First Poets on Campus showcases VIU faculty

Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Creative Writing department is kicking off the new Poets on Campus season with a chance to hear some of VIU’s faculty talent. On Monday, September 15, at 4 pm, Marilyn Bowering, Steve Guppy, Stephen Hume, Liza Potvin, Robert Hilles, Kevin Roberts and Jay Ruzesky will each give a short reading in the Library Writing Centre.

"The first event is something we haven’t done," said Bowering, the faculty contact for the series. "We’ve got some great poets on staff – really, really significant poets. Oddly enough, it can be difficult to get a chance to hear our faculty poets – students often come to me and ask, ‘how can we hear our instructors?’"

"I’m really proud and happy to be a part of the department," said Ruzesky, one of the faculty readers. "VIU’s Creative Writing instructors are amazing writers, first and foremost."

It was a creative writing course that started Ruzesky on his path as a writer in 1983. "That’s when I started writing and kept going," he said, crediting his instructor for inspiring him. "Sometimes you find the right person to light that spark in you."

The format of the first event should guarantee an interesting afternoon. "Given the mix of people reading you can expect a lot of variety," said Ruzesky. "If you’ve never been to a poetry reading before this is a good one to go to – you’ll get a taste of every character in short bursts."

The event is sponsored by the Malaspina Faculty Association, the Dean of Arts and Humanities and the Department of Creative Writing. The event is open to the public. Admission is by donation. For more information and directions to the event, visit viu.ca/poetsoncampus.