Aug 2026
St. John’s / Organizer and Reader at the Poetry & Sound Event
Poetry & Sound Immersion at MUN’s Botanical Garden
This summer, Mercy Williams and I teamed up with the MUN Botanical Garden‘s Twilight Thursdays, offering three poetry events through our collective, Low Tide. The third of these events was a poetry and sound experience in which participants lounged on yoga mats while immersed in mesmerizing soundscapes (created by Mercy) and poetry readings by Reza Pourbahreini, Andreae Callanan, and me.
July 2026
St. John’s / Organizer and Co-Facilitator of Poetry Workshop
Poetry Workshop at MUN’s Botanical Garden
This summer, Mercy Williams and I teamed up with the MUN Botanical Garden‘s Twilight Thursdays, offering three poetry events through our collective, Low Tide. The second of these events was a poetry workshop that focused on poetic attention, creative process, and found poetry. The wind kept the flies away as the sun set. The participants enjoyed cookies and lemonade as we collected words and created communal poetry together.
July 2026
St. John’s / Organizer and Co-Facilitator of Poetry Walk
Poetry Walk at MUN’s Botanical Garden
This summer, Mercy Williams and I teamed up with the MUN Botanical Garden‘s Twilight Thursdays, offering three poetry events through our collective, Low Tide. The first of these events was a poetry walk. It turned out to be a rainy evening, but attendees were happy to gear up and walk through the gorgeous trails of the garden, stopping to listen to poets stationed in the woods, by the lake, and in the greenhouse. Frogs also chorused at the lake.
May 2026
St. John’s / Reader and Co-Facilitator of Weatherlore Event
Weatherlore at MUN’s Botanical Garden
In the early spring, after receiving a grant from the Red Cross, artist Chloe Lundrigan approached Low Tide Collective to collaborate on a new project. Together, we created Weatherlore, a visual art and poetry exhibition designed to support emerging poets and artists.
April 2026
St. John’s / Co-host of Paragon Literary Magazine Launch
Paragon Launch Party, #11
Nicole Haldoupis and I co-manage Paragon Magazine together and in April 2026 we launched issue #11 at The Ship as a part of the Sparks Literary Festival afterparty! We’re currently working on issue #12.
April 2026
St. John’s / Readings
Featured Reader at Theatre Hill’s First Poetry & Prose Night
The Theatre Hill Bar + Cafe at The Majestic has collaborated with writers Nicole Haldoupis and Kathrine Abbass to organize and emcee a Poetry & Prose night, with featured readers and an open mic. I read a few of my poems at the first of these events with my friend, Ophelia Fernandes. In a short amount of time, Nicole, Katherine, and The Theatre have whipped up a staple for the creative community here in St. John’s.
Feb 2026
Toronto, ON / Readings and Choral Premiere
Amadeus Choir’s Choral Creation Lab Concert
It cannot be overstated what a joy it is to hear one’s words animated in a choral arrangement. Am I a librettist now? I had the privilege of working with Sami Anguaya, the members of the Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto, and mentors Luke Hathaway, Gavin Barrett, and Coco Collins to bring together the arts of composition, singing, and poetry into something new. I flew to Toronto to attend the Choral Creation Lab Showcase, where I read my poem Creation and attended the premiere of She Is, a choral piece inspired by the poem.
Nov 2025
St. John’s / Readings
Riddle Fence Launch Party, #56
This fall, I was surprised with the very excellent news that I received an honourable mention in Riddle Fence‘s annual poetry contest with my poem, Tongues—a series poem in three parts. It was standing room only at The Ship. I read my poem to the crowd, who were there for the double header launch of both issue 56 and the Best Canadian Poetry Anthology for 2026, edited by Mary Dalton.
Nov 2025
St. John’s / Organizer and Co-Facilitator of Poetry Event
Learning to Listen Poetry Reading at O’Brien Farm
Mercy Williams and I tested our event planning chops during our first Low Tide Collective collaboration with O’Brien Farm, Learning to Listen. We made and sold charcuterie boards for a sold out crowd, who were wrapped in scarves and sweaters against the November chill. The barn was full to brimming with those eager to hear poets Darren Ivany, Susan White, and Nicole Haldoupis read alongside the Governor General and Griffin award-winning poet, Don McKay. Mercy and I also read from our respective poetry manuscripts.
May 2025
Ochre Pit Cove / Writing Retreat Facilitator
LISTEN Writer and Art Retreat
Katrina Grabner and I were thrilled to facilitate yet another LISTEN writing and art retreat, but this time on the opposite coast at the Ochre House Retreat in Newfoundland. Through writing workshops and art-making we continued to explore the connections between ecology, body, community, and sense of place. One highlight was making a mandala on the beach!
