Gala screenings for Why We Write: Poets of Vernon showcase work of OC faculty

By College Relations | April 21, 2022
           

English Professor Hannah Calder reads while sitting in her home office by a window
Hannah Calder works at her desk.

A documentary that began in 2017 will screen next week with its first screenings. 

The project, produced and directed by OC English Professor and self-proclaimed budding filmmaker Hannah Calder and Curtis Emde is having upcoming gala screenings at the end of the month in Vernon. 

Why We Write: Poets of Vernon features the thriving writing community in the North Okanagan community. Calder and Emde wanted to showcase poets who were born in Vernon, who have chosen to live their lives in the valley and the Syilx storytellers who have long been on this land.  

Calder acts as the viewer’s guide through the rich writing landscape as she speaks to writers, bookmakers and storytellers.  

“It feels like a really nurturing community and a supportive one as far as my experience goes,” says Calder. “I think John Lent probably has had a lot to do with some of it. He’s fostered writing in this community in a big way.” 

Lent is a poet, novelist and singer/songwriter. He taught creative writing and literature courses at Okanagan College in 1979 and inspired many writers before his retirement in 2011. 

Lent is one of many subjects in the film, including Bill Cohen, Michelle Doege, Kerry Gilbert, John La Greca, Laisha Rosnau, Harold Rhenisch, Sharon Thesen, Clare Theissen, Tom Wayman and Gerry William. Many individuals have connections to OC’s English and Fine Arts Department. 

Calder mentioned that she is thinking about taking the documentary to writing festivals, as she imagines that writers will resonate with the film. 

"One of our goals was to show the feeling I had when I arrived here, that I was moving to a sort of cultural desert, was wrong -- on so many levels," Calder explains, looking back upon her experience making the film. "I discovered a rich, vibrant writing community here that has sustained me since my arrival." 

Tickets are sold out for the first three gala screenings, starting April 29. You can follow the documentary at The Orange Lamphouse Studio on Facebook or on their website at www.theorangelamphousestudio.com for more information on future screenings. 

You can view the trailer here.



Tags: Kelowna, Vernon, Inside OC

TOP STORIES

RELATED STORIES

Sign up for weekly stories




Trending

Communications student standing outside the Centre for Learning building at the Kelowna campus
Meet Ruth Gabriela Melo Flores

April 4, 2023

Q: What's your name? A: Ruth Gabriela Melo Flores Q: What's your hometown? A: Quito – Ecuador – South America Q: How did you end up at Okanagan College? A: Well, I studied for a bachelor's degree in Law in Ecuador. Then, I worked for a while and got my Master's degree in Government and Culture of Organizations at the University of Pamplona.  When I returned to my country, professional opportunities arose for me. I mean, a Master's degree improved my career. Spain helped ...

Read more...
Animation student
Artistic students design future careers in animation

June 7, 2022

Grads of Okanagan College’s Animation Diploma program are finding their skills have never been in higher demand. First- and second-year students showed samples of their artwork and demo reels to industry partners at OC’s annual Animation Industry Night on May 17. “Lots of the work was very professional,” says James Wood, Chair of Okanagan College’s Animation Department. “Our program is short, but intense. The instructors make sure the students have a realistic understanding of what they need do to succeed in a competitive and demanding...

Read more...
JAMK campus
OC Business students embrace international study again

May 30, 2022

Business students from Okanagan College are once again able to travel to Jyväskylä, Finland to experience an international summer school at the JAMK University of Applied Sciences.  Finland’s education system is widely regarded as one of the best in the world.  OC Business Professor Blair Baldwin, who has taught Services Design at JAMK for several summers, says working in Finland has helped him innovate and create new teaching methodologies. “JAMK employs experiential learning across its curriculum,” he says. “They stress cri...

Read more...
Enactus 2022
Enactus Okanagan College tops the field, sets sights on national championships

May 27, 2022

Okanagan College students will once again be competing for the Canadian title after qualifying for the Enactus National Exposition with a first-place finish in their league during the semi-final round. Enactus teams at post-secondary institutions across Canada competed virtually earlier this month, and Okanagan College scooped up top position in the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge, and runner-up in the Scotiabank Climate Action Challenge for the Unusually Good Food Co. project. It also included national runner-up in Shaw and RBC accelerator...

Read more...