Tomorrow!

Blue poster with title Chapbook Launch in capitals and a picture of author’s chapbook on the right (a cyanotype of leaves and a dime) and the following text: Royal City Literary Arts Society / Pinhole Poetry CHAPBOOKLAUNCH Jessica Lee McMillan will read from her new chapbook SHINE LIKE A DIME IN THE DIRT UNDER THE MOON at the Anvil Centre Studio 417, 4th floor 777 Columbia St, New Westminster, BC APRIL 24, 2026 6:30 - 8PM with special guests Janet Kvammen, Aidan Chafe, Dale Tracy & Winston Lê Copies will be for sale at the event The organizers acknowledge the League of Canadian Poets, the Canada Council for the Arts & the Department of Canadian Heritage for their financial support. poets.ca

This Friday, April 24th at Anvil Centre
Jessica Lee McMillan's @jessicaleemcmillan.com
chapbook launch with very special guests @winstonle.bsky.social @daletracy.bsky.social @allegorically.bsky.social @janetkvammen.bsky.social

Famous Last Words comes to New Westminster this Wednesday thanks to @rclas.bsky.social collaborators: Tri Cities Poetry, @eventmags.bsky.social, @artsnewwest.bsky.social, & @deathridesaunicorn.bsky.social

Next Thursday! If you haven't visited the Gallery on Carnarvon Street in #NewWest, this is a great opportunity to see it. There is an incredible array of art by Indigenous artists from across Canada - some that will change your mind about how contemporary and varied "Native Art" can be!

Contest poster featuring a black and white photo of namesake poet Fred Cogswell in upper right photo and judge Kevin Spenst in lower left. Theme colours are pale blue, white, and orange. Text reads: Royal City Literary Arts Society 13th Annual Fred Cogswell Award For Excellence In Poetry "Fred Cogswell (1917-2004) was a prolific poet, editor, professor, Life member of the League of Canadian Poets, and an Officer of the Order of Canada." Call For Submissions Open to Canadian writers who had a book published in English in 2025 1st Prize $500 2nd Prize $250 3rd Prize $100 For more information & submission details, please visit www.rclas.com Judge: Kevin Spenst * poet, instructor, workshop facilitator * author of four full-length books of poetry and 19 chapbooks * a poetry ambassador for Vancouver's 2025-2027 Poet Laureate Elee Kraljii Gardiner * poetry mentor at The Writer's Studio at Simon Fraser University

Submissions for the 13th Annual Fred Cogswell Award For Excellence in Poetry are now OPEN!

More information at rclas.com/2026-fred-co... and below.

Today at 10:30am (PT) is the next #TWSOchat, join us as we discuss What We Can Learn From Poetry w/@TWSSFU (SFU's Writers Studio) mentors & alumni. Share your writing experiences with us. Open to all writers on Bluesky #amwriting #writerschat #writing

To honour Chief Rhonda Larrabee whose Celebration of Life is scheduled at the same time as this event, we are POSTPONING this reading. New date TBA soon.

New Westminster’s poet laureate urges everyone to celebrate National Poetry Month in April - Freshet News National Poetry Month is a great time to check out poetry offerings says New Westminster poet laureate Janet Kvammen

www.freshetnews.ca/new-westmins...

See you tomorrow!

Tonight at 6pm online. Email editor@sappzine.ca to register.

Poster for RCLAS' 13th Annual Fred Cogswell Award for Excellence in Poetry with orange block framing photo and bio below. Photo is of Kevin Spenst, the contest Judge. He has blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. He is wearing a blue shirt and smiling. Bio below: Kevin Spenst (he/him) is the author of four full-length books of poetry and 19 chapbooks. An assortment of his lyric essays, interviews with neighbours, and personal accounts from others make up the collection Gathered Together in the Stanley Park Manor: a Collective History, out with Anvil Press in the fall of 2026. He is one of the organizers of the Dead Poets Reading Series, has a chapbook review column for subTerrain magazine, occasionally co-hosts Wax Poetic on Vancouver Co-op Radio, and is one of the poetry ambassadors for Vancouver's 2025-2027 Poet Laureate Elee Kraljii Gardiner. He is one of the Poetry Mentors at The Writer's Studio at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver on unceded wma@kwayem (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and salilwata?l Tsleil-Waututh territory where he cohabitates with the one and only Cheryl Rossi.

