Hamilton City Councillors are at odds following the voting process for the final stage of implementation for the Vacant Unit Tax bylaw, expected to this winter
Amidst the ongoing housing crisis, the Hamilton's city council have been working on the implementation of a vacant unit tax by-law. The vacant unit tax is a one per cent tax increase when a residential unit is noted to be vacant for over 183 days, about six to seven months.
In a communication update released on the city of Hamilton website's dedicated VUT update page, the city expressed their hope is that the tax will discourage Hamilton landlords to leave residential units empty, resulting in more living spaces become available.
The original idea was proposed in 2019 as the vacant home tax, with tangible goals introduced in 2021. These goals included research to understand the implications for such a tax in Hamilton and to consult with those who would be impacted. Through 2022 and 2023 research was undertaken by city of Hamilton staff to inform the proper implementation process that was expected to follow. This initiatve expected to be implemented this winter, by beginning to disseminate declaration forms to the residents of Hamilton.
On Nov. 22, 2023, however, the final vote held to officially approve the bylaw resulted in a tie. The voting for this bylaw was done separately to it’s original scheduled time, as requested by Councillor Tom Jackson, who initially voted against VUT bylaw. The tie has caused VUT to become invalid and the bylaw's implementation plan halted.
The voting process for this bylaw has being criticized by some city councillors, as at the time of voting three councillors were not present, and two of them indicating they were unaware of the separation of the VUT from the rest of items part of the voting. Councillor Nrinder Nann and Councillor Cameron Kroetsch have both publicly voiced their disappointment with the final stage of voting.
"These bylaws could also be put forward in such a way that if a member of Council wanted to vote against them, that member would have to ask for a reconsideration vote. That’s what should have happened yesterday as the enabling bylaw was already the result of a Council decision," said Councillor Kroetsch in statement through X, formerly Twitter.
Currently, the VUT bylaw may still be reconsidered by the city.
On X, Kroetsch also stated he believes there will be one or more votes about the entire situation regarding the VUT tax. More information on the future directions of the VUT bylaw may be disclosed on Dec 13, 2023.
This is an ongoing story.
This Halloween, The Westdale screened the 1975 cult classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with an extra special drag pre-show with Hamilton drag performers
By Naomi Moshe, Arts & CUlture contributor
The Rocky Horror Picture Show has been drawing in audiences worldwide for over 45 years for a reason. The cult classic film is not only jam packed with fun, but it is also a landmark piece of cinema for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The film exudes the message of radical self acceptance, and being unafraid of the hidden desires that live deep within all of us––a sentiment that the queer community of the mid 1970’s desperately needed to hear. As a result, midnight screenings of Rocky Horror became safe spaces for the queer community to socialize and connect with one another at a time when simply existing as a gay person in broad daylight was a dangerous act.
When I heard that The Westdale was screeningRocky Horror on Halloween night, including a special drag pre-show with local Hamilton drag performers Jessie James and Karma Kameleon, I knew I needed to go. Besides, is there any better way to spend Halloween night than heckling profanities at a giant screen surrounded by hundreds of other people?
The atmosphere at The Westdale was, in a word, electrifying. Of course, crowds of people dressed up as characters from the movie. But more importantly, people were genuinely excited for the show, even though most people in attendance probably have seen this film more times than they could count on both hands. The energy was infectious––the entire theater was buzzing with anticipation.
The drag pre-show, hosted by Jessie James and Karma Kameleon, was a blast. Karma and Jessie performed campy lip syncs of songs from the movie’s soundtrack, including “Dammit Janet” and “Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch Me.” The highlight of the night for me was Jessie’s incredible live vocal performance of “Sweet Transvestite.” I had the pleasure of speaking with Jessie shortly after the event to get some insight on the importance of nights such as these for Hamilton’s queer community.
“Visibility is so important. I didn’t see myself growing up, and I struggled a lot with that. Being able to put on public events where people can come see us be explicitly queer, it’s the first step in having a conversation about [queerness.] It demystifies the queer experience. It brings a lot of joy into it,” explained Jessie.
