July 19, 2014 Members Readings
At the July members readings, the winners of the Summer Sizzle Poetry Contest will be announced.
All posts by Maurus Cappa
Breakfast Speaker June 21, 2014
Theo Heras
After more than 20 years working as a children’s librarian in Toronto, I have retired. But I’m not out of the children’s book world yet. I’m still offering programs for babies, both in private homes and in community settings. I’m writing for children and remaining active in CANSCAIP and IBBY-Canada. Currently I’m chairing the Elizabeth Mrazik Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award. And, of course, I’m singing.
Breakfast Speaker May 17, 2014
Dorothea Helms’s work includes regular features on Canadian celebrities, and she has been privileged to interview and write about over 50 well-known professionals in the entertainment, sports, media and arts worlds. Dorothea has sat in the living rooms of Pinball Clemons, the late Timothy Findley, George Fox, Ronnie Hawkins, Roger Ashby, the late Ben Wicks, Jeff Healey, Sandy Hawley, Alannah Myles, Dinah Christie, Bruce Good, Ted Barris, Bill Lishman, Kim Mitchell, Neil Crone and many other reader favourites and written on their lifestyles.
In addition, Dorothea’s articles have appeared in local, regional, national and international magazines and newspapers, including Chatelaine, lichen literary journal, Stitches: The Magazine of Medical Humour, Popular Woodworking, Woodworker, Big Buck, The Business and Professional Woman, Real Estate Magazine, Homes & Lifestyles and Today’s Homes. Dorothea’s humour also peppers the many articles she provides for the Toronto Sun Special Sections such as “Career Connections” and “DriverSource Saturday.”
Dorothea teaches Creative Writing at the college level and offers a fresh perspective that defies typical journalism styles. She offers topnotch writing and editing services for everything from small ads to technical websites and books. Currently, she is the editor of numerous magazines and special sections for Metroland Printing and Publishing and York Region Newspaper Group in the Greater Toronto Area. Dorothea recently started a second writing business that focuses on humour in a series of books, keynote speeches, workshops and courses. Visit The Writing Fairy for the opportunity to purchase her new book on writing.
Breakfast Speaker April 19, 2014
Dr. Gina Valle is a leading diversity trainer, speaker and author. She is the recipient of the Diamond Jubilee Medal recognizing her contribution to diversity in Canada. Her latest book “Teachers At Their Best – Enseignants Sous Leur Meilleur Jour”, looks at issues of diversity in our society and in our classrooms.
Gina offers workshop and training sessions to organizations, hospitals, school boards and women’s groups. To learn more about these workshops, please visit: http://www.diversity-matters.ca/workshops.html
Dr. Gina Valle has a PhD in Teacher Education and Multicultural Studies from OISE, University of Toronto.
Breakfast Speaker March 15, 2014
Sholom Glouberman is Philosopher in Residence at Baycrest, President of Patients Canada, and an adjunct at the Universities of Toronto and York. He gained experience in healthcare by first caring for his dying father, and then as a planner at the MUHC in Montreal. Later he became a Fellow at the King’s Fund in London England, director of Health Policy for the Canadian Policy Research Networks and Director of the International Masters for Health Leadership at McGill. He has been a health systems adviser in Canada and the UK. His most recent project is to develop patient experience based indicators to help with the redesign of health care services at Baycrest and in Northumberland County.
In 2005 Sholom underwent a major surgical procedure and became a patient. This experience and his fourth book My Operation – a graphic example of the disparity between the patient experience and institutional concerns, led him to found Patients Canada which became an incorporated charity in 2011. It now reaches more than 7000 patients and providers and is poised for far greater growth.
Breakfast Speaker Feb 15, 2014
Peter Tufford Kennedy (M.T.S., B.A.) is a writer, director, producer and performer with over 15 years experience in the entertainment world.
He has studied screenwriting for years and recently wrote, produced and directed the short film, The Cycle of Broken Grace.
During this time he has written, performed and produced sketch and improvisational comedy with some of Canada’s best comedians, had principal and starring roles in film and television, (performing alongside Oscar winners Reese Witherspoon, and Christian Bale, among others) starred in musical theatre, was flown to audition on Broadway, and has been a principal actor in over 70 television commercials seen all around the world. Last year, one of his episodes of Degrassi – the next Generation was nominated for an EMMY.
Like many artists, he is currently under-employed and pitching his many screenplays and TV-shows to any in positions of power.
Breakfast Speaker Jan 18, 2014
Drew Simmie is a personal development coach, a speaker and an author.
He is a “something else” coach, a change agent with a difference. New ideas and creative thinking are his stock in trade. He works with entrepreneurs and executives who are truly seeking change, innovation and inspiration to get to the next level in their lives. Based in Toronto, he divides his time between coaching, speaking and writing. He hosts a workshop, The Idea Mill, for individuals searching personal renewal and growth. Currently he is working on an new ebook – a guide to e-imagination and how to reboot your life. For more information about Drew head on over to www.drewsimmie.com
Book Launch “Courtneypark Connection”
IOWI (In Our Words) will be launching a new anthology titled Courtneypark Connection at the Courtneypark Library on Saturday, August 24, 2013 from 1 pm to 4 pm. WEN members John Ambury and Zohra Zoberi are contributors to this anthology.
May 31, 2013 Von Maltzahn e-Book Presentation
WEN member Hans von Maltzahn has kindly made his e-Book presentation materials available for all to access on the website. Hans has given his presentation at two previous workshops. If there is general interest from the membership, we will arrange for a new workshop at Metro Hall in downtown Toronto.
