Onoto Watanna's Cattle at 100!

Can’t wait for this conference focused on the fascinating Calgary writer Winnifred Eaton Reeve (aka Onoto Watanna). For details, check out the conference program: https://weaconference.sites.olt.ubc.ca — including many public events being held as part of Historic Calgary Week.

A Chinese-Albertan Writer in the Era of Exclusion

In honour of Asian Heritage month, here’s a look at a fascinating writer who called Alberta home during a disturbing era of anti-Asian racism. My latest for Read Alberta.

Salverson & Reeve: Two Audacious Writers of 1920s Calgary

Far from publishing centres in the east, two writers competed for local, national and international attention in Calgary’s small but burgeoning literary world of the 1920s. Their famous “feud” was sparked at a dinner party in Elbow Park and caused waves among writers across the country.

A century later, storyteller and writer Karen Gummo and I have been piecing together the feud and delving into the lives of two fascinating women intent on literary success. In a word, we have become smitten with Laura and Winnifred.

Join us for a lively conversation about writing, rivalry and research at Calgary’s Central Library on May 23 at 7:00 pm as part of Chinook Country Historical Society’s lecture series. Register for this free program here.

(Photo of Winnifred Eaton Reeve: Courtesy of Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary)

1936: The year poetry caused a stir in Alberta

For National Poetry Month: my latest dip into Alberta’s storied literary past over at Read Alberta. Enjoy!