When asked about her personal highlight of the night, Jessie said that it was when the whole theater got up and did the Time Warpwith her and Karma. “To look out into the audience and see everyone standing up and dancing along…There [are] very few words I could use to describe the energy you feel from that. It’s almost addictive in a weird way,” said Jessie.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show continues to bring together people from all walks of life, even 45 years after its release. And, for Hamilton’s LGBTQ+ community, events like these create space for authentic self expression and unapologetic queerness.
The shortlist for the thirtieth annual Hamilton Literary Awards was announced in November and contains celebrated local writers and their works
On Dec. 14, the Hamilton Arts Council will be holding their thirtieth annual Literary Awards. The shortlist has been announced, featuring 16 local authors and their works. The categories are fiction, non-fiction, poetry, children's books and the Kerry Schooley Book Award.
The HAC partners with the Hamilton Public Library to hold the event. The ceremony will feature live readings by shortlisted writers, along with the live announcement of the winner of each category.
Megan Divecha, the program and community engagement coordinator at HAC, explained a bit about the awards' history. The Literary Awards first began in 1993 and have since become an annual tradition that recognizes and celebrates local authors from the Hamilton community.
The Awards are meant to bring the city's growing literary community together and to expand the audiences of local literature. Divecha explained that the purpose of the awards is to help build audiences for local authors and to grow professional networks for authors and community members interested in literacy. The Awards offer opportunities for interacting with publishers, local booksellers and the authors themselves.
"If this audience member is new to the literary art scene in Hamilton, then I hope they walk away with an appreciation for how rich the literary art scene is in [the city]. And if they're already entrenched in that literary art scene, then I hope they make connections to grow their personal and professional networks," said Divecha.
"If this audience member is new to the literary art scene in Hamilton, then I hope they walk away with an appreciation for how rich the literary art scene is in [the city]. And if they're already entrenched in that literary art scene, then I hope they make connections to grow their personal and professional networks."
Megan Divecha, program and community engagement coordinator, Hamilton Arts Council
This year, the Literary Awards are being hosted by Anuja Varghese, winner of this year's Governor General's Literary Fiction Award.
The process for organizing the event begins in March, when applicants can submit their books for consideration. Once applicants are confirmed to be eligible, their applications are brought before an adjudication panel comprised of 15 Canadian literary arts professionals, three for each category. After each book is scored, the shortlist is announced and then planning for the ceremony begins.
Divecha herself recalled being inspired by the excerpts read by the authors when she was a student attending the Awards. Having been impacted by hearing live readings at past awards ceremonies, she hopes that other students can also feel inspired that way.
If students are interested in being more involved in the literary arts, the Awards are a great way to meet with people in the industry. At the same time, they are also a great way to see artistry and creativity make local history.
Tickets start at the accessible rate of $5, and there are a limited number available. They can be bought here. Divecha encourages students to get in contact with her if they would like more information about the event, the shortlisted authors or ticket prices.
Ahead of the holiday season, antique shops are a great way to support local small businesses and find something one-of-a-kind for everyone on your list
Antique shops are always full of surprises and one-of-a-kind items. As you get started on your holiday shopping, be sure to swing by one of these shops to support local businesses and to go treasure hunting!
Despite only being a small business, they are Ontario’s largest destination for mid-century modern design and antiques as mentioned on their website. They sell a wide range of antique finds, such as vintage treasures, teak furniture, home decor, collectibles and vinyl records. Antique Avenue also specializes in prop rentals for the television and film industry. They occasionally do auctions for sought-after items on their Instagram. They currently temporarily closed their storefront for renovations, but you can still shop on their Instagram.
Artiques was founded in 2012 and moved to a larger location in 2016. They are dedicated to selling affordable, rare and peculiar items. They are open to negotiation and are willing to price match if a competitor's prices are lower. Artiques used to sell wholesale rugs and hardware across the country and now their wholesale prices on individual items are also available to their customers. In addition to selling antiques and home decor, they also sell art, textiles, jewellery, furniture and other miscellaneous items.