Click below for links to the materials:
April 20, 2013 Michael Croucher Wins Say WEN Fiction Contest
Michael Croucher has been selected as the winner of the Say WEN Fiction Contest announced in the October, 2012 newsletter. Congratulations Michael.
MICHAEL was born in England and has lived most of his adult life in Canada. He has been writing fiction for over thirty years.
He is a former Toronto police officer who served seven years investigating organized crime with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit. An avid reader of crime, suspense, and historical novels, his first book, Bravo’s Veil was self- published in 2010. A second release through Friesen Press of Victoria is scheduled for January.
Michael and his wife live in a small town on the Niagara Peninsula. They have two married daughters and four grandchildren.
Here is the winning entry, titled Night Wagon.
Broken glass was scattered over the shop’s floor. It lay in piles near the front door and in trails of smaller bits and shards that reached to the back wall. A cold draught washed in through jagged openings in the glass panel and carried a curling ribbon of snow that coated the door frame and the wall beside it.
A stream of cold air reached the small man in the second barber’s chair but it didn’t bother him. He felt warmer here than he had outside. He turned the chair towards the street and waited in the dark with a brick clutched in his hand. Both of his hands were speckled with blood from small cuts and with small pieces of glass.
“Seasons Greetings” banners draped from the top of the two huge shop mirrors beside him and a ‘Johnny Walker’ clock hung on the wall between the mirrors. Reflected street light caught the clock’s face; it was three fifteen. The man watched the steady movement of the red second hand and listened to its distinctive click.
His words were slurred and he spoke as if someone occupied the next chair. “If nothing happens by three thirty, I’ll give ‘em another tweak.”
A few moments later, he became drowsy in his new found comfort. His chin dropped to his chest and he dozed off.
When he came to it was three fifty-five. There had been no response. He clambered down from the chair, took the brick into his right hand, and moved towards the front of the shop.
He swayed on his feet, staring at the main window and the loops of plastic garland and tinsel that decorated it. “This oughta bring the god-damned boys.”
He wound up and hurled the brick. It crashed through the window and scuttled across the street, carrying huge wedges of disintegrating glass with it.
He grinned, nodded and climbed back onto the chair.
Within five minutes flashing red lights were reflecting around the shop and off of the mirrors. A flashlight beam probed through the circus of light and settled onto the man’s face. A Smith and Wesson revolver was trained on him through the broken window, another from the combative squat of an officer who was now inside.
“Don’t f…ing move,” said the closest officer. He sounded young.
A gun barrel was pressed behind the man’s ear and he felt the chair being turned away from the street.
The second cop was now inside; he was older.
His flashlight scanned the man’s face for a closer look. “So it’s you again, Freddy. I guess you’re thinking it’s time to get back inside, is that right?”
Freddy’s nose was flat and grotesquely twisted. One side of his face was covered in ancient scar tissue, the eye socket just a blackened crater.
His tongue flickered across his dry and badly cracked lips. “Yeah, it’s getting cold officer; too f…ing cold.”
Freddy was pulled from the chair roughly by the young one. His arms were brought together behind him and the cuffs snapped on.
“Easy Bobby, loosen those cuffs, son. Old Freddy’s just going home for the Holidays, isn’t that right Freddy?
“Yeah, those stockyards are freezing man.”
“What a damned stench.” The young cop grimaced as he removed five small empty bottles from Freddy’s pockets and checked him for weapons. “He’s covered in shit. Jesus, what a mess.”
“I’ll call from here. If we use the radio, a wagon could take an hour.” The older cop picked up the shop’s phone and dialled the duty desk at his station.
“Staff, it’s Sid O’Hara on 125, we’re on location; the barber shop at Keele and Mulock. We’re holding one for an entry. It’s old, one-eyed Freddy. Mother of God, he’s ripe. We can’t put him in the cruiser; it’ll stink for a bloody year. He’s covered in all kinds of slop… shit his pants. Looks like the old bugger drank about a quart of vanilla extract. Could you send the wagon down here for us?”
He hung up and looked at his prisoner.
Spray flew from Freddy’s mouth. “It’s Sunday, right Officer?”
“Yeah it’s Sunday, Freddy; Christmas Eve, old son.”
“Nice bean soup at The Don on Sundays.” Freddy grinned, three blackened stubs on his gums shined grotesquely in the flashes of red light.
The Paddy Wagon arrived and its rear door swung open. The cuffs were removed and Freddy climbed awkwardly up the wide steel step and into the hold. He was short enough that he could stand up straight in the aisle between the side benches. He looked back at the cops, drooling as he spoke. “You taking me to Twelve first?”
“Right, Freddy,” O’Hara replied. “You’ll be processed in no time; by noon you’ll be eating Christmas cake and wearing a nice little party hat at The Don.”
Freddy clapped his hands and laughed. “There you f…ing go, boys. And here comes ol’ Santa and his bag full of gifts.” He turned and slapped noisily at the seat of his soggy pants.
The young cop closed the heavy steel door and the wagon pulled away, grinding bits of glass as it went. Freddy’s gnarled face grinned back at them through the tiny barred window.
The two cops walked back towards the cruiser.
O’Hara got in the passenger seat and took off his cap. “Stop by The Queensbury on the way in, lad. I’ll pick us up a couple of special coffees.”
“Ah… alright… sure, Sid.”
“And I’ll get a stiff one for the Staff Sergeant for helping us out. After all, it is bloody Christmas… Will you have one shot of rye or two, Bobby?”
“Well, I don’t normally drink on…”
O’Hara gave him his best ‘come on now’ stare.
The young cop glanced back at his partner who was now loosening his Sam Brown belt.
Bobby sighed, put the cruiser in gear, and headed up Keele Street. “Ah, just one… thanks, Sid.”
by Michael Croucher