| In 2000, Calgary’s literary scene wasn’t the rich mosaic it is today. Outside of WordFest and the Markin-Flanagan Program, there were precious few regular opportunities to see writers on stage. The city needed some literary pioneers, so Calgary-based poets T Crane, Fred Holliss, Kirk Miles and Sheri-D Wilson put their heads together, and in March 2000, the Single Onion poetry series was born.
Taking place the third Thursday of (almost) every month, Single Onion is now possibly Calgary’s longest-running reading series. It generally features three readers: an Onion member, a Calgary-based writer and a headliner funded by the Canada Council for the Arts. "Early on, we were approached by the Most Vocal Poets Society in Lethbridge," says Miles. "The Canada Council told them it wasn’t worth $700 to send a Toronto poet out west for just one reading, so they wanted Most Vocal to expand its footprint and give the readers a bit of a tour. We said, sure, we’ll piggyback! It’s great to be influenced by other writers outside of the Calgary community."
The Single Onion collective has included a colourful blend of familiar names, like Emily Carr, Laurie Fuhr, Jocelyn Grossé, Rajinderpal S. Pal and Ian Samuels. The newest Onion, Leif Baradoy, was welcomed without hesitation. "Leif said he wanted to be involved in the local community. We said, ‘OK, come out to a meeting,’" Miles laughs. "He probably thought it was just to see if we liked him, he liked us, but we gave him a list of stuff to do right away. It’s very informal, but it’s amazing – if everyone does their task, it all goes smooth as silk."
Though Single Onion is famous for venue hopping, they’ve mostly settled down in their current home, the Triangle Gallery. "I think the gallery adds a lot of value to the readings," says Baradoy. "You can see great visual art, hear some readings – it’s two cultural events for the price of one. That is, free!"
The next Single Onion features music by Jen Allen and readings by Paul Marshall, Ali Riley and, um, me (I’ll be reading from brand-new work, if I ever get the damn stuff written). Join us at the Triangle Gallery on May 17, 7:00 p.m.
Linda McQuaig is in town with Holding the Bully’s Coat: Canada and the U.S. Empire, which challenges Canada to grow a backbone on the international playground. She’s at SAIT’s Orpheus Theatre on May 10, 7:30 p.m.
A Run on Hose is a collection of short stories, many of them featuring an obsessive clerk at a lingerie store. There are tales of surrogate motherhood, election campaigns and cat ladies, and you can get your copy signed by author Rona Altrows at McNally Robinson on May 11, noon.
Saturday is Mother’s Day. And what better gift to Mom than an hour’s free babysitting? Bring the kiddies, ages 3 and up, to Mother’s Day Storytime at McNally Robinson on May 12, 1:30 p.m.
Born in Ethiopia, marathon runner Ted Jaleta was arrested while participating in a student protest and suffered months of torture before escaping into a life of disease-ridden refugee camps. He eventually emigrated to Canada and resumed his athletic career. Never Give Up: Ted Jaleta’s Inspiring Story chronicles his inspiring life, and author Deana Driver will share his stories at McNally Robinson on May 12, 2:00 p.m.
Walter Bruno launches his new collection of poetry, Cat Walk & Other Poems, this week. He shares his work at McNally Robinson on May 14, 7:00 p.m.
The 2007 Alberta Literary Awards announcement is just around the corner, but before we celebrate the winners, we need to celebrate the nominees! Join Rona Altrows (A Run on Hose), Nancy Jo Cullen (Pearl) and Marcello di Cintio (Poets and Pahlevans) for an evening of literary excellence. They’re at McNally Robinson on May 15, 7:00 p.m.
While Richard Wagner was in Zurich, composing Tristan and Isolde, he embarked on a romance with Mathilde Wesendonk, the wife of his patron. In Isolde’s Dream & Other Stories, Sudhir Jain uses their tragic passion as a launching point for this new collection of short stories. Jain appears at McNally Robinson on May 16, 7:00 p.m.
Coach House Books is one of Canada’s most exciting literary presses, so it makes sense that their author tours are always a wild ride. This time around, local boy Andrew Wedderburn (The Milk Chicken Bomb) is joined by Sean Dixon (The Girl Who Saw Everything) and Amiel Gladstone (Hippies & Bolsheviks and Other Plays) for a diverse and memorable evening of new Canadian lit. Join them at McNally Robinson on May 17, 7:00 p.m. |
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