Vancouver Poetry House

A Master Class with Lillian Allen
2021-02-28 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Vancouver) | Zoom
In this master class, we will explore the poetics of sound and utterance as we craft language and linguistic interventions to align politics and aesthetics. We will experiment with various strategies to texture voice as we become present to this particular moment that we find ourselves in.
TICKETS
Lillian Allen is a professor of creative writing at Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCAD). Two time JUNO Award winner and trailblazer in the field of spoken word and dub poetry, Allen artistically explores the aesthetics of old and new sounds in music to create her distinctive leading edge brand of Canadian reggae with new world sounds in her poetry recordings, with her powerful reggae dub poetry/spoken word recordings including her latest single Woken & Unbroken (2018), album ANXIETY (2012), her groundbreaking first solo Juno awardwinning album Revolutionary Tea Party, a Ms. Magazine Landmark Album, followed by another Juno winner, Conditions Critical. Her third album, Freedom & Dance and her recording for children and young people, Nothing But a Hero, were released to critical acclaim.

Video Release | Isabella Wang
2020-06-01 08:00 - 17:00
view on Youtube
Isabella was invited to Verses Festival of Words in 2020. After the festival was cancelled, Isabella agreed to do a reading on-line, producing a stunningly intimate performance of her work during this strange time of forced distance.
Isabella reads from:
prairie fire
Grain
and the recent publication of her work from Baseline Press, On Forgetting Language
At 19, Isabella Wang has been shortlisted twice for The New Quarterly’s Edna Staebler Essay Contest, and she holds a pushcart prize nomination for poetry. Her poetry and prose have appeared in over twenty literary journals, and forthcoming in three anthologies. She is an assistant editor at Room Magazine.
https://youtu.be/cGIKfc9v9uc

ApocaCIPS | 2020 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Championship
2020-05-21 15:00 - 2020-05-23 12:00 | Bluejeans
The Canadian Individual Poetry Slam (CIPS) is a national event to determine the best slammer in Canada. Reserving your spot here will get you access to all four ApocaCIPS preliminary bouts and a seat at the finals.
Reserve your spot
ApocaCIPS Preliminary bouts 1 and 2, Thursday, May 21, 3-7pm PST
Canada’s best slam poets show us their strongest 2- and 1-minute poems in the first stage of a competition destined to crown 2020’s national slam champion!
ApocaCIPS Preliminary bouts 3 and 4, Friday, May 22, 3-7pm PST
CIPS poets bring us their 2- and 1-minute poems to the second stage of a competition.
ApocaCIPS FINALS, Saturday, May 23, 12pm PST (3PM EST)

The top 10 poets from the preliminaries advance to a final competition! Who will claim the title of 2020 ApocaCIPS Champion?

Video Release | Jules Koostachin reads Nanan from her book Unearthing Secrets, Gathering Truths
2020-04-28 08:00 - 17:00 | Youtube
Jules Koostachin reads Nanan from her book Unearthing Secrets, Gathering Truths published by Kegedonce Press.
To unearth our secrets means we must face our past, and in doing so, we will find our voice.
Unearthing Secrets, Gathering Truths delves into the life and the healing of an lnnininew woman from the ancestral lands of the Moshkekowok, now called Northern Ontario. It is through the process of writing broken poetry–visual poetry rooted in the haunting memories of her childhood–that she provides the reader a glimpse into the mind of child survivor who was saved by her ancestors.
This thought-provoking poetry sheds light on a personal account of how she comes to terms with intergenerational trauma inflicted by the residential school system. Unearthing Secrets, Gathering Truths explores the heartfelt and evocative fragmented experiences through the eyes of an Indigenous woman. Through the honesty of her words, she embraces the spirit world, the resilience of her foremothers, the integral healing powers of disassociation as a survival mechanism, and the richness of her mitewin–dreams–which reconnects her to herself. Through her poetry, she has found the courage to face her difficult past, and now as a mother, she is gathering the truths of her family to help in the healing process.
Cree from the Ancestral lands of Moshkeko, and a band member of Attawapiskat First Nation, Jules Koostachin was born in Moose Factory, Ontario where she was raised by her Cree grandparents. She is a PhD candidate with GRSJ at UBC with a focus on Indigenous documentary practices. Jules is an actor, academic, writer and a filmmaker. Her media arts practice addresses socio-political issues that urban and rural Indigenous peoples face.

