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(Photograph by: Darren Stone, Times Colonist)
We are overjoyed to announce that Victoria-based playwright Joan MacLeod has won the 2011 Siminovitch Prize in Theatre, the largest theatre award given out in Canada. MacLeod was chosen, in the words of the jury, for her “unique voice, her masterful storytelling, and the impact that her work has had among audiences in Canada and beyond”.
Her works include Jewel, Toronto, Mississippi, Amigo’s Blue Guitar, The Hope Slide, The Shape of a Girl, Homechild and Another Home Invasion, all of which have been presented with great success in Toronto and Vancouver, as well as around the world, where her plays have been translated into 8 languages.
MacLeod was up against five other finalists for the 11th annual honour: Robert Chafe (Newfoundland), Jasmine Dube (Quebec), Greg MacArthur (Alberta/Quebec), Mansel Robinson (Saskatchewan) and Larry Tremblay (Quebec).
The winner receives $75,000 as well as a $25,000 protégé award, which MacLeod chose to give to Toronto playwright Anusree Roy, the rising young author of Pyaasa, Letters to my Grandmother and Brothel #9.

Monday May 6, 2013 in Meta-Talon
Way More Than A Thousand Words: Coping with Emotions and Otters Launch
Ash Tanasiychuk takes pictures. Of Dina Del Bucchia. Nuff said. Oh, and Otters!
Monday April 29, 2013 in Meta-Talon
Other People’s Moccasins: Joanne Arnott Interviews Wanda John-Kehewin
Joanne Arnott interviews Wanda John-Kehewin about her new book In the Dog House:
I can’t really say there were many poets of the past that influenced my writing. I think when I really started to be inspired was when I heard that there were other Native writers, and that wasn’t until I moved to the West Coast in 1991. For some reason I didn’t think it was actually something an “Indian” could do. There weren’t any books in the library that were by First Nations people when I was growing up.
Thursday April 25, 2013 in Meta-Talon
Text in the City: Music Somewhere Near a Griffin
Garry Thomas Morse on poetry prizes and/or music in poetry. Whatever!
Not to pull an academy-bashing Joaquin Phoenix, but strictly off the record, I’ve never understood how prizes relate to poetry, exactly, and a number of acclaimed poets have confessed a similar sentiment in my presence, in one way or another. One would hope that a poet only gets into the racket out of an imperative need to do so, if not a compulsive love, implying all the emotions and forms of resentment love can contain. In that case, how can a prize for being the greatest lover compare to said love itself?
Tuesday April 16, 2013 in Meta-Talon
From book to stage with My Turquoise Years
Monica Miller discusses M.A.C. Farrant’s memoir, adapted for the stage at the Arts Club Theatre:
The story is quintessentially Canadian and a nostalgic view of growing up in BC in the 60s. Taking place in Cordova Bay, a 15-minute drive from Victoria, the play speaks to multiple generations about the traditions of family. My Turquoise Years challenges the preconceived notion of the traditional nuclear family, and reinforces the idea of choosing who we love and care for as our family, sticking by them, and supporting them.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts; the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program; and the Province of British Columbia through the British Columbia Arts Council for our publishing activities.