How do I even begin to write about a city brimming with poetic activity? I guess I’ll give it a good ol’ try. I’m ever grateful that you’ve asked me for my insights, rob, and I’ll do what I can to bring each area of our beloved poetry community to light. Content warning: potentially limited scope.
Since the day I moved to Ottawa from that mega-metropolis six hours to our southwest (Hi, Toronto), I continue to marvel at the contrast of this city’s surface quiet and the teeming of life that exists below. Ottawa is a place where you need to dive beneath the waves; take the plunge, and the ins-and-outs of the poetry scene will show themselves to you.
As the sun streams into my living room and I listen to the Saturday-morning bustle of Rideau Street below my open window, I think to about two weeks ago (four poetry events in the span of seven days) while looking forward to the next few months. We have bounced back, with a vengeance, from the stagnancy of the pandemic. Here’s what I’ve got in my iCal so far:
§ Sep 9: Making Love with the Land with Joshua Whitehead
- Ottawa Writersfest presents Canada Reads-winner Joshua Whitehead in conversation about his latest book, Making Love with the Land, a startling, heart-wrenching look at what it means to live as a queer Indigenous person “in the rupture” between identities. (7pm at the Christ Church Cathedral, 414 Sparks St.)
§ Sep 16: Ottawa Launch for WJD/The OceanDweller
- Khashayar “Kess” Mohammadi comes from Toronto to launch their newest collection WJD/The OceanDweller. Readings from Terese Mason Pierre, natalie hanna, Ellen Chang-Richardson (yes, it me), Kimberly Quiogue Andrews, and Ian Martin. (7pm at Happy Goat Coffee Co., 35 Laurel St.)
§ Sep 19: 2022 Lampman Award Shortlist Reading
- Arc Poetry Magazine hosts an evening of readings from this year’s shortlisted collections. A legendary award with what I’m sure will be a legendary line-up. It always is. (7pm at Spark Beer, 702 Somerset St W.)
§ Sep 20: A Reading with Anne Marie Todkill, Anita Lahey, and Bardia Sinaee
- Readings and conversations on the theme of friendship! Moderated by Ben Ladouceur. (7:30pm at Perfect Books, 258A Elgin St.)
§ Sep 25: 2 for 1 Open Mic
- This brand-new poetry open mic series, founded by Jeff Blackman and co-hosted by Blackman and Bardia Sinaee, is tons of low-key no pressure fun. Bring a poem you love and a poem you’ve written and read them to an audience of your peers for 2 mins a pop. Every last Thursday of the month. (7pm at Happy Goat Coffee Co., 35 Laurel St.)
I’m sure the events will keep on coming as Writersfest moves into its full programming for Fall 2022, and Riverbed, In Our Tongues, and Tree Reading Series kick off our fall events. Whatever ends up filling up your agenda, I hope to see you out there!
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In other currents, a handful of notable writers have joined/re-joined us in the capital city: Kimberly Quiogue Andrews (debut collection, A Brief History of Fruit), Joshua P’ng (writer, community organizer, and editor extraordinaire), Bardia Sinaee (debut collection, Intruder), and Sara Mang (writer of many, beautiful, quills). Reach out, read their work, make a new friend.
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In parallel currents, our spoken word community. I’m not often in this part of the river because my own work rarely falls into its stream, but spoken word is a huge part of Ottawa’s poetry scene. It is absolutely brimming with talent and activity, and I would be remiss not to mention it. For events, follow Urban Legends Poetry Collective, Cap City Cyphers and the House of PainT. For specific poets to watch, Namitha Rathinappillai, Apollo the Child, King Kimbit, rising star Shayan Saddiq, and of course, Jamaal Jackson Rogers.
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Finally, it’s mentioned at every public event, but how often do you actually stop and consider that Ottawa continues to exist on the traditional, unceded, territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg?
It’s important to understand the realities of our past, and to do your part (however large or small) for a better and more equitable now. Notable local Indigenous poets include vera wabegijig and Albert Dumont, and I highly recommend expanding your own library by reading the poetry of Turtle Island’s original poets.
That’s it for now. See you around town!
Ellen Chang-Richardson is an award-winning poet of Taiwanese and Chinese Cambodian descent. The author/co-author of five poetry chapbooks, their multi-genre work has been published in Augur, The Fiddlehead, third coast magazine, and Vallum Contemporary, among others. The co-founder of Riverbed Reading Series and a member of the poetry collective VII, you can usually find them baking sourdough bread from their starter, Bubbles, posting food pics on Instagram, or biking the riverside trails on their single speed. Ellen’s debut collection Blood/Belies is out in Spring 2024 with Buckrider Books (Wolsak & Wynn), and they are represented by Tasneem Motala of The Rights Factory. They are currently based on the traditional, unceded, territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg. Find them online @ehjchang and at ehjchang.com.
photography credit © Curtis Perry (2022).