Mashed Poetics
2020-04-21 19:00 - 21:00
At Mashed Poetics, poets are asked to write new poems based on songs from a featured music album. This iteration of Mashed Poetics features Spillious on acoustic guitar, performing the songs on the album Transgender Dysphoria Blues by Against Me.
Doors: 6:50 PM / Start 7:00 / on Zoom / $10
PURCHASE TICKETS
Side A

LJ Weisberg–Transgender Dysphoria Blues
Anotonette Rea-True Trans Soul Rebel
Tawahum–Unconditional Love
Marion J. Lefevre–Drinking with the Jocks
Emory Oakley–Osama Bin Laden as the Crucified Christ

Side B

Kit Tempo–Fuck My Life 666
Holden Wall–Dead Friend
Static Jam–Two Coffins
Spillious–Paralytic States
Beni Xiao–Black Me Out

Hullabaloo Team Bout Competitions 7 and 8
2020-04-18 15:00 - 17:00 | Sonya Littlejohn features at the Van Slam
All of our events will be taking place on the Unceded, Ancestral Territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Peoples.

These will be the last 2 bouts of preliminary competition. These bouts could very well determine which teams make it in to Finals!
Each team has had a chance to perform once and now they are ready to rock it on Day 2.
Bout 7 will be in the Alice MacKay Room. Bout 8 will be in the Alma VanDusen/Peter Kay combined room. Both events will be taking place AT THE SAME TIME in the two different rooms.
Doors are at 2:45 The first bout will start no later than 3:15
Again both bouts will be taking place AT THE SAME TIME in two different rooms. This event is FREE TO THE PUBLIC.
The teams competing in each bout have yet to be determined.

ACCESSIBILITY:
The VPL Central Branch has elevators to reach the downstairs rooms where the Hullabaloo events are being held. There are wheelchair accessible bathrooms. For more details, refer to their list of facilities (http://www.vpl.ca/location/central-library).
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.

Hullabaloo Team Bout Competitions 5 and 6
2020-04-18 13:00 - 14:30 | Sonya Littlejohn features at the Van Slam
All of our events will be taking place on the Unceded, Ancestral Territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Peoples.

Day 2 begins with the first two afternoon bouts for our competing teams. Each team has had a chance to perform and now things get even more intense!
Bout 5 will be in the Alice MacKay Room. Bout 6 will be in the Alma VanDusen/Peter Kay combined room. Both events will be taking place AT THE SAME TIME in the two different rooms.
Doors are at 1. The first bout will start no later than 1:30
Again both bouts will be taking place AT THE SAME TIME in two different rooms. This event is FREE TO THE PUBLIC.
The teams competing in each bout have yet to be determined.

ACCESSIBILITY:
The VPL Central Branch has elevators to reach the downstairs rooms where the Hullabaloo events are being held. There are wheelchair accessible bathrooms. For more details, refer to their list of facilities (http://www.vpl.ca/location/central-library).
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.

Adventures in Poetryland Workshops with Janice Jo Lee, Chris Tse, Patrick de Belen and Johnny D. Trinh
2020-04-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Sonya Littlejohn features at the Van Slam
This event will be taking place on the unceded, traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Wautuh peoples.

4 different workshops presented by World Class poets, Janice Joe Lee, Chris Tse, Patrick de belen and Johnny Trinh lead students through Adventures in Poetryland. Each workshop offers a unique perspective into a different writing approach for students to expand their practice. Pre registration for each workshop is required. Open to highschool students who are not taking part in the competition as well. email hullabaloo@vancouverpoetryhouse.com to register

Workshop A with Janice Jo Lee
Ancestor Song
Tell me about your people. Do your people come from the mountains? The river? The forest? What do your people gather around? Music, fire, elders? Are your people diggers, or athletes, or travellers? In this workshop we will look into the archive of our memory of where we come from. Where our knowledge ends, our imagination begins in writing stories of our ancestors. Your people can be your familial ancestors, or the artists whose tradition you follow, your closest friends, or the community that raised you. We will honour our roots and write anthems of ourselves. Dress in clothes you can move in. All bodies and abilities are welcome and will be accommodated.

