Poetry in the Park Brings Words and Community Together

On August 22, writers, poets and community members gathered around the Poet Tree in Fish Creek Provincial Park for Poetry in the Park, the first event hosted by Josephine LoRe in her role as Poet Laureate for the Bow Valley Ranche Historical Society.

The afternoon began with introductions and a welcome from BVRHS President Larry Wasyliw, who shared some background on the Society and introduced former BVRHS Poet Laureate Mary Vlooswyk for a reading.

Josephine spoke about her new role, the sacredness of the land and the Indigenous peoples who first brought culture, language and poetry to the area before sharing some of her own work.

Five featured poets then took to the microphone: Weyman Chan, Patti Lott, Tim Murphy, Angela Waldie and Nash Lott, each sharing selections of their poetry.

But Poetry in the Park wasn't just about listening. Participants were invited to head out into Fish Creek Park, find a little inspiration and put their own words on paper. When everyone gathered again later in the afternoon, many returned to the microphone to share what they had written.

For some, it was their first time writing poetry. For others, it was their first time sharing their writing publicly.

The event also welcomed the Honourable Lois Mitchell, who joined the gathering and shared her support for the literary arts and community.

The creativity sparked that afternoon may continue well beyond the event itself. Several participants have since submitted their poems, with hopes of developing a legacy anthology centred on Fish Creek Park in collaboration with the Calgary representative of the Writers' Guild of Alberta.

Poetry in the Park Returns October 24 Following the success of the first gathering, Poetry in the Park Volume II will take place Saturday, October 24, with the theme: The Changing of the Seasons, and Learning to Let Go

The next event is expected to feature four new poets and another opportunity to experience poetry, creativity and community in the natural setting of Fish Creek Provincial Park.

Watch for more details as October approaches.

MEET THE POETS

Poetry in the Park brought together an accomplished group of writers, each bringing a distinct voice and perspective to the afternoon.

Josephine LoRe

Josephine LoRe is the new Poet Laureate of the Bow Valley Ranche Historical Society. Her poetry has been shared internationally through live readings, publications and collaborations spanning music, dance and visual art. She has five poetry collections and has been nominated three times for the Pushcart Poetry Prize.

Angela Waldie

Angela Waldie is a writer, editor and university instructor living in Calgary. Her debut poetry collection, A Single Syllable of Wild, was published by Frontenac House in April 2026. Her poetry has appeared in numerous Canadian literary publications including Arc, Prairie Fire, The New Quarterly, Grain and Event.

Patti Lott

Patti Lott is a retired rancher and therapist whose poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in CV2, PRISM International, Prairie Fire, Yolk, NewPoetry.ca and Nōd. She was also the winner of Alberta Views magazine’s 2025 short fiction contest.

Tim Murphy

Tim Murphy is a former Poet Laureate of Canmore, Alberta, where he has lived since 1992. His poetry has appeared in numerous magazines and online journals, and he is the author of five chapbooks and one full-length collection of poetry.

Nash Lott

Nash Lott’s poetry has appeared in The New Quarterly, NewPoetry.ca and other publications. His chapbook, Sheet Music for Controlled Chaos, is forthcoming through the new mad / sick / different chapbook imprint from Gordon Hill Press and Porcupine’s Quill.

Weyman Chan

Weyman Chan is a Calgary author whose seventh book of poetry, A Child's Seance, launched in September 2026 through Talonbooks. He is the recipient of the 2021 Writers' Trust Latner-Griffin Poetry Prize and was a finalist for the 2008 Governor General's Award for poetry.