The Capilano Review and Western Front are pleased to announce the return of Dear Friends &, our monthly reading series showcasing the work of local and touring Canadian authors. Commencing in June 2024 and taking place on the first Thursday evening of each month, readings will be hosted in Western Front’s historic Grand Luxe Hall and available to virtual audiences by livestream. The series is curated by Deanna Fong, Jacquelyn Zong-Li Ross, and Kiel Torres.
We invite you to mark your calendars for the following reading dates in 2024: June 6, July 4, September 5, October 3, and November 7.
In addition to the many feature readers we have planned for the coming months, we’re also delighted to welcome Vancouver-based Jonathan Alfaro as our feature artist for this season. Alfaro’s recent drawings exploring relationships between drawing and writing, porousness and legibility, will provide an atmospheric backdrop for each event. Alfaro’s work is featured in our current Spring 2024 Issue.
The series’ name draws inspiration from the salutations and sign-offs used by Roy Kiyooka in his Transcanada Letters (Talonbooks, 1975), a collection which details the comings and goings of his literary sociality across Canada, the network of people and relations that enfold his writing, and the longings of his “Heart’s Geography” to be near the ones he loved. Kiyooka was an important figure for both Western Front and The Capilano Review, and this series invites his spirit of kinship, connection, and conviviality into the reading space.
We’d like to extend our thanks to Western Front and to the BC Arts Council’s Circulation and Touring program for their generous support of this program.
Accessibility
The Grand Luxe Hall is located on the second floor of Western Front, which is accessed by a flight of 26 stairs. While plans for a full building upgrade to facilitate access for wheelchair and scooter users are still underway, all events in the Luxe are made available virtually via high-quality livestream (links will be available on individual event pages). Further details about accessibility at Western Front can be found here. Please feel free to contact Western Front directly at info@westernfront.ca or +1 (604) 876-9343 for specific access requests in advance of your visit. We are grateful for your patience as we work towards securing the long-term accessibility of this historic space.
COVID-19 Safety
Masks are optional but encouraged at this event. Masks will be available free-of-charge at the venue for anyone who would like one. The windows of the Grand Luxe Hall will also be open for this event.
