The fourth presentation in the 18th annual Canadian Writers in Person Lecture Series will feature author Laurie D. Graham, who will read from her book of poetry Settler Education on Nov. 1.
The series, presented by the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS), runs Tuesday evenings from 7 to 10pm at 206 Accolade West Building.
Graham’s Settler Education is her second book of poetry, and in it she explores the Plains Cree uprising at Frog Lake. Her writing takes a honest look at the death of nine settlers, the hanging of six Cree warriors, the imprisonment of Big Bear and the opening of the Prairies to unfettered settlement.
Work from this second collection has received wide recognition, including winning The Puritan’s Thomas Morton Prize, as well as being shortlisted for the CBC Poetry Prize and Arc Poetry Magazine’s Poem of the Year contest.
Graham’s first book of poetry, Rove, was also held to high acclaim and was shortlisted for the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award for best first book of poetry in Canada.
Laurie, who is based in Ontario, is also publisher of Brick magazine and is on the advisory board of the University of Regina Press’s Oskana Poetry & Poetics series.
She holds a BA in English from the University of Alberta, a BFA in creative writing from the University of Victoria, and an MFA from the University of Guelph. She is originally from Sherwood Park, Alberta.
The Canadian Writers in Person Lecture Series runs as part of a degree credit course on Canadian literary culture through the LA&PS Culture & Expression program. Members of the York community not enrolled in the course can also enjoy the readings, which are free and open to the public.
This year’s lineup will feature a unique selection of writers who explore a diverse range of topics and geographical and cultural landscapes. Authors include poets, playwrights, fiction writers and more.
The 2016-17 series presents:
- Nov. 15 – Helen Humphreys, The Evening Chorus
- Nov. 29 – Allan Weiss, Making the Rounds
- Jan. 17 – André Alexis, Fifteen Dogs
- Jan. 31 – Lynn Crosbie, Where Did You Sleep Last Night?
- Feb. 14 – Madhur Anand, A New Index for Predicting Catastrophe
- March 7 – Katherena Vermette, North End Love Song
- March 21 – Terry Fallis, Poles Apart
For more information, email gailv@yorku.ca or leslie@yorku.ca.