Workshop B with Christopher Tse
Writing ourselves into our stories
Thomas King says that stories are all we are, so then why does so much popular art seem devoid of the artist these days? In times of whack politics and divisive rhetoric targeting people for their identities, the need for art to act as resistance is urgent and timely. Writing ourselves into our stories is celebrating our identities in all their diverse and beautiful dopeness, about speaking truth to power and claiming our space(s) in an artistic landscape that has far too long been dominated by the same kinds of stories. Let’s figure out how to write poetry and tell stories that unsettle, that disrupt, that say, “I’m here and this is why my story matters.”

Workshop C with Johnny D. Trinh
“It Begins With Intention”

Why do we speak? Why do we need to speak right now? At the core of your poem, your story, your origin- what is it you want? This workshop will encompass all areas of the creation process from inception, first drafts, rehearsal, performance, reflection. It will focus on how spoken word is not linear, but that each part informs the others, and that everything is driven by intention. Johnny will help you embody your words with clear intentions and healthy performance practices. Then Johnny will discuss how performance and rehearsal takes you back to the editing board, and then back to the stage. Come with poems or pieces of poems that you want to develop. Leave with a deeper understanding of your own performance style, and the significance of clarity and specificity in your work.

Workshop D with Patrick de Belen
“White Knuckle Narrative”: Exploration of Empathy, Mental Health and Healing through Spoken Word.
“White Knuckle Narrative” is an entertaining and interactive storytelling workshop facilitated by award-winning Spoken Word Artist, Patrick de Belen. It is designed to guide participants through the exploration of PDB’s process of writing and performing spoken word, and it’s impact on his mental health, youth work and life growing up as an angry, broke and mouthy Filipino-Canadian kid in Toronto. Find out more about his workshops at www.PatrickdeBelen.com

ACCESSIBILITY:
The VPL Central Branch has elevators to reach the downstairs rooms where the Hullabaloo events are being held. There are wheelchair accessible bathrooms. For more details, refer to their list of facilities (http://www.vpl.ca/location/central-library).
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.

Hullabaloo Team Bout Competitions 3 and 4
2020-04-17 19:30 - 21:30 | Sonya Littlejohn features at the Van Slam
All of our events will be taking place on the Unceded, Ancestral Territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Peoples.

The competition continues with our last batch of bouts on day 1. 4 teams in each bout. It should be on fire! (metaphorically)
Bout 3 will be in the Alice MacKay Room. Bout 4 will be in the Alma VanDusen/Peter Kay combined room. Both events will be taking place AT THE SAME TIME in the two different rooms.
Doors are at 7:30 The first bout will start no later than 8 PM.
Again both bouts will be taking place AT THE SAME TIME in two different rooms. This event is FREE TO THE PUBLIC.
The teams competing in each bout have yet to be determined.

ACCESSIBILITY:
The VPL Central Branch has elevators to reach the downstairs rooms where the Hullabaloo events are being held. There are wheelchair accessible bathrooms. For more details, refer to their list of facilities (http://www.vpl.ca/location/central-library).
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.

Hullabaloo Team Bout Competitions 1 and 2
2020-04-17 17:30 - 19:30 | Sonya Littlejohn features at the Van Slam
All of our events will be taking place on the Unceded, Ancestral Territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Peoples.

The competition kicks off with our fist two bouts pitting 4 different teams against each other in each bout.
Bout 1 will be in the Alice MacKay Room. Bout 2 will be in the Alma VanDusen/Peter Kay combined room. Both events will be taking place AT THE SAME TIME in the two different rooms.
Doors are at 5:30. The first bout will start no later than 6:15.
Again both bouts will be taking place AT THE SAME TIME in two different rooms. This event is FREE TO THE PUBLIC.
The teams competing in each bout have yet to be determined.