Submissions for the 13th Annual Fred Cogswell Award For Excellence in Poetry are now OPEN! We are thrilled to have @kevinspenst.bsky.social as our Judge!

Details: rclas.com/2026-fred-co...

Contest poster featuring a black and white photo of namesake poet Fred Cogswell in upper right photo and judge Kevin Spenst in lower left. Theme colours are pale blue, white, and orange. Text reads: Royal City Literary Arts Society 13th Annual Fred Cogswell Award For Excellence In Poetry "Fred Cogswell (1917-2004) was a prolific poet, editor, professor, Life member of the League of Canadian Poets, and an Officer of the Order of Canada." Call For Submissions Open to Canadian writers who had a book published in English in 2025 1st Prize $500 2nd Prize $250 3rd Prize $100 For more information & submission details, please visit www.rclas.com Judge: Kevin Spenst * poet, instructor, workshop facilitator * author of four full-length books of poetry and 19 chapbooks * a poetry ambassador for Vancouver's 2025-2027 Poet Laureate Elee Kraljii Gardiner * poetry mentor at The Writer's Studio at Simon Fraser University

Submissions for the 13th Annual Fred Cogswell Award For Excellence in Poetry are now OPEN!

More information at rclas.com/2026-fred-co... and below.

Submissions open tomorrow!

!! DEADLINE EXTENDED !! CANADIAN POETS - Submit your poetry to the 2026 MURIEL’S JOURNEY POETRY PRIZE First Prize $100 First Prize for a poem by a Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES) contributor $100 Second Prize $50 Fortuna's Choice Prize $35 for a poem selected at random from the longlist of general entry poems All winners and honorary mentions will be published in Fire In The Heart, the Muriel’s Journey Chapbook for 2026. CRITERIA: Content: Should meet one or more of these criteria: Speak your mind and let the world know what you think, look at your subject in an unexpected way, take a risk in your composition, be frank and unreserved! If the poem has good potential for being performed, all the better. Why these criteria? Because that’s Muriel. She was not only a poet but a Other criteria (not optional!): • Open to Canadians or people living in Canada • Length of the poem: 5 lines or more • Up to 5 poems, with an overall length for all poems together not to exceed 100 lines DEADLINE: April 30, 2026 Submit the poem to murielsjourney@gmail.com Image: Cover of the 2025 chapbook: Purple-hued fist bursting through burning building and surrounding buildings glowing orange and red.

EXTENDED to April 31st, the 2026 MURIEL’S JOURNEY POETRY PRIZE for Canadian poets. Please check submission guidelines and criteria here. Readers are especially looking for more submissions from the DTES. www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...

Book Launch poster with book cover on left (coral-hued petals flying away) and author photo on right (looking up, eyes closed under spotlight). Text: BOOK LAUNCH With readings by Author Celeste Nazeli Snowber PORTALS The Colours of our Longing Portals: The Colours of Our Longing (Hurtwood Press) is a conversation between a London based painter, Suzi Morris and poet/performance artist Celeste Nazeli Snowber. ANVIL CENTRE Rm. 417: 777 Columbia St. New Westminster, BC March 26, 2026 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm PRESENTED & SPONSORED BY Royal City Literary Arts Society

Book launch tonight! Celeste Snowber's PORTALS: The Colours of our Longing. All are welcome!

March 26th 7-8:30pm Anvil Centre, Studio 417

The Fred Cogswell Award for Excellence in Poetry celebrates Canadian Poets and Poetry. Submissions open next week.

