On April 22 at 7:30 p.m., a book launch will mark the 35th anniversary of poetry readings at St. Thomas, Huron Street in Toronto. Church Grammar by Bruce Meyer will be the 33rd book in the St. Thomas Poetry Series. Mr. Meyer is the prolific author and editor of more than 70 books of poetry, short fiction, non-fiction and literary journalism. He is professor of writing and communications at Georgian College in Barrie and has been an enthusiastic proselytizer for poetry and the classics on television and radio.
Poetry readings at St. Thomas began in 1988, about the time that the anthology Christian Poetry in Canada was published by ECW Press. The readers on that occasion were Robert Finch (in his final public reading), John Reibetanz, Tim Lilburn, Maggie Helwig and Margo Swiss. In 1996, the publication series began.
Mr. Meyer will be joined by Lesley-Anne Evans from Kelowna, B.C. The pandemic delayed the Toronto launch for her first book, Mute Swan (2021), until now. Also reading will be Bruce Hunter of Thornhill, retired from Seneca College. His latest book, Galestro, has just been published in Italy.
A reception in the parish hall will follow the reading in the church. Books will be available for purchase and signing by the authors. If you are unable to attend in person, the readings will be livestreamed on St. Thomas’s YouTube channel. A link for the reading is also available on the poetry website, www.stthomaspoetryseries.com.
Lean into reverence in 2018