December 5, 2011 - 1:34am
Poets on Campus, the Creative Writing Department and Portal Magazine are joining forces to celebrate the launch of Poetree – a new online showcase for poetry at Vancouver Island University.
Poetree, a concept originated by creative writing and poetry instructor Marilyn Bowering and further developed and designed by students Emily Smythe and Jingzhi Zhou, is a new digital poetry project website that will feature an online poetry tree. Once a month the Poetree buds will blossom with new selected poems written by students, faculty, and staff.
“It’s basically a place for people to go if they enjoy reading poetry, writing poetry or are looking to get involved with the poetry community at VIU,” says Smythe.
“We encourage submissions from people regardless of whether they have ever taken a class in writing before,” she says.
The launch of Poetree – Dec. 5, 4 pm in the Royal Arbutus Room, above the main cafeteria – is being held in conjunction with the end of the year CREW (Creative Writing) Face to Face gathering.
At the launch, there will be selected poems read from the first blossoming of Poetree, music, a piñata and door prizes.
The Portal Magazine team will also be on hand awarding Early Bird Competition prizes and holding draws for copies of the magazine.
The Early Bird submission deadline is Friday, Nov. 25, at midnight.
For a preview of the Poetree site, visit:
The tree will be in full blossom and available for submissions starting Dec. 5.
Event location: Royal Arbutus Room, bldg. 300
Date: Monday, December 05, 2011
Time: 4 pm to 7 pm
Cost: Free
Portal website:
Tags: In the Community
