The COLOUR of WORDS
NEWS:
2008
July, "Wish", a poem, 'Tale Spinners', Ponoka, Alberta.
June, 3 poems: "Falling", "On Violating my TV Set", "Contact", posted on Pens on Fire, USA.
May 13,evening, reading poems, for Poetry Potpourri Society, Abbotsford, BC. Q&A about the Canadian Authors Association, other groups and publishing in general.
April 28, read poems, for SKY:Seniors Keeping Young, Bowen Court, Bowen Island, BC.
April, first prize poem,"Fat Rain", $300. in William Henry Drummond contest, also Hon. Men. for "Gingerbread House" poem from Spring Pulse Poetry Festival, Cobalt and White Mountain Publications, Ontario.
March 27, 7 pm, interactive workshop, "Know What Rules to Break", Canadian Authors Association, Holiday Inn, 3020 Blanchard Street, Victoria, BC.
March 28, 7:30 pm, reading poems at Black Stilt Cafe, 1633 Hillside Ave., Victoria, BC.
March 19, 2 poems," Amour" and " Spit & Polish" posted with a book review of my "Never a Straight Line" collection on " Ink-Sweat-and-Tears" in the U.K.
Environmental poem, "Never a Straight Line", on display at Vancouver Public Library for the month of February.
February 29, LIFETIME Achievement Award from the World Poetry Society at their annual Gala at the Vancouver Public Library on Georgia St., Vancouver, BC. A reading and sale of my books took place. Bernice Lever is now a "Word Warrior" with a medal from the World Poetry Reading Series.
January, poem "Customary Standard" accepted by Aspect Aspirations Magazine, spring issue.
2007
November 21, reading with Burnaby Writers' Society winners and finalists, "High Middle Ages" contest, celebrating their 40 yrs., at Myles of Beans, Burnaby, B.C. My poem - "This is not my body".
November 8, "Mystery", a poem with Diamond Dust, USA, website.
October 27, featured speaker in Celebration of Dorothy Livesay's achievements for World Poetry Reading Series, at 938 Howe Street, Vancouver.
October 19-21, Chairing a panel, co-hosting a workshop, leading a workshop, poetry judge, and leading Blue Pencil sessions, Surrey International Writers' Conference, {www.siwc.ca}, Surrey, BC. Won a Special Achievement Award from the Surrey Board of Trade
October 14, 4-6 pm, my "Never a Sraight Line" book launch with music and refreshments, at The Gallery, Bowen Island, BC.
October 10, read poetry, Cornerstone Cafe, 2 pm, { Vancouver branch - CAA event of poetry and prose by published authors.} Coquitlam, BC.
October 5, read poems at Island Pacific School morning assembly, Bowen Island.
October 1-7, Random Acts of Poetry, "Tag-a-Long" series, shared outdoor readings with Lisa Shatzky, Jude Neal and Heather Haley, distributing free poetry pages, various sites, Bowen Island, { www.biac.ca}, BC.
Sept. 30, reading poems in Poet's Corner Tent at 'Word on the Street' with World Poetry Society, Library Square, Hamilton & Robson, Vancouver.
Sept. 15, taking part in "Reckoning '07", An Appraisal of BC Book Culture, at SFU campus at Robson Square, Vancouver.
Sept. 1, "This is not my body", a poem finallist with Burnaby Writers Society. Burbnaby, BC
Sept. 1 poem in 'Verse Afire' and 1 poem on The Ontario Poetry Society website.
Sept. 1, read poems, 2 pm , 6th Annual AfrikaDey Festival, Croatian Cultural Centre, Vancouver.
August 28, featured poet, World Poetry Cafe, Co-op Radio, 102.7 FM, Vancouver.
August 27, featured poet, World Poetry Reading Series, held at 938 Howe St., Vancouver.
July 23, NEVER a STRAIGHT LINE, Palm Poet Series #17, Black Moss Press, Ontario, 2007 - my 8th book of poems published. $15.00, 96 pp., ISBN 978-88753-438-6
July 5, poem, "Mr. Bellini" read at CAA's CanWrite 2007 conference in Ottawa.
