Writers from across the country descended upon St. Peter’s College for Sage Hill Writing’s Spring Colloquium, and to mark the occasion, writers were invited to the Reid-Thompson Public Library for a poetry reading on May 15.
Colloquium instructor Sylvia Legris, and writer Katherine Lawrence both brought their literary works to the Reid-Thompson library, reading both published and in-progress works.
Legris is a Winnipeg-born, Saskatoon-based writer, whose poetry has appeared in a number of literary magazines including the New Yorker, Conjunctions, and Granta.
Legris’ third collection of poetry “Nerve Squall” also won the 2006 Griffin Poetry Prize, described as “Canada’s most generous poetry award.”
Lawrence is a Hamilton-born, Saskatoon-based writer, whose works of poetry have appeared in literary journals across Canada and the United Kingdom.
Lawrence’s work has also resulted many awards. Her first collection of Poetry “Ring Finger, Left Hand” won the Saskatchewan Book Awards’ Brenda Macdonald Riches Award for best first book.
Her second work “Lying to Our Mothers” was shortlisted for a pair of awards including the Anne Szumigalski Award and the Alfred G. Bailey Prize for poetry.
Another of Lawrence’s works won the 2014 City of Regina Writing Award, while her young adult novel in-verse Stay earned her a 2018 Saskatchewan Book Award nomination for Children’s Literature.
Having readers come into the library and showcase their work is great, says librarian Michael Langhorst because it gives the readers a chance to gain exposure and read in front of a bit of a larger crowd.
While the readers were gaining exposure, Sage Hill Writing Executive Director Tara Dawn Solheim says she hopes those who came to take in the readings were able to gain a new appreciation for the sound of language.
“You get to take in each syllable, the sound of it and when you go back into the world you might listen differently or you might listen to the birds differently or you might listen to the radio differently.”
Bringing the reading to the library was something new for this year, with Sage Hill Writing Executive Director Tara Dawn Solheim noting with the colloquium returning to St. Peter’s College for the first time in a number of years, having the reading at the library seemed like a good fit.
“I like this area and I think working with the library was really fantastic. They were super supportive.”
With the library always looking to bring more readings into the library, librarian Michael Langhorst says it was great being able to partner with Sage Hill Writing.
“It’s a good partnership. If we can partner with them once a year then why not? We’ll see what happens in the future.”
The partnership and the move to the library seemed to be an effective one, with a relatively large crowd in attendance, including some who made the drive from Sasakatoon.
Langhorst was really happy, noting it is a great way to provide exposure for both the city and the library.
“It’s exciting when people are interested and seem very engaged as well. Everyone was laughing and actively participating and that’s what really matters,” added Solheim.
Solheim would like to thank everyone for their support in making the reading a possibility.
