI McGill, Morris House Reading Series, Writers Read, CKUT 90.3 FM, VERSEfest, Librairie L’Eugélionne, and Eric Lewis.