Monday Magazine M Awards 2014

Monday Magazine M Awards 2014  The official ballot (survey) is now online for the 2014 Monday Magazine M Awards. Here are all the categories and nominees--if, like me, you prefer to read them all before beginning to vote.  Please note--it is not possible to hit "previous" in the survey without it recording you as having completed. If you want your vote to count you must vote for a minimum of 20 categories (out of 45+).  There are a number of … [Read more...]

Victoria Arts Adventures April 2014

Victoria Arts Adventures April 2014 Here's a round-up of some of the arts events in April, as of March 20th.  April is National Poetry Month in Canada—take some time to connect with the multitude of poetry events in Victoria this April, including Victorious Voices the 5th annual Victoria High School slam poetry championships, and LitARTCity, a fundraiser with Victoria's poet laureate Janet Rogers, to benefit the READ Society. On the … [Read more...]

Victorious Voices 5th annual High School Slam Poetry Championships. April 7-9th 2014.

Victorious Voices Celebrates 5 Years of Youth Speaking Their Truth I don't get out to as much poetry (slam, spoken word, readings) as I would like, but I always make time and space in my calendar for Victorious Voices.  Director Jeremy Loveday has impressed me with his passion for mentoring since the first time I met him in early 2011. April marks the 16th annual National Poetry Month in Canada; I can't think of a better way to celebrate poetry … [Read more...]

The Trees That SeaThe Sky, March 12 2014 at First Met United.

Will Weigler,who brought us the incredible From The Heart: Enter Into The Journey of Reconciliation at Uptown this past summer, returns to his story-telling roots on March 12th at First Metropolitan United Church with a program entitled The Trees That Sea The Sky: an evening of stories, songs and poems on experiencing the sacred in the natural world. Featured will be  a wonderful collection of poetry, prose and music that Weigler says " speak … [Read more...]

Victoria Arts Adventures March 2014

Victoria Arts Adventures March 2014. When I started writing about the arts, some of my first posts were an attempt to capture what was happening on a seasonal basis in the theatre community in Victoria BC.  It provided a place to get all the theatre listings in one place—I figured if I was having trouble keeping it straight most people would have the same problem.  Since 2011 the number of offerings has increased exponentially, and I've also … [Read more...]

Victoria Spoken Word Festival 2014 – interview with Poet of Honour Barbara Adler

Victoria Spoken Word Festival 2014 (VSWF) - interview with Poet of Honour Barbara Adler. Barbara is a poet, spoken word artist, slam champion and musician (accordion). She'll be in Victoria for the festival March 4-9, 2014, and is also offering a workshop (Sunday March 9th) that will be open to the public. Photo: Tony Hoare 2013 You participated in the inaugural Canadian Festival of Spoken Word.  How have you seen the “scene” change in the … [Read more...]

Victoria Spoken Word Festival 2014 – Inside Story

The Victoria Spoken Word Festival - Inside Story, March 4-9, 2014 brings more than 20 artists from across North America to Victoria. I was part of a local group of grass-roots angel investors, the Awesome Shit Club, when spoken word artist Missie Peters pitched her plan to promote the first Victoria Spoken Word Festival in 2011. She’s grown the festival in size and scope every year since, bringing together spoken word artists to create and … [Read more...]

Arts Adventures for the Holidays in Victoria BC December 2013

Arts Adventures for the Holidays in Victoria BC, December 2013 There is truly something for everyone in Victoria this up-coming holiday season. Whether you enjoy theatre, music or dance, local arts organizations have prepared wonderful holiday-themed events for your consideration. It's Christmas: a sparkling, musical, holiday revue continues Fridays and Saturdays throughout December at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.  A talented cast of singers … [Read more...]

The Collected Works of Billy the Kid at Theatre Inconnu. My review.

Some performances stay with us a lifetime, vivid memories sparked by visceral reactions to the sights and sounds onstage.  The Collected Works of Billy the Kid by Michael Ondaatje is one such a show. First staged in Victoria by the Belfry Theatre in 1993, in the full theatrical version, it unnerved me with its force. The powerful language painted pictures beyond anything I’d experienced to that point. Ondaatje won his first Governor General’s … [Read more...]

Call for Victoria’s Second Youth Poet Laureate. Deadline November 25 2013

Did you know that the City of Victoria is the first city in Canada to have a Youth Poet Laureate?  Aysia Law, a current UVic creative writing student, was chosen in January 2013 to represent Victoria.  She was active in the community, performing at Pop-Up Poetry events in April to celebrate National Poetry Month, and at council meetings and Culture Days events, as well as organizing a Diversity Slam this past summer. Photo: City of … [Read more...]