ACCESSIBILITY:
The VPL Central Branch has elevators to reach the downstairs rooms where the Hullabaloo events are being held. There are wheelchair accessible bathrooms. For more details, refer to their list of facilities (http://www.vpl.ca/location/central-library).
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.

Spokenword Jamboree featuring Chris Tse
2020-04-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Sonya Littlejohn features at the Van Slam
A night for all 16 High School Teams to perform introductory poems showcasing their talent and style.
Plus a feature performance by Canadian Spoken Word Champion, Chris Tse.
6PM-8PM / VPL Central Branch / Alice MacKay Room / Free

We fully acknowledge that all Hullabaloo and Verses Festival of Words events this year and in past years take place on the unceded, ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.
Christopher Tse is an artist, educator, and settler currently living on Songhees, Esquimalt, and WSANEC territory in what is otherwise known as Victoria, BC. He placed second at both the 2011 Poetry Slam World Cup and 2016 Rio International Poetry Slam, and is a former Canadian national slam champion. Tse has shared the stage with Martin Luther King III, Shane Koyczan, and Demi Lovato, and his work has appeared on CBC, CTV, and on radio stations from Ghana to Australia. A brown boy with 6th generation immigrant roots on Turtle Island, Tse is currently finishing his master’s in Critical Social Work with a focus on how arts-based activism aligns with youth organizing and decolonization. He writes on identity, intimacy, immigration, and basketball.

ACCESSIBILITY:
The VPL Central Branch has elevators to reach the downstairs rooms where the Hullabaloo events are being held. There are wheelchair accessible bathrooms. For more details, refer to their list of facilities (http://www.vpl.ca/location/central-library).
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.

2020 Hullabaloo All Star Slam featuring Chris Tse, Patrick de Belen and Ruthless. Hosted by Johnny D. Trinh
2020-04-16 10:00 - 14:00 | Sonya Littlejohn features at the Van Slam
This event will be taking place on the unceded, ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Wautuh peoples.
For 2020 We have a brand new location and day for the annual All Star Slam. This year we’ll be at the fully accessible, Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library in the Alice MacKay room. The All Star Slam will bear witness to poetic thunder and lightning, as three poets compete in an all-out battle of poetic verve and wit. Hosted by Johnny D. Trinh, this year’s event will Chris Tse, Patrick de Belen and one other poet to be named soon. All of them bringing the poignancy, hilarity, and immediacy of poetry slam to the stage, this event is perfect for students who are in danger of finding poetry boring!
Christopher Tse Bio
Christopher Tse is an artist, educator, and settler currently living on Songhees, Esquimalt, and WSANEC territory in what is otherwise known as Victoria, BC. He placed second at both the 2011 Poetry Slam World Cup and 2016 Rio International Poetry Slam, and is a former Canadian national slam champion. Tse has shared the stage with Martin Luther King III, Shane Koyczan, and Demi Lovato, and his work has appeared on CBC, CTV, and on radio stations from Ghana to Australia. A brown boy with 6th generation immigrant roots on Turtle Island, Tse is currently finishing his master’s in Critical Social Work with a focus on how arts-based activism aligns with youth organizing and decolonization. He writes on identity, intimacy, immigration, and basketball.

