Writers Read Presents John Barton

Join us on November 12 for a reading and conversation with Canadian poet John Barton. This event is free to attend and open to everyone. Please register below to reserve your place.

Born in Edmonton and raised in Calgary, John Barton has won three Archibald Lampman Awards, an Ottawa Book Award, a CBC Literary Award, a National Magazine Award, and an e-Lit Award. His book Lost Family was nominated for the Derek Walcott Prize for Poetry in 2021. Since 1980, his poems, essays, articles, interviews, and book reviews have appeared in anthologies, literary magazines, and newspapers in Canada, Australia, China, India, Romania, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The author of 11 books of poetry, John Barton edited two of Canada's most prominent literary magazines, Arc (1988 to 2003) and The Malahat Review (2004 to 2018). He has taught poetry at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and the University of Victoria; led workshops on craft and publishing for the New Brunswick Writers Federation, Saskatchewan's Sage Hill Writing Experience, and Ottawa's Tree Reading Series; and served as writer in residence at the Saskatoon Public Library (2008/ 2009), the University of New Brunswick (2010/2011), and Memorial University of Newfoundland (Fall 2015).

John worked as the poetry editor for Winnipeg-based Signature Editions from 2005 to 2008 and has been a manuscript editor for Brick Books in London, Ontario, since 2010. He has also edited books of poetry for Wolsak and Wynn, Coach House, and Caitlin.

About Writers Read

Writers Read is part of Concordia University’s Creative Writing program and is supported by the Department of English and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Directed, since 2011, by Professor Sina Queyras, Writers Read invites renowned and emerging authors, both Canadian and international, to read from and discuss their work with students and local audiences. In addition to readings, the series includes Master Classes and professional developmental activities spanning the school year.

Be sure to follow Writers Read on Instagram @writersreadconcordia and visit our website for more updates.