April 2025
St. John’s / Co-host of Paragon Literary Magazine Launch
Paragon Launch Party, #10
Nicole Haldoupis and I co-manage Paragon Magazine together and in April 2025 we launched issue #10 with lots of fanfare at The Peter Easton Pub! We’re currently working on issue #11.
Oct 2024
St. John’s / Readings
Riddle Fence Launch Party, # 52
I read at Riddle Fence‘s launch party for issue #52, which took place at the LSPU Hall. I read from my creative nonfiction essay, “Moose the Size of Sky,” and took in readings from my extremely talented fellow writers—Craig Francis Power, Maggie Burton, and Paul Moorehead. Thanks to Riddle Fence for publishing my work and to Elizabeth de Mariaffi for organizing us all!
Sept 2024
Brigus / Readings
Landfall Trust Open House
The wonderful Landfall Trust board members asked me back to Kent Cottage to read at their September open house. I was in great company with Joel Hynes reading, Ian Foster and Kelly Hynes singing, and Maria Cherwick playing tunes on her fiddle. Rhonda the Newfoundland pony even stopped by! I read some of my in-process poems written during my time at Kent Cottage and from my creative nonfiction essay, “Moose the Size of Sky.”
July 2024
St. John’s / Co-host of Paragon Literary Magazine Launch
Paragon Launch Party, #9
I am currently the co-managing editor of Paragon Magazine with the lovely Nicole Haldoupis. In July 2024 we celebrated the launch of issue #9 with friends, family, and readers at The Spirit Bar on Water Street. We’re currently working on issue #10.
June 2024
Brigus / Writing Residency
Landfall Trust Writing Residency
In June of 2024, I had the honour of being selected by Memorial University’s English Department for a 2-week writing residency at Landfall Trust’s Kent Cottage in Brigus, NL. I spent two glorious weeks hiking the trails, walking my cute dog Bowen through Brigus, and of course writing and reading every day. It was productive, calming, deep work and I was so grateful to be given the focused time.
April 2024
St. John’s / SPARKS Host
SPARKS Literary Festival
I hosted the poetry panel at the 2024 SPARKS Literary Festival, held at the LSPU Hall in downtown St. John’s. It was an honour to engage with the revelatory voices of Lindsay Bird, Luke Hathaway, Matthew Hollett, and Daze Jefferies.
Nov 2023
Memorial University, St. John’s / Conference Presentation
(Re)Defining the Discipline English Conference
In the fall of 2023, I began a graduate program in English Literature at the Memorial University of Newfoundland. I participated in the (Re)Defining the Discipline English Conference, hosted by MUN, presenting my talk: “Exploring Ecocritical Ideas Through Research Creation: A Creative Reading.”
Aug 2023
St. John’s / Readings
HOLD FAST / Riddle Fence Launch
In the summer of 2023 I had the privilege of reading at Riddle Fence’s launch party for issue 49, which was held in collaboration with HOLD FAST 2023. I read two poems of mine that were published in issue 49: “Lay Yourself Down” and “The Hermeneutical Text.”
July 2023
Bowen Island / Writing Retreat Facilitator
LISTEN Writer and Art Retreat
I co-facilitated the LISTEN art and writing retreat at The Hermitage on Bowen Island with art therapist and lovely friend, Katrina Grabner. Together, we offered meditations on ecology, body, community, and sense of place through writing and art workshops (and lots of dips in the ocean).
Feb 2020
East Vancouver / Linocut Workshop Facilitator
Linocut Workshop
In 2020, I was the artist-in-residence at an East Vancouver church (before Covid swooped in and changed everything). As a part of my residency, I offered a linocut workshop. Artists created lenten themed imagery inspired by the social justice issues in our community such as food security, Truth and Reconciliation, access to housing, and social isolation. I presented on the history and methods of linocut before facilitating individual times of print creation.
May
2017
Bowen Island / Writing Retreat Facilitator
Bowen Island Writer’s Retreat
I organized and facilitated a writing retreat on Bowen Island at The Hermitage (a part of Rivendell) in May of 2017. We spent the long weekend on individual writing activities, group writing activities, long walks in the surrounding forest, and sumptuous evening meals.
May 2015
East Vancouver / Readings
Cultivate Art Show
In 2015, I was a featured reader at the Cultivate Art show, an East Vancouver celebration of creativity in our community. I read from my poems, “In the Garden” and “Preoccupation, Innocence” and showcased three of my photographs.
Christina Wells, Writer 