Patrick de Belen Bio
From arts educator, to event host, to youth mentor, to award-winning poet/writer, to most recently, directing, Patrick de Belen is a storyteller of many kinds. He strongly believes through these stories he can save the world and himself – and secure the bag – all at the same time. Along with his own personal projects, PDB has collaborated with many notable organizations – using storytelling to build and serve his community. Find some of these works on his website: PatrickdeBelen.com / follow him on instagram at @patrick_debelen www.PatrickdeBelen.com

Ivy Adad aka Ruthless bio
“Ruthless” is a Filipinx writer born in Manila Philippines. In 2014, she moved to the stolen territories of Katzie, Semiahmoo, Kwantlen, Kwikwetlem, Qayqayt, and Tsawwassen First Nations.
Ruthless is studying Journalism and Creative Writing at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She writes about the effects of diaspora in her life.
Ruthless attributes her relationship to prose and poetry to an indecisive lover. She writes to make words love her back, and revels in the rejection she constantly receives

Tickets are $6
Please get in touch with Hullabaloo Director RC Weslowski at hullabaloo@vancouverpoetryhouse.com to book your tickets
How does it work? Simple. The poets perform one poem each in three rounds, all of which are judged on a scale of zero to ten by the audience — in this case, the students! In the end, the winner is announced, though in effect, everyone has won. Students have been moved, inspired, and engaged by poetry, often for the first time in their lives.
As one student had it: “This is better than Metallica!” The topics are engaging, the presentation is amazing, and the competition is riveting. Guaranteed to jumpstart students into writing careers of their own.
What: Hullabaloo All Star Slam
When: Thursday April 16th–2 SHOWS!! 10 am-11:15 am and 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm
Where: Central Branch, Vancouver Public Library, Alice MacKay Room
ACCESSIBILITY:
The VPL Central Branch has elevators to reach the downstairs rooms where the Hullabaloo events are being held. There are wheelchair accessible bathrooms. For more details, refer to their list of facilities (http://www.vpl.ca/location/central-library).
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.

Hullabaloo 2020
2020-04-16 - 2020-04-18 | Sonya Littlejohn features at the Van Slam
Get ready, Hullabaloo 2020 is coming! This year’s Youth Spoken Word Festival will be held over three days, Thursday, April 16 – Saturday, April 18th.
Registration for Hullabaloo 2020 opens on Feb 3rd for any school that took part in last year’s festival.
Registration for all other schools opens two weeks later on February 17th. This will be on a first come first serve basis. Email RC Weslowski at hullabaloo@vancouverpoetryhouse.com for more information and to get on the registration mailing list. A $200 non-refundable registration fee is required to take part.
Registration guarantees your students entry into the Hullabaloo tournament, a 2-hour WordPlay Poets workshop, up to 6 free All Star Slam tickets and passes for the Verses Festival of Words. Registering is as simple as emailing Hullabaloo Director RC Weslowski to say “I want to enter a team!”
Simply looking to inspire your students? Get tickets for the All Star Slam! Tickets cost $6/student (FREE for teachers or chaperones). The All Star Slam is an all-out battle of poetic verve and wit, pitting Patrick de Belen and Chris Tse against each other in a fun-filled showcase of slam at its finest!
To reserve tickets, contact RC today!
We acknowledge that all Hullabaloo and Verses Festival of Words events this year and in past years take place on the unceded, ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.
ACCESSIBILITY:
The VPL Central Branch has elevators to reach the downstairs rooms where the Hullabaloo events are being held. There are wheelchair accessible bathrooms. For more details, refer to their list of facilities (http://www.vpl.ca/location/central-library).
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.

2020 Verses Festival of Words Cancelled
2020-03-16 08:00 - 17:00
For the safety of our audience, artists and staff we are cancelling the 2020 Verses Festival of Words. We appreciate all of the work everyone has put into the festival and all of the support we have received.
Ticket refunds will be processed at the beginning of the week. We are working on some digital programming options and will announce what we have planned as soon as we can.

Honesty, Rigor and Attention
2019-08-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Woodwards Building, 111 West Hastings, Vancouver, BC, V6B 1H4, Canada
Please join us for a writing intensive with Brandon Wint, on Sunday, August 18th, 2-4pm | $5/pwyc at the door | 4th floor, 111 West Hastings.

Brandon Wint is well known for blending an academically grounded approach to poetry, which he inherited in his several years of study as an Honours English student at Carleton University, with a spiritual-emotional approach. Brandon gives his students the ability to understand the fundamental structure of free verse poetry in a way that is coherent, accessible, and grounded in his own experience. These technical tenets are joined by a strong emphasis on authenticity, sincerity and the exploration of personal narrative. As an arts-educator, Brandon firmly believes that poetry is, ultimately, an act of telling the truth. He helps his students arrive at their personal truths and distill them into evocative, satisfying poetic verse.