White poster with faint photo of downtown New Westminster/New Westminster Quay area. Text: FAMOUS LAST WORDS NEW WESTMNSTER FREE TO THE PUBLIC!!! Featuring Aaron Hunter, Babaloluwa "Lolu" Oyedele, Elliott Slinn, Jenny Garcha, Steve Miller, Uni the Unicorn and host Sean McGarragle A SPOKEN WORD SHOW LIKE NO OTHER, POEMS LIKE YOU"VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE, UNICORN BUBBLES, CHOCOLATE Centennial Lodge Queen's Park Wednesday April 22nd 2026 6:30 PM Doors, 7:00 PM Show ARTS NEW WEST www.deathridesaunicorn.com Royal City Literary Arts Society www.deathridesaunicorn.com

Join us for this incredible collaborative spoken-word poetry event with Death Rides a Unicorn!
Doors @ 6:30pm April 22nd @ Centennial Lodge, Queens Park

Blue poster with title Chapbook Launch in capitals and a picture of author’s chapbook on the right (a cyanotype of leaves and a dime) and the following text: Royal City Literary Arts Society / Pinhole Poetry CHAPBOOKLAUNCH Jessica Lee McMillan will read from her new chapbook SHINE LIKE A DIME IN THE DIRT UNDER THE MOON at the Anvil Centre Studio 417, 4th floor 777 Columbia St, New Westminster, BC APRIL 24, 2026 6:30 - 8PM with special guests Janet Kvammen, Aidan Chafe, Dale Tracy & Winston Lê Copies will be for sale at the event The organizers acknowledge the League of Canadian Poets, the Canada Council for the Arts & the Department of Canadian Heritage for their financial support. poets.ca

April 24th 6:30 - 8PM
Anvil Centre Studio 417, 4th floor

Chapbook Launch: Jessica Lee McMillan @jessicaleemcmillan.com will read from:

shine like a dime in the dirt under the moon

in partnership with @rclas.bsky.social and @pinholepoetry.bsky.social

Book Launch poster with book cover on left (coral-hued petals flying away) and author photo on right (looking up, eyes closed under spotlight). Text: BOOK LAUNCH With readings by Author Celeste Nazeli Snowber PORTALS The Colours of our Longing Portals: The Colours of Our Longing (Hurtwood Press) is a conversation between a London based painter, Suzi Morris and poet/performance artist Celeste Nazeli Snowber. ANVIL CENTRE Rm. 417: 777 Columbia St. New Westminster, BC March 26, 2026 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm PRESENTED & SPONSORED BY Royal City Literary Arts Society

RCLAS presents Celeste Snowber's PORTALS: The Colours of our Longing. All are welcome!

March 16th 7-8:30pm
Anvil Centre, Studio 417

The next #TWSsprints session will take place in person at Waves Coffee House on Sunday, Apr. 26 at 10:30am PT. Come and sprint your little hearts out with Laura and Candie + other #TWS and writing community members. All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you there. So, save the date!

Kevin Spenst will be our 13th Annual Fred Cogswell Award judge! Check www.rclas.com for details. New submission window opening April 1st!

Orange poster for RCLAS' 13th Annual Fred Cogswell Award for Excellence in Poetry with photo of Kevin Spenst in blue shirt, smiling.

White poster with orange strips at top and bottom and large blue rectangle at the top with "Announcement" across left corner in purple triangle. Text reads: NEW SUBMISSION DATES! 13th Annual Fred Cogswell Award For Excellence in Poetry Open for Submissions: APRIL 1, 2026 Deadline: JUNE 28, 2026 Judge: Kevin Spenst For more information & submission details www.rclas.com

We are beyond thrilled to have Kevin Spenst @kevinspenst.bsky.social as the judge for the 13th Fred Cogswell Award For Excellence!

