Thurs., Oct. 22, at 2 pm - FBCW Author Connection with George Elliott Clarke and host Pat Buckna

Thursday, Oct. 22, 2 p.m. – Join Author Connection host Pat Buckna as he chats with poet and author George Elliott Clarke.

Register for this free live online event at bcwriters.ca/events-for-writers, and a Zoom link will be emailed to you. When it’s time for the Federation of BC Writers event, click on the link and follow the prompts to join the conversation!

In his unique brand of spoken word, Africadian poetry, the incomparable George Elliott Clarke explores a personal subject: his great-aunt Portia White. The result is a stirring, epic poem vibrating with energy and music that spans White’s birth in 1911, a coming of age amidst the backdrop of two World Wars, and her life-long love affair with music—from singing in to directing the Cornwallis Street Baptist Church choir to her bel canto tutlege at the Halifax Conservatory of Music to her final, command performance before Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1964.

Portia White is a stunning testament to the first African Canadian to become an international star. Features vibrant illustrations by contemporary artist Lara Martina.

He is the author of a number of books, including These Are the Words, The Motorcyclist, George & Rue, Canticles, Gold.

George Elliott Clarke received the Excellence in the Arts Award from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. He is a past Poet Laureate of Toronto, a full professor at the University of Toronto. From 2016 to 2017, he was appointed by Parliament as Parliamentary [National] Poet Laureate. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Dalhousie University Alumni Association, the Trailblazers Award from the National Black Canadians Summit, Federation of Black Canadians & Michaëlle Jean Foundation.. There is a George Elliott Clarke Scholarship Fund at Duke University.

*This event is subsidized by the Federation of British Columbia Writers. Donations are welcome here to help cover the costs of special events like this one so more can attend. Thank you for connecting with us!