Happy staycationing! Maybe bump in to you somewhere!

guest spot [in memoriam] poem by Franci Louann

for Franci
on Alan Girling’s substack open.substack.com/pub/alangirl...

Janet Kvammen at the podium in Centennial Lodge reading into the mic and holding a page. Janet is decked our in a purple sweater and purple, sparkly cowboy hat.

We had 5 beautiful Poetry in the Park nights this July! Thanks to the fabulous features, hosts, open mic readers and all the wonderful attendees. Thank you to @newwestminster.bsky.social & @artsnewwest.bsky.social! Most of all, thanks to Janet Kvammen @janetkvammen.bsky.social for making it happen!

Amazing!

Painting of a large yellow flower head with green stem and leaves against a blue sky

Georgia O'Keeffe, Sunflower New Mexico, 1935 #WomensArt
In folklore the sunflower is considered a flower of loyalty because each day it turns its head to loyally follow the sun, from east to west 🌞 #FolkloreThursday

Their past a storied language needing to be heard.
Imagine our future
where trangressions come clean
deep in a flood of your muddy heart shallows
the resilient sentients carry musings of memory
wise to the world above the surface

🌊🐟 🌎🫶🏼 #river #sturgeon #stalew #newwest #artist #poetry

Jessica Lee McMillan : Pain in the Reverie: What is a good poem and how does it begin? How does a poem begin?           My students recently bought me an oversized anthurium, proudly telling me their plan to get a...

newly posted: Jessica Lee McMillan : Pain in the Reverie: What is a good poem and how does it begin? / @jessicaleemcmillan.com ;
periodicityjournal.blogspot.com/2025/07/jess...

Thank you so very much!!!

Thrilled to have been selected as the ONLY POEMS 2025 Poet of the Year! @onlypoemsmag.bsky. www.onlypoems.net/contest/poet...

Congratulations, Aidan!!!

Green, white and purple poster featuring headshots of Candice James and Franci Louann. poetry in the park July 30 Wednesday 6:30 pm Centennial Lodge, Queen's Park New Westminster Featuring Candice James, Poet Laureate Emerita Special open mic segment "A Tribute to Franci Louann" Read one of Franci's poems OR dedicate a poem to Franci.

The final Poetry in the Park features Candice James and a special open mic celebrating the life of community member Fanci Louann. Find us in the Centennial Lodge behind the bandshell in Queen's park. July 30, 6:30 pm!

Now that was an EPIC night! Woohoo!

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Thanks so much! Teehee of course, we had to do it, Rob!!! @roblucastaylor.bsky.social #keepingupwithtradition #pippiphooray #poetryisaliveandwellinnewwest

Fantastic night!! 💕💕 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
We celebrated our COGSWELL AWARD books!
So wonderful to have Dominique Bernier-Cormier and Andrea Bennett w/ juror Rob Taylor. Thanks to Jessica Lee McMillan for stepping in to host! Thanks to Sara for her help with PIP set-up these past 4 weeks.

Amazing night of Poetry in the Park!!🏆💜🎤📕📗📘📙Thank you @roblucastaylor.bsky.social @akkabah.bsky.social Dominique @jessicaleemcmillan.com @rclas.bsky.social
#poetryinthepark #pippiphooray #CogswellAward

Thanks @jessicaleemcmillan.com for coming out to host tonight! See you soon #pippiphooray #poetryinthepark #newwest

Poetry in the Park poster (green on purple) with headshots (left to right) of features Rob Taylor, Dominique Bdernier-Cormier, andrea bennett and host Alan Hill.

Join us for the Fred Cogswell Award Night featuring winner Dominique Bernier-Cormier, 2nd place winner andrea bennett @akkabah.bsky.social & judge Rob Taylor @roblucastaylor.bsky.social ky.social with host Alan Hill!
Followed by open mic.
6:30pm Queen's Park Bandshell.

rclas.com/recurring/po...

TONIGHT!!! Hope to see you there!

Such a great one!

Photo: Poets on stage peeking from behind vertical Poetry in the Park banner. Janet Kvammen with Rita Wong on left and Cecily Nicholson with Jessica Lee McMillan on right.

Such a lovely evening of Poetry in the Park tonight, July 16, 2025.
MAGIC! Thanks so much, to Rita, Cecily and Jessica for making it so special.

Really hope to see you out next week at Poetry in the Park. I need "bums in seats" as Franci Louann would have said --- help me prove that poetry is alive and well in New West! Don't let me down! 😉😉😉

AWESOME!

Poets posed behind Poetry in the Park Banner on bandshell stage: Anna Eastland, Janet Kvammen, Jessica Lee McMillan, Chelsea Comeau, and KJ MacMillan.

RCLAS presents Poetry in the Park 2025 July 9 Write on! Contest Winners.
(Left to right: Anna Eastland, Janet Kvammen, Jessica Lee McMillan, Chelsea Comeau (above), and KJ MacMillan).

In partnership with Arts New West & City of New Westminster. It was a special night with and an amazing open mic!

Save the date! RCLAS is having our AGM on July 31, 2025 at 7pm via Zoom. Please RSVP (and get link) via email: secretary@rclas.com

rclas.com

poetry in the park July 16th Wednesday 6:30pm Queen's Park Bandshell Pictures of poets on green and purple ombre flyer with leaves on the left.

Join us for Poetry in the Park July 16th with features Cecily Nicholson and Rita Wong, followed by open mic and host @jessicaleemcmillan.com. 6:30pm Queen's Park Bandshell.

rclas.com/recurring/po...

Keeping to tradition at Poetry in the Park!
@rclas.bsky.social #PIPPIPHooray

Haha!!! they were mailed earlier this year, hey maybe we ask Dominique and andrea to wear them to PIP ;)

Great to see you at PIP last night! @daletracy.bsky.social Thanks for reading on Open Mic

Congratulations!!!! Well done! I can’t wait to read your poem! Could you maybe read it at PIP next week?