Welcome to our archives! The Poetry Gabriola Society has plenty to be proud of, and we highlight some of it here. We have the Festival 2010, Festival 2009, Festival 2008 and Festival 2007 web pages archived, as well as some remnants of the 2005 festival. We also have various other events throughout the year, and highlight some of them below.

FESTIVAL 2010

The year 2010 has been full of surprises. One of the most recent is our venue change – all events over the festival weekend (November 11 – 14) will be held at the Dragon’s Lodge, at the end of Dragon’s Lane, off North Road (see their map here).

We have reinvented the festival to fit this beautiful oceanfront location and hope you find it as inspiring as we do.

CANADA SPEAKS PREMIERES

This November 2010 also marks the culmination of a two-year project called Canada Speaks: New Literary Performance Works by Twelve Canadian Artists. Festival audiences will have the opportunity to see 12 of Canada’s top literary performers in action as they premiere the brand new pieces commissioned by Poetry Gabriola for this special initiative. 

Festival 2008 • November 13 - 16

The 2008 festival was a fabulous success, with twenty-four artists, 12 events, six workshops and ten venues, and full crowds at most events. You can read the original festival pages in detail here.

 

 

2007 Poetry Gabriola Festival

Visit the 2007 website. (archived and compressed)

The 2007 festival ran for nine days from November 17 to 25.

It was a fabulous success, showcasing internationally recognized talent alongside newcomers and local performers. Poets mixed it up with musicians and experiments in various genres.

• over 800 audience members
• 68 artists
• over 23 hours of performance poetry
• nine days on beautiful Gabriola Island

Watch the video of 2007 highlights! (5min, quicktime required)

You can also watch the longer, 9 minute version of this video, featuring even more local performers, on youtube.

 

Earlier Events

A Conversation with Canada Council Programming Officer Paul Seesequasis; Wed, Oct 15, 2008

Paul Seesequasis, Programming officer for The Canada Council For The Arts, talked  about the Canada Council, gave an overview of the granting programs, and answered questions. Open to ALL artists of ALL disciplines -- writers, performers, dancers, theatre types, and visual artists. 

Thanks to the Gabriola Arts Council for helping out with this event!

The Poet’s Picnic - August 10, 2008

With poets Miranda Pearson & Hilary Peach & Songsters Kevin House & Myles Black. Outdoor open stage.

Readings At The Roxy #1 -Aug 15, 2008

Vancouver poets and literary publishers Meredith Quartermain & Peter Quartermain. With host Hilary Peach.

Meredith Quartermain is the author of six books of poetry including the 2006 BC Book Award winner Vancouver Walking. Peter Quartermain is a poet and taught contemporary poetry and poetics at the University of British Columbia for over 30 years. Together they are the founders of Nomados Literary Publishers.

 

You Are Here - July 7, 2007

Rae Spoon, Valerie Salez, and Ivan E. Coyote, pictured here somewhere in the Yukon, brought their multimedia, storytelling and banjo collaboration You Are Here to the Roxy Lounge on July 7, 2007.

 

Sachiyo Takahashi - August 25, 2007

Tokyo performance artist Sachiyo Takahashi brought her microspic performance The Nekaa Room to the Roxy Lounge August 25th 2007 to The Roxy Lounge. It featured a live video-feed of miniature actors and we were filled with suspense. Did the tiny sheep get the girl in the end?

 

 

 

national poetry month - APRIL 1, 2007

On April 1st, 2007, The Fool's Day, Leaf Press, the League of Canadian Poets and Poetry Gabriola collaborated on a "happening" at the Roxy Lounge, and everyone lived to tell the tale. (view full poster)

 

 

 

 

RITALLIN - january 30, 2007

On January 30 2007 Ritallin (aka Greg Frankson) rhymed out with the Tina Jones Band at the Surf Pub.

While he was on Gabriola Greg gave an inspirational talk and free-stylin' demo and workshop at the Gathering Place with twenty youth.

 

 

 

 

LAURIE ANDERSON - 2006

 

In 2006, in an unprecedented show of coolness, Laurie Anderson accepted our invitation to come to Gabriola and perform at the 200-seat Phoenix Auditorium. She created a special storytelling set for the event, called Island Stories. Lou Reed accompanied Laurie on the trip and sat in on her set.