Note that the dates have changed and submissions open April 1st. Details: www.rclas.com

Graphic black and white poster with dotted lines looping and large, grey stars. Text reads: Penning the Paragraph: A Playshop on Prose Poetry Wednesday, April 8 6-9pm PDT Suggested donation: $15 to $35 in support of the Sapperton Community Arts Association To register, email editor@sappzine.ca There's haiku, there's sonnets, there's free verse - and then there's prose poetry. We'll ditch the lines and write beautiful/interesting/shocking/strange sentences, and like Tom Snarsky and Amy Lowell before use, compose poetic paragraphs. A collaboration between SAPP Zine and RCLAS (Royal City Literary Arts Society.) Presented by Isabella Mori.

Join Isabella Mori @moritherapy.bsky.social for "A Playshop on Prose Poetry" (a Sapp Zine & RCLAS collaboration)
—ONLINE Wednesday, April 8th from 6-9pm
—Register: editor@sappzine.ca. (address corrected from last
post)

Correction: the email to register is editor@sappzine.ca

Black and white graphic poster with grey stars and dotted loops. Text reads: Penning the Paragraph A Playshop on Prose Poetry Wednesday, April 8 6-9pm PDT Suggested donation: $15 to $35 in support of the Sapperton Community Arts Association To register, email editor@sappzine.com There’s haiku, there’s sonnets, there’s free verse – and then there’s prose poetry. We’ll ditch the lines and write beautiful/interesting/shocking/strange sentences, and like Tom Snarsky and Amy Lowell before use, compose poetic paragraphs. A collaboration between SAPP Zine and RCLAS (Royal City Literary Arts Society.) Presented by Isabella Mori.

Join Isabella Mori @moritherapy.bsky.social for "A Playshop on Prose Poetry" (a Sapp Zine & RCLAS collaboration)

—ONLINE Wednesday, April 8th from 6-9pm
—Register: editor@sappzine.com

Marlo Browne | Vancouver Poetry House Marlo Browne is a Barbadian poet, spoken word artist, hosted, film-maker and self-published author of 4 poetry books.

We are so excited to feature Marlo Browne for our National Poetry Month celebration at New Westminster Public Library on April 11th. Read his bio here:
www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/about-verses...

@kevinspenst.bsky.social @janetkvammen.bsky.social @roblucastaylor.bsky.social @jessicaleemcmillan.com

Simple, white poster with text in typewriter font "Sunday April 19, 2026 2pm @ Anvil Centre, 5Xfive. Poster features head shots of each poet listed from left to right: Kevin Spenst, Janet Kvammen, Alan Hill, Jessica Lee McMillan, Rob Taylor

We have a lot of events lined up this spring!

—SUN April 19, 2026 2-4pm @ Anvil Centre
—Poetry & Art Salon for National Poetry Month
—FiveX5 poetry readings with Kevin Spenst, Janet Kvammen, Alan Hill, Jessica Lee McMillan, Rob Taylor

Save the date & more to follow.

Purple poster with large image of crow in flowers in upper half. Text in lower half reads: A CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL POETRY MONTH SATURDAY APRIL 11TH 2-4PM New Westminster Public Library AUDITORIUM Join us to celebrate National Poetry Month with three local poets: • Marlo Browne • Barbara Kmiec • Janet Kvammen, New Westminster's Poet Laureate Plus, an Open Mic session hosted by Alan Hill (sign up at the event). TO REGISTER: www.nwpl.ca/events FOR MORE INFO: 604-527-4660 or askus@nwpl.ca Logos from partners: NEW WESTMINSTER PUBLIC LIBRARY Royal City Literary Arts Society

On April 11th from 2-4 pm celebrate National Poetry Month with local poets:
• Marlo Browne
• Barbara Kmiec
• Janet Kvammen, New Westminster's Poet Laureate

Plus, an Open Mic hosted by Alan Hill (sign up at the event).
REGISTER: www.nwpl.ca/events