Brandon Wint’s intricately-rendered performance pieces present a passionate, sincere and whimsical version of humanity. His writing, performance, and pedagogical approach all affirm, in their different ways, that there is beauty to be found in the struggle, and solace to be found in sincerity-of-spirit. He is an artist who uses poetry to harness empathy within himself, and have each of his words, deeds, creations and performances reflect that empathy unambiguously. He is a two-time national champion slam poet, a nationally published writer, as well as arts-educator and curator of artistic events.
If you have any questions about this event please contact hello@vancouverpoetryhouse.com

Accessibility

On weekends and evenings, the 111 West Hastings Building is locked. A Vancouver Poetry House staff member will be downstairs to let people into the building 15 minutes before the meeting or text 604 704 9314 to let you in. There are four, single occupancy, washrooms without gender markings on the fifth floor. Two of these washrooms are wheelchair accessible. There will be light snacks available at the meeting. You are welcome to bring something to share.

Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Championship FINALS
2019-05-04 20:00 - 22:00 | Agendas & Minutes
The top 12 poets from preliminaries advance to a final competition! Who will claim the title of 2019 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Champion?
Doors 7:00 PM / Start 8:00 / York Theatre / $12 Adv / $15 Door
purchase tickets
Accessibility information for the York Theatre coming soon.

Vines Arts Festival Showcase
2019-05-04 15:00 - 17:00 | Havana Theatre, 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, Canada
Meet the incredible artists of Vines Art Festival, Vancouver’s interdisciplinary environmentalist art festival. Vines features fearless cutting-edge and discipline-bending artists on the forefront of their fields. Come out and enjoy the dazzling multi-sensory experience the Vines artists have to offer!
Doors 2:30 PM / Start 3:00 PM / Havana Theatre / $10 Adv / $12 Door (or PWYC)
Havana Box Office
Accessibility Information for the Havana Theatre
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.
Havana Theatre is a mostly accessible venue. To reach the theatre, you must pass through the restaurant to the gallery space. On the right, is a black door leading into the theatre. There is a narrow hallway and two doors to access the performance space. This narrow hallway is possible for wheelchairs to pass through, but can be difficult for larger scooters to maneuver. There are no stairs. Washrooms are located at the end of a hallway which is maneuverable but also narrow.

Talk the Talk: Climate Crisis
2019-05-04 12:00 - 14:00 | Havana Theatre, 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, Canada
Guided by two qualified facilitators, this community dialogue engages a topic that challenges, advances and re-forms our collective ideas the role of the arts in addressing the climate crisis. Come prepared with questions, thoughts and a respectful voice.
Doors 11:30 AM / Start 12:00 PM / Havana Theatre / FREE

Accessibility information for the Havana Theatre
Havana Theatre is a mostly accessible venue. To reach the theatre, you must pass through the restaurant to the gallery space. On the right, is a black door leading into the theatre. There is a narrow hallway and two doors to access the performance space. This narrow hallway is possible for wheelchairs to pass through, but can be difficult for larger scooters to maneuver. There are no stairs. Washrooms are located at the end of a hallway which is maneuverable but also narrow.
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.

Wouldn’t Be Nothing
2019-05-03 22:30 - 2019-05-04 00:00 | Contact
Artists: Old Soul Rebel & Christie Lee Charles
Old Soul Rebel and Vancouver Poet Laureate Christie Lee Charles get you moving to the midnight hour! A rock, hip hop and soul jam featuring some of the most dynamic songwriting talents around.
Doors 10:00 PM / Start 10:30 PM / Cafe Deux Soleils / $10 Door (or PWYC) / $5 w/ CIPS Entry

Accessibility information for Café Deux Soleils
Café Deux Soleils is a semi-accessible venue to wheelchairs and scooters. They have recently completely renovated the bathrooms, installing three ungendered stalls. However, there is no wheelchair accessible bathroom. Please read the full report from the Radical Accessibility Mapping Project for more details.
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.

Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Championship Round 2!
2019-05-03 20:00 - 22:00 | Havana Theatre, 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, Canada
Canada’s best slam poets show us their strongest 2- and 3-minute poems in the second stage of a competition destined to crown 2019’s national slam champion!
Bout 1: Doors 7:00 PM / Start 8:00 PM / Cafe Deux Soleils / $10 Door (or PWYC)
Bout 2: Doors 7:00 PM / Start 8:00 PM / Havana Theatre / $10 Door (or PWYC)
Havana Box Office
Accessibility information for Café Deux Soleils
Café Deux Soleils is a semi-accessible venue to wheelchairs and scooters. They have recently completely renovated the bathrooms, installing three ungendered stalls. However, there is no wheelchair accessible bathroom. Please read the full report from the Radical Accessibility Mapping Project for more details.
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.

Accessibility information for the Havana Theatre
Havana Theatre is a mostly accessible venue. To reach the theatre, you must pass through the restaurant to the gallery space. On the right, is a black door leading into the theatre. There is a narrow hallway and two doors to access the performance space. This narrow hallway is possible for wheelchairs to pass through, but can be difficult for larger scooters to maneuver. There are no stairs. Washrooms are located at the end of a hallway which is maneuverable but also narrow.

Surrey Muse Showcase and Open Mic
2019-05-03 16:00 - 18:00 | Havana Theatre, 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, Canada
Surrey Muse Arts Society presents a showcase, discussion and open mic event. Following performances from multi-talented featured artists Sana Janjua, Fauzia Rafique, and Mariam Zohra, an open stage gives you the opportunity to share work of your own with the Verses audience!
Doors 3:30 PM / Start 4:00 PM / Havana Theatre / $10 Adv / $12 Door (or PWYC)
Havana Box Office
Accessibility information for the Havana Theatre
Havana Theatre is a mostly accessible venue. To reach the theatre, you must pass through the restaurant to the gallery space. On the right, is a black door leading into the theatre. There is a narrow hallway and two doors to access the performance space. This narrow hallway is possible for wheelchairs to pass through, but can be difficult for larger scooters to maneuver. There are no stairs. Washrooms are located at the end of a hallway which is maneuverable but also narrow.
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.

Live Loops 101 with Ms.PANIK
2019-05-03 13:00 - 15:00 | We are hiring a Volunteer Coordinator
Join loop poet Ms.PANIK and her Boss-300 loop station for a crash course in the basics of vocal work, improvised sounds and looping for live performance, composition & songwriting.
Doors 12:30 PM / Start 1:00 PM / Havana Theatre / $15 Adv / $20 Door / Limited Space!
Havana Box Office
Accessibility information for the Havana Theatre
Havana Theatre is a mostly accessible venue. To reach the theatre, you must pass through the restaurant to the gallery space. On the right, is a black door leading into the theatre. There is a narrow hallway and two doors to access the performance space. This narrow hallway is possible for wheelchairs to pass through, but can be difficult for larger scooters to maneuver. There are no stairs. Washrooms are located at the end of a hallway which is maneuverable but also narrow.
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.

Word Travels Showcase and Mashed Poetics Double-header!
2019-05-02 20:00 - 22:00
A spoken word double-header!! Miles Merrill, Melanie Mununggurr-Williams, and Emily Crocker join us from Australia to perform a showcase of words from down under. Then it’s Mashed Poetics: Come On Over by Shania Twain, with poets from across Canada performing new works responding to Shania Twain classics, with a live band covering the songs.
Doors 7:00 PM / Start 8:00 PM / WISE Hall / $12 Adv / $15 Door (or PWYC)
purchase tickets
Accessibility information for the WISE Hall
You’ll note on arrival a set of 10 railed stairs leading into the Hall. The wheelchair accessible entrance is around back. For this event there will be someone posted at the back door throughout the event.
Once inside, you’ll find a spacious wood-floored hall, open concept, tables and chairs set up throughout. The stage (accessible only via stairs) is to your left, and the washrooms towards the back of the hall. The washrooms are currently gendered, but will be marked “gender neutral” for Verses. There are two sets of washrooms. The one to the right of the car, currently mark “women” is wheelchair accessible with no urinals and one additional stall. The one to the left of the bar, currently mark “men”, is on the same level and is now wheelchair accessible, with 2 urinals and one wheelchair access stall and one non-wheelchair access stall. The door has been adjusted to more easily fit wheelchair/scooter users. Overall the space is great.
Please read the Radical Accessibility Mapping Project’s Wise Hall overview for more details.
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.

