Encouragement - Writings by Donna Bishop with tributes & poems by friends. FVPS 2014 anthology. Click on image for details.
Picking Flowers - Poems by Thurlow Gowan with tributes and poems by friends. MSA PPS 2012 Anthology. Click on image for details.
River of Words - anthology published by MSA PPS in 2009. Click on image for details.
In The Haggard Road Shelley shares her love of words and images. A beautiful first collection. Click on image for details.
I Am The Poem culminates a lifetime of teaching and thinking about poetry - by Alvin G. Ens. Click on image for details.
A poem collection by Violet Nesdoly, about the families we are a part of, and the homestead we all inhabit. Click on image for details.
Poetic Spirits of the Valley-an anthology representing 25 years of poetic history in the Fraser Valley. Click on image for more details.
A Poets Passion Revisited by T. M. Broadworth - A collection of personal writings and photo art celebrating the complexities of life.
A Familiar Shore by Emily Isaccson. Stories of four women told in poetry, parable and myth
The Healing Power of Nature by Satwant Kaur Pandher. This full-color hardcover book contains over 50 poems and many photos. Click on image for details.
Calendar by Violet Nesdoly. Contains over 50 poems that explore the rhythms of the year, nature, life & the family. FREE! Click on image for details.
A Poetic Kaleidoscope by T. W. Goodrich: "... something for all readers: short, long, deep, simple, painful, and hopeful poems" - Reviewer (Click on image for details.)
A first collection by Nicholas Roberts, the space between the eyes contains over 50 poems. Click on image for details.
Hours From A Convent by Emily Isaacson. Poems from the perspective of a young nun. Click on image for details.
'Magnoliye De Phul' by Satwant Pander was inspired by Satwant's love of nature. Click on image for details.
Colours of My Heart - Poems by Surjeet Kalsey. Click on image for details.
Fritzy is a novelette, by Donna Bishop based on Fritzy's childhood. Informative reading for a ten year old. Delightful reading for an adult. Click on image for details.
Posted by Violet Nesdoly on October 30, 2012
Robert Martens reading at an MSA PPS Blue Moon Reading – June 2011
Congratulations to Robert Martens, local poet and friend of MSA PPS. His recently published chapbook Poltergeist has been shortlisted in the bpNichol Chapbook Award.
The winner will be announced November 17th in Toronto.
All the best, Robert!
Posted in Local poetry news | 1 Comment »
Posted by Violet Nesdoly on October 30, 2012
A week ago today we celebrated the life of Thurlow Gowan.
The meeting area of Bevan Lodge was crowded with family and friends. Guests shared memories, music and, of course, lots of poetry.
Family members and representatives from the Saskatchewan Superannuated Teachers Group, Abbotsford Square Dance Club and MSA Poets Potpourri Society all gave tributes.
Tributes to Thurlow Gowan
At the reception we continued to share memories and stories over coffee and goodies.
Socializing at the reception – Thurlow’s Celebration of Life
The memorabilia table included Thurlow’s banjo, cap, and two books with collections of his poems. Many attendees left with Picking Flowers, MSA PPS’s latest anthology that features his poems, in hand.
Memorabilia – Thurlow Gowan
On display was this keepsake from his teaching days. The story behind it is that at retirement his students absconded with his lunch bucket, flattened it, then mounted it on a desktop as a memento of his years as a teacher.
The Master of Ceremonies left us with these thoughtful words from Thurlow himself.
“The River We All Must Cross” by Thurlow Gowan
Rest In Peace dear friend.
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Posted by Violet Nesdoly on October 22, 2012
We received word that Thurlow Gowan, our Cascade Poet, passed away late Thursday afternoon, October 18th.
A Celebration of Life will be held
Tuesday, October 23 at 2:00 p.m. at Bevan Lodge
Bevan Lodge
33386 Bevan Avenue
Abbotsford, BC
Thurlow Gowan at an MSA PPS Blue Moon reading night.
View Thurlow’s obituary in the Vancouver Sun
View Thurlow’s obituary on the Alternatives site (includes a form for Messages)
Our sympathy goes out to Thurlow’s family.
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Posted by Violet Nesdoly on October 16, 2012
The MSA Poets Potpourri Society members ended the season’s series of public readings on a high note by launching their newest anthology.
Blue Moon Reading and the launch of Picking Flowers
The 160-page volume Picking Flowers – Poems by Thurlow Gowan with Tributes and Poems by Friends was the product of months of work by editors Alvin Ens and Violet Nesdoly. It contains over 50 poems by Thurlow Gowan and comes out just in time for his 100th birthday (November 28th). PPS members contributed to Tributes and Member Poems sections.
The book is a treasury of poems rich in history and rife with homespun wisdom and the pioneer spirit of the Canadian west. (Thurlow grew up in Manitoba and, after stints of beekeeping and logging, taught in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and British Columbia.) Black-and-white photos sprinkled throughout illustrate the changes one hundred years have brought to Thurlow and the world he and his wife Vivian inhabited.
For the first half of the evening members took turns reading Thurlow’s poems. The fact that we all found something to read that was to our taste speaks of Thurlow’s range in both subject matter and style.
MSA PPS Members read from Picking Flowers
After a refreshment break contributors read their selections from the Tributes and Member Poems.
Socializing during the break
Unfortunately Thurlow was not well enough to attend the evening. His niece Beverly Urschel represented the family. However, a group of MSA PPS members presented Picking Flowers to Thurlow a few days before the launch.
Alvin Ens, Brayden Sawatzky, Thurlow Gowan (holding his book), Nicholas Roberts & Shelley Haggard.
Thanks to Shelley who brought bouquets of carnations. We ended the evening by picking flowers, and everyone took home a memento of the evening.
Picking Flowers is available for purchase ($20).
Contact Alvin Ens
Kariton Gallery
2387 Ware Street, Abbotsford, BC
OR alternate location (check back for confirmation of meeting place)
6:30-8:30
Check back for venue and time.
Posted in MSA-PPS News | 3 Comments »
Posted by Violet Nesdoly on October 1, 2012
Note that there will be no open mic segment at this event.
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Fraser Valley Poets Society 