Welcome
Welcome to the Fraser Valley Poets Society
Fraser Valley Poets Society (FVPS)* is a poetry society based in Abbotsford, B.C. It is a welcoming place for poets living anywhere in the Fraser Valley.
We meet regularly for open mic and featured reader poetry nights (Blue Moon Readings).
Time and location of poetry nights:
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Clearbrook Library (Community Room)
32320 George Ferguson Way
Abbotsford, B.C.
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Here is our Monday Night Reading Schedule for 2018:
February 19th 2018
March 12 2018
The FVPS welcomed Saint Soldier as our featured guest and reader.
April 9 2018
Blue Moon Reading
by Emily Isaacson
Monday, April 9th at 6:30 followed by an Open Mic.
The Fraser Valley Poets Society is pleased to present poet Emily Isaacson as their guest reader for National Poetry Month at their Blue Moon poetry event on April 9th.
Isaacson will be launching her latest volume of poetry titled Hallmark, which includes 130 new poems. She has overcome many obstacles in life to become a writer, including an eating disorder at 14 and osteoporosis at 25; she recovered and earned her Bachelor’s degree in nutrition and opened a nutrition clinic in 2016.
Her poetry is poignant and lyrical with themes of healing, forgiveness, nature, colonization and the First Nations people, and survival. Her multi-media art includes 50 videos of her poetry, as well as blogs and book websites. Emily’s dedicated voice over the last decade of writing has become a Canadian staple to her many online readers, celebrating over one million visits to her sites last year.
More info at http://www.emilyisaacson.com
April 30 2018
A Presentation on Self Publishing
by Ted Goodrich
Monday, April 30th at 6:30pm
followed by an Open Mic
May 28 2018
Blue Moon Book Launch
Monday, May 28th at 6:30pm
followed by an Open Mic
Join us as we welcome Aidan Chafe with his latest book Short Histories of Light
Aidan Chafe is a teacher and poet. His full-length collection Short Histories of Light was published in 2018 with McGill-Queen’s University Press. His other works include the chapbooks Right Hand Hymns (Frog Hollow Press, 2017) and Sharpest Tooth (Anstruther Press, 2016). His poetry has appeared in numerous international journals including CV2, The Cordite Review, EVENT and The Maynard. Originally from Abbotsford he now calls Burnaby home.
June 11 2018
June 25 2018
July 30 2018
6:30-8:30 at the Clearbrook Library
Come join the Fraser Valley Poets Society to hear Surjeet Kalsey read from her newest book, Reflections On Water.
Surjeet Kalsey is an outstanding South Asian Canadian writer who came to Canada in January 1974, bringing her rich experience in All India Radio broadcasting, journalism, writing and translation. She was ready to take flight and share her excitement with Canadian audiences.
Kalsey writes both in Punjabi and English and is the author of 19 books of poetry, short stories, stage plays, literary articles and translations, and has edited several books, along with her cultural, creative and social activities.
Kalsey’s writings include – poetry, short stories, stage plays, articles and literary criticism. Her poetry books in Punjabi include Paunan Nal Guftagoo, Aurat, Shabad te Shatkt, Rom Rom Vich Jagdey Deevey, Naam Tiharey, and Rung Mandal; her poetry books in English include Speaking to the Winds, Footprints of Silence, Sand-Scape, and Colours of My Heart, and the latest Reflections On Water.
Kalsey as a writer and a translator of literature:
– First introduced Punjabi literature to mainstream audiences in the seventies through creative literary translation works in English from Punjabi, and through bi-lingual poetry readings
– Founded various literary and cultural organizations in Vancouver, Abbotsford and Surrey including ‘Samanta’ for helping women victims of domestic violence.
– Anchored radio and TV shows to discuss literary, social and cultural issues has been a radio host since 2008 for CIVL Radio 101.7fm of UFV Abbotsford.
– Served as a Family Therapist with non-profit organizations and in private practice.
– Worked as a Court Interpreter at all levels of Courts in BC, and for other services. She is a professional certified translator.
– Edited several books and magazines including multilingual “Shahpara”.
Surjeet has been honored with many awards for her significant contributions to the Punjabi literature, language and cultural art. Most recently Kalsey was honoured by the Abbotsford Arts Council’s 11th Annual Arty Award of Literature Art of 2015. A year before, the University of British Columbia’s Prestigious Writer’s Lifetime Achievement Award was given for the first time to a woman writer in May 2014.
Punjabi Sahit Sabha Abbotsford (Reg.) honoured Surjeet Kalsey for her contribution to Punjabi literature and encouraging Fraser Valley Punjabi writers to establish a Punjabi literature Association in the Fraser valley area for the first time in 2008. She is also a member of the Fraser Valley Poets Society since 2009.
Surjeet Kalsey’s new book is available on amazon’s this link:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Reflections-Water-Surjeet-Kalsey/dp/1771712856
August 20 2018
September 10 2018
October 15 2018
November 5 2018
November 26 2018
Please mark your calendars.
Please take notice that the Fraser Valley Poets Society will be conducting Open Mic or Blue Moon readings through the summer this year. We look forward to hearing and sharing inspirations throughout the season until our winter break.
All scheduled readings:
Clearbrook Library,
32320 George Ferguson Way
Abbotsford, B.C.
6:30 – 8:30 pm
We meet in the Community Room to the Right of the Main Entrance.
Refreshments will be served and also welcome.
Bring a poem or two to share or just come and listen.
You are welcome to read your own poetry or some of your favourite authors.
Also, you can read in your first language and we will all celebrate the rhythms and rhymes of spoken verse.
Our events are free. You don’t have to be a FVPS member to read your work at an open mic. Just arrive, tell the person who is compiling the list of readers that you’d like to join in, and you’re on the program
Or come just to listen. Please feel free to bring a friend or neighbour.
Sign up for our newsletter to keep informed about our latest news.
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*FVPS was established as Poets Potpourri Society in 1981. The name was changed to Fraser Valley Poets Society in 2014. Read more about the founding, history and purpose of FVPS on the About Us page.
To view photos and reports of reading nights, go to the FVPS Blog page.
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