July, 2 poems in "Butterfly Thunder" anthology, The Ontario Poetry Society.
June 9, Ottawa Public Library, afternoon reading with Q&A with PLR discussion.
June 7, Richvale Writers - 40th Anniversary Celebration Reading, evening, Richmond Hill, Ontario. (McConaghy Centre on Yonge Street)
June 3, Lit LIVE poetry reading series, Sunday evening, Hamilton, Ontario.
May 25 & 26, "Writing Memories & Memoirs" workshop, Shuswap Writers' Festival, Salmon Arm, BC. Also reading poems and leading Blue Pencil sessions.
May 5, "Writing - a Successful Business", CAA workshop co-leader, Accent Hotel, Victoria, BC.
April 22, poetry reading, North Shore Writers Festival, at Capilano District Library.
April 19, "Telling Tales" monthly series, reading poems, Bowen Island, BC.
March, "Hands Off", poem reprinted in "Verse Afire" by The Ontario Poetry Society.
February 23, read at 6th Annual Gala, World Poetry Society, Vancouver Public Library.
January, 4 poems, short listed, Cecilia Lamont Contest, White Rock, BC.
January, 2 poems in "Voices Israel" international anthology,
2006
December, poem, "Rain", in 'Poemata', Canadian Poetry Association, Moncton, NB.
November, 2 prose, "Adam" & "Same Sex Wives" amd poem, ""Red Dog Outhouse", in North Shore Writers's anthology.
October 20, Poetry Awards Judge at Surrey International Writers Conference.
October, poem, "Let's Go Home Now", CPA's anthology: "Harvesting Treasures".
September 24, read poems in "Poet's Corner Tent" at Word on the Street, Vancouver.
August, poem, "Walk Barefoot" for "Aqua Terra" anthology, Aspect Aspirations pub.
July 22, read at Pandora's Collective's "Summer Dream Festival" and won a prize for my poem, "Reunion".
July 6-9, "Harnessing Your Critics", workshop, CANWRITE 2006, Peterborough, ON.
July 1, started 4 year term as CAA rep. on Public Lending Right Commission, under Canada Council, Ottawa.
July 1, named Writer-in-Residence for Vancouver CAA branch.
July 9, part of Richvale Writers planning and reading for a 40th group anthology, Ontario.
June, Hon. Mention for poem, "Sagging", in Canadian Poetry Assoc. 2005 annual contest.
June, poem, "Peace" accepted for Sanburg/Livesay anthology, Mekler & Deahl, Ontario.
NOMINATED for National Poet Laureate of Canada by Vancouver CAA members.
May,"Golden", poem in Verse Alive, Vol. 2, #2, T.O.P.S., Ontario.
May, 3 poems in "Enchanted CrossRoads", T.O.P.S., Ontario.
March 20, workshop, "Voices in Poetry", North Shore Writers, West Vancouver, BC.
February, "Tips for Teachers", Canadian Teacher Magazine, winter issue, BC.
January, "Walk Barefoot" poem on Vancouver Public Library wall of Peace Poems, with World Poetry Society.
Read poems monthly in Bowen Island's series: "Telling Tales".
2005
October, 2 poems, "Larks", & "Primary Source" and prose,"Dear Edna" in North Shore Writers' 2005 anthology.
September 25, WOTS at Van. Public Library , workshop, "Harnessing the Critics", co-hosted with Ariadne Sawyer.
August 26, read poems at Van Dusen Gardens with Pandora's Collective.
September 8, finalist - Burnaby Writers Society poetry contest, "Time Is Timeless".
September 12, poem, "Bill Vacuums" in Aspect Aspirations, Vol.1.
July 23, poems at Summer Dream Festival by Pandora's Collective, at Robson Square, Vancouver, 11:30 am.
