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Lively City: Douglas instructor shortlisted for prestigious prize

A creative writing instructor from Douglas College is among seven finalists shortlisted for the $65,000 Griffin Poetry Prize.
Russell Thorton
Wordsmith: Russell Thornton, a Douglas College instructor, is shortlisted for the Griffin Poetry Prize.

A creative writing instructor from Douglas College is among seven finalists shortlisted for the $65,000 Griffin Poetry Prize.

Four international and three Canadian poets are in the running for the award – among them Douglas College’s Russell Thornton for his book of poetry The Hundred Lives.

Thornton, who’s a North Vancouver resident, is no stranger to the world of major awards – his previous books have been shortlisted for the B.C. Book Prize, the ReLit Poetry Award and the Governor General’s Award.

He’s also a past winner of the League of Canadian Poets National Contest.

“The poems in The Hundred Lives burn with a rare blend of rhythmic intensity and hard-earned experience that make them at once timeless and contemporary,” said the judges’ citation about the book.

The Hundred Liveswas published by Quattro Books – check out www.quattrobooks.ca for more.

Through the lens

A photographer from New Westminster is one of three artists with work on display in an upcoming exhibition at the Burnaby Arts Council gallery.

Adam Gibbs’work is part of the new Photographic Convergences exhibition, which opens May 9 at the Deer Lake Gallery and runs until May 30.

A press release notes that Gibbs takes his inspiration from the outdoors through hikes into remote locations, where he sets up his photography equipment and attempts to capture the landscape and the light of his surroundings.

“The practice and creativity of photography often drives Gibbs to explore new places and put his lens to the test of capturing the grandeur of what it is he sees,” the release notes.

His work will be on display alongside that of Kelly Selden and Chris MacKenzie.

An opening reception for the new exhibition is set for Saturday, May 9 from 2 to 4 p.m.

The Deer Lake Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 4 p.m., and admission is free.

You can find the gallery at 6584 Deer Lake Ave. in Burnaby. Check out www.burnabyartscouncil.org for more details.

Unblock your voice

Here’s one for the poets.

If you need help overcoming writers’ block, then a new workshop offered by the Royal City Literary Arts Society may be just what you’re looking for.

Bonnie Nish leads the workshop, Unblocking the Blocked Voice, on Saturday May 2 from 2 to 4 p.m. at 737 Sixth St.

The interactive workshop will explore a variety of ways for writers to rediscover their authentic voice when they have become blocked, and it will give the group a chance to work together to create a piece of community art.

It costs $20 for society members or $35 for non-members. See www.rclas.com for details.

Secrets of a soccer mom – or three

A New Westminster director is at the helm of a new show opening this week at the Evergreen Cultural Centre in Coquitlam.

Stephen Torrenceis directing the final show of Stage 43’s season, Secrets of a Soccer Mom. The show, which stars Julia Walmsley, Lisa Pope andArsha Tahir, follows the story of three women who reluctantly take to the field in a mothers-versus-sons soccer game – and find themselves learning more than they expected about themselves, their families and their lives.

It’s on April 23 to 25 and April 29 to May 2 at 8 p.m., with a Sunday matinee on April 26 at 2 p.m. The Evergreen Cultural Centre is at 1205 Pinetree Way in Coquitlam.

Check out www.stage43.org for information or tickets, or call the box office at 604-927-6555.

Do you have an item for Lively City? Send ideas to Julie, jmaclellan@newwestrecord.ca, or find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.