Poets at the library: George McWhirter – Vancouver Poet Laureate coming tomorrow
Today poet Rita Wong came to read at Library Square to our Vancouver library workers. Yesterday, Fiona Tinwei Lam came to read from her book “Intimate Distances.” And tomorrow…. Vancouver Poet Laureate George McWhirter is coming.
Fiona and Rita both expressed the sadness at the library being closed due to the strike, and extended empathy to the library workers. Fiona introduced her sister Shona, who is a librarian at the Cancer Control Agency of BC. Rita shared that when she worked at the Delta Museum, they were out on a long strike.
Rita started off reading a poem from her collection Monkey Puzzle, which was written during that time on strike.
Both Rita and Fiona were well received and our library worker audience supplemented with members of the public, were appreciative and listened well.
Tomorrow… George McWhirter, Vancouver poet laureate, comes to read.
From the CUPE391.ca website
Thursday, September 6, 2007
“Let’s talk” in black and white
Aliza wrote this in the late afternoon:
Tomorrow is going to be action packed, so get ready!
Members can start their day by picking out a wardrobe that is black & white. This is the theme for the day.
In the morning, members are encouraged to make and wear signs that
will bring public attention to our website, where they can access the
full picture of who we are and why we are out here walking the lines,
in “black & white”.
At 11:00 AM there will be a fabulous puppet show, a fantasy tale about a farmer named Sam and how he learns to negotiate.
12.00 PM is another filling and fun BBQ.
1.00 PM Poet Laureate of the City of Vancouver George McWhirter
will be speaking to the members. He is the author of Queen of the Sea :
Poems, Catalan Poems, Eyes to See Otherwise. He is also professor
emeritus of the UBC Creative Writing Department where he was department
head from 1983 until 1993. On March 8, 2007, Prof. McWhirter was named
the inaugural Poet Laureate of the City of Vancouver – an honourary
two-year term. As a champion for poetry, language and the arts, he is
tasked to create a unique artistic legacy through public readings and
civic interactions.
1:30 PM– Members will be making a human wall around
the pillars of the library, then moving that wall out to the sidewalk.
This wall will then shift over to the North Plaza where, at 2:00 PM, our members will be spelling out a message to our employer and the City of Vancouver:
“Let’s Talk”
If you know anyone who works in the Federal Tower, let them know what a great photo opportunity this will be.
Finally, at 2:30 PM, everyone will be collecting on the South Plaza for “Grandeur on Georgia”, our daily “hello” to the citizens of Vancouver.
“Read-In” for literacy.
Saturday is World Literacy day. To celebrate CUPE 391 is having
another “Read-In” from 2:00 PM until 2:30 PM on the South Plaza. Bring
your favorite book and some family and friends, and sit down to enjoy
the printed page in honour of literacy.
Finally, another reminder about Saturday night and the great benefit
planned for our local. Details are available on our bargaining
resources page (see right) and our “Splash” page. Look for the bright
green icon.