Master Class: Spoken Word for a Living with Miles Merrill
2019-05-02 16:00 - 18:00 | Havana Theatre, 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, Canada
Word Travels founder Miles Merrill invites you to the business-side of being an artist. This workshop looks at the website, contacts, contracts, grants, collaboration, newsletters, international touring, impact and the whole apparatus required for you to take the next, big step.
Doors 3:30 PM / Start 4:00 PM / Havana Theatre / $20 Adv / $25 Door / Limited Space!
Havana Box Office
Accessibility for the Havana Theatre
Havana Theatre is a mostly accessible venue. To reach the theatre, you must pass through the restaurant to the gallery space. On the right, is a black door leading into the theatre. There is a narrow hallway and two doors to access the performance space. This narrow hallway is possible for wheelchairs to pass through, but can be difficult for larger scooters to maneuver. There are no stairs. Washrooms are located at the end of a hallway which is maneuverable but also narrow.
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.

Talk the Talk: Decolonizing the Arts
2019-05-02 13:00 - 15:00 | Havana Theatre, 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, Canada
Guided by two qualified facilitators, this community dialogue asks artists, organizers and audiences to participate in anti-oppression dialogue around the topic of “Decolonizing the Arts.” Come prepared with questions, thoughts and a respectful voice.
Doors 12:30 PM / Start 1:00 PM / Havana Theatre / FREE

Accessibility for the Havana Theatre
Havana Theatre is a mostly accessible venue. To reach the theatre, you must pass through the restaurant to the gallery space. On the right, is a black door leading into the theatre. There is a narrow hallway and two doors to access the performance space. This narrow hallway is possible for wheelchairs to pass through, but can be difficult for larger scooters to maneuver. There are no stairs. Washrooms are located at the end of a hallway which is maneuverable but also narrow.
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.

Spoken Nerd feat. Julia Gaskill and Stephen Meads
2019-05-01 22:30 - 2019-05-02 00:00 | Sheri-D
Time to proudly proclaim your love for whatever turns on your nerdy nature! Costumes are welcomed in the audience or for performers for this late night battle of the nerds Featuring supernerd poets Julia Gaskill and Stephen Meads.
Doors 10:00 PM / Start 10:30 PM / Storm Crow Tavern / $5 Suggested Donation

Accessibility information for the Storm Crow Tavern
Storm Crow Tavern has tables placed closely together and a very narrow hallway to the bathroom area.
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.

Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Championship Round 1!
2019-05-01 20:00 - 22:00 | Contact
Canada’s best slam poets show us their strongest 4- and 1-minute poems in the first stage of a competition destined to crown 2019’s national slam champion!
Bout 1: Doors 7:00 PM / Start 8:00 PM / Cafe Deux Soleils / $10 Door (or PWYC)
Bout 2: Doors 7:00 PM / Start 8:00 PM / Havana Theatre / $10 Door (or PWYC)
Havana Box Office
Accessibility information for the Havana Theatre
Havana Theatre is a mostly accessible venue. To reach the theatre, you must pass through the restaurant to the gallery space. On the right, is a black door leading into the theatre. There is a narrow hallway and two doors to access the performance space. This narrow hallway is possible for wheelchairs to pass through, but can be difficult for larger scooters to maneuver. There are no stairs. Washrooms are located at the end of a hallway which is maneuverable but also narrow.
This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.