Earls Court Gallery was established in 1973 and is a commercial gallery that specializes in contemporary and historical Canadian art. They also consign art (sell art from artists in the community), in addition to repairing and restoring historical art. Their gallery is always open for submissions from the general public.
JMS Treasure Chest Inc specializes in antique refurbishing, in addition to selling antique and vintage items. Some of the items they offer include furniture, electronics, comic books, memorabilia, model cars, glassware and china dishes. They also offer rentals of their furniture, clothing and decor, and they have rented to many television and film organizations. They also sell on Etsy and Ebay.
Local vintage and secondhand shop Hawk & Sparrow offers unique, sustainable and affordable clothing for everyone
Hawk & Sparrow is a vintage, secondhand boutique, located downtown at 126 James St. N. Other than vintage items, they also sell secondhand designer and a mix of everything to accommodate everyone’s styles.
“I don't just do vintage, I also do secondhand designer and then . . . a mix of things. So you can expect a 1950s sweater with a ritzy top and then a Louis Vuitton bag. There's a wide range of brands,” said Sarah Moyal, the founder of Hawk & Sparrow.
Before launching Hawk & Sparrow in 2011, Moyal had a strong fashion background. She worked for Dsquared2 in Milan at their headquarters and did styling in Toronto.
She always wanted to open a clothing store. Originally, she had wanted to open a new clothing store, but she realized that buying inventory would be too expensive for her, so she switched over to second-hand. It worked for her, and it made her more interested in secondhand clothing.
“It's just so much more interesting to have one of everything. And every one of them is so unique,” said Moyal.
Moyal has experimented with making Hawk & Sparrow accessible through online platforms such as Etsy, but she now focuses most of her energy on the store itself, as she has found that it has been getting busier.
Moyal aims to make her store accessible and safe for everyone.
“I would say it's accessible to everyone and any direction of style that someone wants to go. If they want to play it a bit safe, we have that. If you want to go wild, we also have that,” said Moyal.
I would say it's accessible to everyone and any direction of style that someone wants to go and if they want to play it a bit safe, we have that. If you want to go wild, we also have that.
Sarah Moyal, Founder, Hawk & Sparrow
Most of the items are $5 to $25, and there are $5 mystery bags all year round. Moyal is also open to negotiations. She hopes that her customers will continue to find their favourite pieces at Hawk & Sparrow.
“I hope that people will kind of find their unique style here, that they'll discover something about themselves, that they'll not feel a pressure to dress a certain way or follow a certain trend, that they'll just feel free to dress how they want, how they feel,” explained Moyal.
I hope that people will kind of find their unique style here, that they'll discover something about themselves, that they'll not feel a pressure to dress a certain way or follow a certain trend, that they'll just feel free to dress how they want, how they feel.
Sarah Moyal, Founder, Hawk & Sparrow
Over the years, she has experimented with different directions –– such as only vintage (an item from another era, usually from the 1930s-70s), vintage artisan (very old and rare pieces from the 1800s-early 1900s that are typically made by hand) and only designer –– for the shop. The current iteration of her shop has had the best reception from the Hamilton community, and she intends to keep it this way for the time being.
MPP Jama moves forward representing Hamilton-Centre as an independent, vowed to sue Premier Ford for libel, fight censure in the legislature
On Tuesday Nov. 14, Hamilton Centre MPP Sarah Jama opened her independent office, resuming in person hours and case work for the first time since her recent removal from the New Democratic Party caucus.
During her speech at the opening of the office, Jama outlined her goals moving forward as an independent and her plans to address her current censure in the provincial legislature.
Jama’s removal from the NDP party on Oct. 23 came two weeks after she released a statement on Oct. 10 calling for a ceasefire by Israel in Gaza. She also called for Canada to call for a ceasefire, for Israel to stop restricting water, food and humanitarian aid from entering Gaza and for an “end to all occupation of Palestinian land.”
Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles stated that Jama’s removal was due to some of the actions she undertook following her statements on the Israel-Hamas conflict having “contributed to an unsafe work environment for staff.”
