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Steffler Competition

Eyewear needs to read more poetry books.

Google-eyed as I am, I can't keep up with the pace of revolutionary change. While I was away from Canada Mr. John Steffler (pictured) has been appointed the new "Poet Laureate" of Canada.

http://www.parl.gc.ca/Information/about/people/poet/index.asp?lang=e&param=2

According to a government site, Steffler "was born in Toronto, Ontario in November 1947 and was educated at the University of Toronto and the University of Guelph. He moved to and adopted Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador as his home in 1974. He taught at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College (a campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland). His five books of poetry are highly regarded and have been well received throughout Canada. They include That Night We Were Ravenous (1998) which won the 1999 Atlantic Poetry Prize. His novel The Afterlife of George Cartwright (1992) won the 1993 Smithbooks/Books in Canada First Novel Award and the Thomas Head Raddall Award and was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award and the Commonwealth Prize for Best First Book."

It's good to have a poet from the Atlantic provinces, following on one from out West, and then Quebec. I look forward to reading his collections.

To order Helix: New and Selected from Vehicule Press, see the link below.

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