The Edmonton Poetry Festival 
In This Issue
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Summer News
Thank you!
To all those who participated in our summer campaign - thank you! Your support helps us sustain stimulating year-round outreach programs, such as:
  • Poetry Moves on Transit, a program that places poetry on ETS (Edmonton Transit System) vehicles, and garners over two million views per round
  • Poetry Moves School Program, where we send poets into K-12 schools to inspire in students a life-long interest in poetry and literature
  • Poetry Moves Youth Symposium, a full day of empowering poetry workshops for high school students 
We are always impressed by the commitment to language and literacy in this community. Thank you again for your donations.

Meet Edmonton's New Poet Laureate!
 
This summer, Ahmed "Knowmadic" Ali was named Edmonton's seventh poet laureate, a position he will hold until 2019! Ahmed is an award winning Somali-born spoken word poet, entertainer and educator. He is the co-founder and current artistic director of the Breath In Poetry Collective (hosting poetry nights  every Tuesday at the Nook Cafe!).

Please join us in congratulating Ahmed on his new Poet Laureate position! Ahmed is also running for Edmonton Public School trustee in Ward A this fall. Follow his journey and support him by engaging with him on Twitter and Facebook (@Aknowmadic).



Poetry Moves on Transit:
Congratulations to the Winners!

If you have been riding the bus or LRT this summer, you probably have noticed four stunning new poems by the winners of Poetry Moves on Transit, summer edition!
This round, we asked Edmontonians "What moves you?" We received 75 meaningful, magical poems about movement in its many forms, from the emotional Oilers playoff season to the importance of ants.
The decision was a very tough one for the judges, who were impressed by the brilliant submissions we received. In the end, the four poems that moved us the most are circulating  ETS buses and  LRT cars for eight weeks this summer!
Congratulations to  Audrey J. WhitsonJanet StumphKim Mannix, and  M.C. Danzinger! Click here to read their "moving" poems!
 Thank you to everyone who submitted for this round of Poetry Moves on Transit! We hope to read you again in the future

Edmonton seeks its Third Youth Poet Laureate

The City of Edmonton Youth Council and City of Edmonton have put out the call for Edmonton's third Youth Poet Laureate!
In their one-year term, beginning October 1st, Edmonton's  Youth Poet Laureate will reflect the life of a city for youth through readings of poetry, and act as an ambassador for the literary arts in a range of official and informal City activities.
If you are (or you know someone) between the ages of 13-23 who would be interested in this position, please direct them to this link and nomination form. Applications will be accepted until
September 8th, 2017.

In the Community

Writers' Guild of Alberta Fall Kick-off

The Almanac, 10351 Whyte Avenue
Thursday, September 7
Gather at 7:00pm, program at 7:30pm
Free for WGA members, $5.00 for non-members
 
Join us at our annual Fall Kick-off! Meet old friends and make some new ones while we talk about the upcoming literary season in Edmonton. The WGA will be joined by representatives of various literary organizations, festivals, residency programs, and reading series as they present their much-anticipated annual programming. Bring your calendars (electronic or "old school") and let's make some plans together. Beverages and food will be available for purchase.

JustWrite in the Mountains

Come write with us in the mountains! 
JustWrite is headed to the Rockies  October 27 to 29! Join award winning authors Gail Sidonie Sobat and Thomas Trofimuk at The Black Cat Ranch House nestled in the Rocky Mountains for a weekend dedicated to exploring and nurturing your creative side! Whether you desire a weekend of solitary reflection or a retreat amongst friends, this getaway is for all individuals 18+ wishing to develop their creative writing in a safe and inclusive environment.   

For further details of this wonderful weekend retreat please visit http://www.youthwrite.com/justwrite-in-the-mountains-2017 or e-mail info@youthwrite.com "


Breath in Poetry - Poetry Every Tuesday

Join the Breath in Poetry Collective for an evening of poetry every Tuesday night at The Nook Cafe (formerly Massawa), starting at 7:00pm!

Stroll of Poets - The Haven Restarts September 18th

The 2017-2018 Haven series is just around the corner! The Haven  sign up page is open to schedule your ten minute reading or volunteer as a mic or door host.  All Stroll members are entitled to a ten minute reading.  Want to be a member or need to renew your membership? Learn more  here .
The Haven begins  Monday, September 18th at 7:00pm at the Upper Crust Cafe (10909 86 Ave).

Thank you for your continued support of the festival! 

Sincerely,
  
Rayanne Doucet & Adriana Onita
Edmonton Poetry Festival