On the same day as her removal from the NDP, the Ontario legislature passed the Ford government's motion to censure Jama. As a result, Jama cannot be recognized by the Speaker to partake in discussion in the parliament. At her speech at the opening of her independent office, she stated that the Ford government would cease her censure if she removed her initial statements and apologize and that she would not concede to these demands.
While speaking, Jama also revealed that she did not learn of her removal from the NDP from party leader Stiles directly, but through a general email that was sent out to all party members informing them of her removal.
I found out at the same time everyone else did, as I was rolling into my seat.
Sarah Jama, MPP, Hamilton Centre
Jama addressed questions regarding her ability to represent her Hamilton Centre constituents as a result of being barred from speaking in parliament, in which she made clear that she is currently pursuing legal action against her censure.
“I have no intention of sitting there censured. I'll be doing everything I can to prove that it was an illegal censure,” said Jama.
I have no intention of sitting there censured. I'll be doing everything I can to prove that it was an illegal censure.
Sarah Jama, MPP, Hamilton Centre
Furthermore, Jama affirmed that she would be pursuing legal action against Premier Ford for libel, in response to his accusations of antisemitism against her.
Jama emphasized that moving forward from her party removal and censure, she is focusing on representing the people of Hamilton Centre and working for the issues which she has always been committed to. Jama stated that she is presently concerned with addressing the rising cost of living, accessibility for disabled individuals especially in the midst of the recent transit strike and childhood poverty in Hamilton.
My priority is to focus on Hamilton Centre and the people here who need support.
Sarah Jama, MPP, Hamilton Centre
Jama stated her independent office is now open to the public from 9am to 4pm every day other than Wednesday for her constituents to come in and voice their concerns.
After extendedconsultation, the McMaster Student Union has worked alongside the Student Representative Assembly to address concerns and represent students affected by the Israel-Hamas conflict
In the council room in Gilmore Hall on Nov. 12, McMaster’s Student Representative Assembly met for meeting 23J. Representatives met to discuss a motion put forward in support of students at McMaster University affected by the violence in the Middle East, as well as routine reports from the various faculty caucuses.
The statement, co-written by MSU president Jovan Popovic and vice-president Adam F. El-Kadi looks to address the ongoing Israel/Hamas conflict. In a memo to SRA members ahead of the meeting, El-Kadi wrote that he and the president had taken the time to meet with multiple student groups and individuals who have reached out to create a statement that accurately represented students.
“[This motion] was the result of multiple rounds of consultation with student groups from various backgrounds and outlooks. We have actively sought input from our diverse student body, in advance of offering a resolution to define the sentiment of student government at McMaster University,” said El-Kadi.
[This motion] was the result of multiple rounds of consultation with student groups from various backgrounds and outlooks. We have actively sought input from our diverse student body, in advance of offering a resolution to define the sentiment of student government at McMaster University.
Adam F. El-Kadi, Vice-President (Administration), McMaster Students Union
The statement's draft was read before the SRA and noted a rise in both anti-Palestinian and anti-Israeli racism at McMaster, in Hamilton, and internationally. The statement also claimed that commentary on social media has resulted in a number of reported threats towards Palestinian and Israeli students at McMaster.
The statement further made reference to the casualties of the conflict and echoed comments made by the United Nations condemning the actions of both the Israeli and Hamas government, ultimately calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
During the meeting, Popovic and El-Kadi resolved to promote peaceful events at McMaster via the MSU Clubs Department and requested that the university accommodate students affected by the conflict by way of leniencies towards deadlines and course work.
Popovic and El-Kadi also joined nations around the world condemning the violence perpetrated by both belligerents in the conflict and called for a ceasefire in Gaza to allow for humanitarian aid.
In his address to the SRA after the motion was presented, Popovic discussed the time that had been put into crafting the statement, consulting with many student organizations on campus and taking their priorities into consideration.
“Everyone was taken into account and everyone has points in this motion that can be attributed directly to their advocacy and contributions.” said Popovic.