June 23, poems at CAA National meeting, Walper Terrace Hotel, Waterloo, Ont., 8 pm.
June 13, poems and interview on World Poetry Society on Co-op Radio, Vancouver, 9 pm.
June 8, poems at annual CAA dinner at O'Doul's in Vancouver, 7pm.
June 4, poetry reader with North Shore Writers at Seymour Gallery in Deep Cove, BC , 2 pm.
April 27, featured reader at World Poetry Society's "Behind the Scenes", 243 West Broadway, Books & Coffee Shop, 7:30pm.
April 21, read at "Telling Tales", 7:30 pm, Collins Hall, Bowen Island, for National Poetry Month in the English speaking world.
2004
Won Honourable Mention in The Ontario Poetry Society's Freedom contest.
Won 2 Honourable Mention Awards in Pandora's Box contests.
Take part often in "Telling Tales", evenings, 3rd Thursday of the month, Collins Hall, Bowen Island, for story tellers, poets and prose writers. This is a BIAC sponsored event.
Feb.7 - North Shore Arts Symposium, Saturday, Lucas Centre, North Vancouver, MC and read poems.
Feb.24 - John Newlove Memorial Evening, Vancouver Public Library, read my poems.
Apr. 25 - "Let Peace Begin with Me", Sunday afternoon of readings, Bowen Island Historical Museum, for Canada Poetry Month series.
May 16 - "Seeking Tranquility in Time of Turmoil", Burnaby Bahai Society, featured reader for Sunday afternoon, at Burnaby Heritage Museum.
June 24-27, Co-chair of "SAILING into New Markets", CAA national conference at UBC, Vancouver.
Won Alan Sangster Award, given to one CAA member each year.
Sept. 26 - read poems at "Word on the Street", Vancouver.
Oct. 28 - read poems at Tigers for BC Federation of Writers.
Nov. 8 - read poems for World Poetry Reading Series at Vancouver Public Library.
November - 4 poems in North Shore Writers' anthology, "Uncovered".
December - 3 poems in Prairie Journal, No. 43.
2003
November: 3 poems in "Northwords", North Shore Writers anthology.
November: 1 st prize for her poem "Much Left One" in Canadian Poetry Association's 2003 Annual National Contest.
October 18 to 21, took part in Surrey International Writers Conference, Surrey, BC
September 28, took part in "Word on the Street", Vancouver
September 20, gave "Polishing & Publishing Your Poetry" workshop in Kelowna, BC
August, Honourable Mention for Haiku in The Ontario Poetry Society contest.
August 14, accepted Co-Chair for "Sailing into new markets", CAA AGM in Vancouver in June, 2004.
July 3 to 8, Edmonton, CAA Annual General Meeting.
June 11, editor at CAA writing workshop in Vancouver.
Spring - re-designed my web site!
Highlights of 2002
January 2002 - Bernice Lever became Literary Chair of the Bowen Island Festival of the Arts which was held from July 1st to August 18th. Three theatre companies and others performed in a 150 seat tent near the beach in Snug Cove. Other artistic performances, displays and workshops took place in other halls and galleries around Snug Cove. Bowen Island Arts Council had a successful festival.
April 21, 2002, Earth Day - Bernice Lever was the MC for a trek up Mt. Gardner, 2,500 ft. centre of Bowen Island, for a poetry reading and singing event for the UN 2002 Year of the Mountains & Alpine Environments. A few dozen poets and singers performed words praising mountains, and the need for rescuing and reviving our earth's damaged environment. Pictures of some of our BC group were posted on the UN site: Dialogue Poetry.
Aug. 2001 to Dec. 2003 - Bernice Lever became Vancouver branch President of the Canadian Authors Association. www.canauthorsvancouver.org
September 2002 - Bernice Lever took part in the CAA exhibit table at Word on the Street in Vancouver and with her own display at the International Chinese Women Writers' Conference in Richmond, BC.
October & November 2002 - Bernice Lever gave writing workshops and tutoring to talented Bowen Island writers.