Relationships are at the heart of two books being launched tonight by Black Moss Press.
Talking Derby, by Kate Hargreaves, explores a young woman’s love affair with her roller skates, and the poetry collection Whisky Sour City, edited by Vanessa Shields, brings together works by Windsor poets to reveal their tangled ties with the city.
A significant number of University of Windsor staffers, faculty members and both past and present members of the board have been awarded for their contributions to country in conjunction with the sixtieth anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne.
The following people have received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal:
Windsor’s poet laureate Marty Gervais will have words with UWindsor writer-in-residence Phil Hall on Thursday, but don’t worry—it’s all in the interests of art.
Both graduates of the University of Windsor, Gervais (MA 1972) and Hall (BA 1976, MA creative writing 1978) will discuss the latter’s work as part of the “Having Words” series of author talks hosted by the Arts Council Windsor and Region. The series promotes informal discussion about the craft of writing, exploring the challenges and joys related to poetry; events are free and open to the public.
For the last few weeks Kate Du Toit has been following the story of a 12-year-old amateur fighter from the Border City Boxing Club. A second-year student in the university’s digital journalism program, Du Toit sees the pre-teen as something of a metaphor for the resilience that personifies the Ford City neighbourhood from which he comes.
The University of Windsor will host a book signing by local authors—and UWindsor alumni—Peter Hrastovec and Marty Gervais, from noon to 1:30 p.m. today in its Vanier Hall location.
First-time author Hrastovec (BA 1979, LLB 1982) will sign his poetry collection In Lieu of Flowers. The paperback volume costs $17.
The Art Gallery of Windsor’s monthly art lounge will have a University flavour Thursday, as instructor Marty Gervais hosts and two of the three featured poets are UWindsor alumnae.
“Girls Night Out” will feature Kate Hargreaves (BA 2010, MA 2012), Vanessa Shields (BA 2002) and Melanie Janisse reading humorous works dealing with everything from roller derby to pregnancy.
Patrons will also have an opportunity to tour current exhibitions “Paris/Ojibwa” by Robert Houle, “The Wildcraft” by Kika Thorne, and “Mean Machines” by John Scott.
A free public reception Tuesday will launch the latest book by the University’s resident writing professional.
Ghost Road and other forgotten stories of Windsor is a new collection of local legends—only this is the Windsor we don’t know, says Marty Gervais. The best-selling author of The Rumrunners and My Town, he says these stories carry with them traces of the city’s weird and wonderful history.
The University of Windsor will be well-represented at BookFest Windsor, October 25 to 27 at the Capitol Theatre and Arts Centre.
Members of the UWindsor faculty will join a number of alumni for the event, a celebration of the literary arts that will feature workshops and discussion, readings of poetry and prose, book signings and socials.
Among the professors—both past and present—who have committed to appear are Marty Gervais, Susan Gold, Karl Jirgens, Martha Lee, Nicole Markotić, Eugene McNamara and Stephen Pender.
Being named Windsor’s first poet laureate is a great honour, says Marty Gervais.
“I’m very proud of this community and I’m a great promoter of it and so for them to choose me to lead the way in this regard makes me feel great,” he said.
Windsor city council appointed Gervais, resident writing professional in the UWindsor English department and a publisher, columnist and poet, to the post November 28.
Councillor Percy Hatfield called him an outstanding choice.
Thirty hours without food cannot compare with the suffering of people in famine-stricken Somalia, says Candace Spencer, but it may help to relieve it.
The coordinator of the Womyn’s Centre is organizing the UWindsor 30-Hour Famine, part of a national effort to raise funds in relief of Somali refugees.
“I think everybody has seen what is happening in Somalia,” says the political science and women’s studies major. “We want to give them just a taste of how it is for these people day after day after day.”
