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Poetry in Transit campaign marks 25th anniversary with publication of anthology

News Bites • October 20, 2021 • Marianna Schultz

The Association of Book Publishers of BC (ABPBC) is pleased to celebrate 25 years of Poetry in Transit with the publication of an anthology in digital and print editions, with 40 poems selected by poet Evelyn Lau.

The anthology includes poems by Canadian-published, BC-residing poets from each year of the program since its establishment in 1996. Editor Evelyn Lau contributed a foreword that reflects on the impact this campaign has in the lives of transit riders. The cover design is inspired by classic TransLink bus tickets. The digital anthology can be found on poetryintransit25.ca.

About the editor

Evelyn Lau is the author of thirteen books, including eight volumes of poetry. Her work has received the Milton Acorn Award, the Pat Lowther Award, and a National Magazine Award; she served as Vancouver’s Poet Laureate from 2011–2014.

Featured poets

The poets included in the anthology are: Elizabeth Bachinsky, Rhonda Batchelor, Dominique Bernier-Cormier, Jillian Bleackley, Kate Braid, Jane Byers, Brad Cran, Jason Dewinetz, Marilyn Dumont, Leef Evans, Rhonda Ganz, Gary Geddes, Kuldip Gill, Jennica Harper, Eve Joseph, Lionel Kearns, Patrick Lane, Moberly Luger, Emily McGiffin, Kevin McNeilly, George McWhirter, Susan Musgrave, W.H. New, Barbara Nickel, Andrew Parkin, Elise Partridge, Pamela Porter, Rachel Rose, Laisha Rosnau, Karen Shklanka, Kevin Spenst, George Stanley, Tiffany Stone, Rob Taylor, Russell Thornton, Diane L. Tucker, Tom Wayman, Sue Wheeler, David Zieroth, and Jan Zwicky.

Print copies

A limited number of print copies of the anthology will be shared with the publishers and poets whose work is featured in the campaign, as well as to lucky transit riders in Vancouver who may find copies hidden around the TransLink system. Additionally, poets who appear in the anthology will be encouraged to hide copies in local transit systems around the province.

About Poetry in Transit

“Over 25 years, Poetry in Transit has featured hundreds of emerging and established poets, some of whom dreamt of their poems riding the bus long before they began to publish. Even award-winning poets have cited the selection of their work for Poetry in Transit as the highlight of their careers, thanks to the program’s ability to reach audiences beyond the literary magazine, bookstore and cafe reading circles,” said Evelyn Lau in the anthology’s foreword.

We are excited to celebrate 25 years of Poetry in Transit with the launch of this anthology.

Read the digital anthology here: poetryintransit25.ca

News release (PDF)