Everyone was taken into account and everyone has points in this motion that can be attributed directly to their advocacy and contributions.
Jovan Popovic, President, McMaster Students Union
Representatives at the meeting were then given time to draft and put forward amendments to the statement, including changes to language and facts being presented with updated sources.
The amended statement was put to vote and passed at 9:04pm, with 21 voting in favor and 5 abstaining. The statement was released in an Instagram post by the MSU on Wednesday and the full statement was posted to the MSU website.
Other topics discussed at the meeting included the change in management of McMaster's TwelvEighty, the Grind and the Union Market. All three will now return to self-operation under the MSU which promises better food, better prices and better portions. Popovic addressed actions being taken with regards to Generative AI use by students, saying that the new regulations are restrictive and some of the tools the university is set to use to detect AI use may harm students unfairly flagged by unreliable detection software.
Ronald McDonald's South Central Ontario location shared how flu-season has disrupted their operations and encouraged community to take steps to protect their health
Hamilton hospitals are currently experiencing issues related to over capacity. In an interview with Global News, Hamilton Health Sciences shared that the McMaster Children's Hospital reached 112 per cent capacity on Oct. 19. Furthermore, they shared the rise in admissions had led to the cancellation of their pre-scheduled care.
A press release from Public Health Ontario, shared on Nov. 3, indicated they were expecting there to be an increase in COVID-19 between Oct. 29 to Nov. 11, 2023 based on data from the previous two weeks.
Moreover, Public Health Ontario's Respiratory Virus Tool indicated a gradual increase in cases since September 2023.
This recent spike in flu and COVID-19 cases directly impacts pediatric patients residing at Ronald McDonald House, which provide families a place to stay together while their children undergo treatment at local hospitals.
The South Central Ontario location, located right beside McMaster University's main campus and McMaster's Children's Hospital, provides accommodations primarily for those in the Niagara, Halton, Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph and Branford regions.
Mario De Divitiis, chief executive officer at Ronald McDonald House Charities South Central Ontario, shared that often children that stay at their location are critically ill and unable to be serviced at their local hospitals. The house allows parents of patients, who are usually not local to Hamilton, to be able to more easily visit their children and get the proper treatment.
Divitiis has noticed the uptick in cases, but he also noted that it typically occurs for them every year around this time. However, rising flu and COVID-19 cases can restrict their ability to admit patients as per usual. As demand increases, accommodation becomes more difficult.
“Yes, we've become accustomed to [over capacity] over the last few years. Unfortunately, there's no great way to prepare for it. Outside of educating the community around how to practice healthy habits,” said Diviitiis
Yes, we've become accustomed to [over capacity] over the last few years. Unfortunately, there's no great way to prepare for it. Outside of educating the community around how to practice healthy habits.
Mario De Divitiis, chief executive officer, Ronald McDonald House Charities South Central Ontario
Divitiis also shared that their staff is has been impacted by the rise in flu cases, with members falling ill withCOVID and other flu-like sicknesses, which also greatly impairs their organization's ability to serve the patients and their families.
“When it does get overloaded, when it does get compromised, you're risking staff getting sick, you're risking staff to do more with the resources that they have. It's not a good recipe,” said Divitiis.
Divitiis believed the best way to manage the influx of flu cases is to educate the community. That includes emphasis on not touching one’s own eyes, mouth, nose and ears, as these are the most common areas of transmission.
Additionally, he mentioned that it’s important to check in with one’s self and ask if you’re current state of health would jeopardize those around you. If you feel that the answer leans towards no, to make sure you are taking the extra steps to protect yourself and those around you.
Would you visit your grandmother or grandfather this way? If you're that sick, would you be comfortable to give them a hug?. . . If you're not feeling that way, then maybe it's best to take a couple of extra measures by staying home that day if you're not feeling well.
Mario De Divitiis, chief executive officer, Ronald McDonald House Charities South Central Ontario
Ultimately, as respiratory sicknesses, including COVID-19 and flu, increase in circulation in the McMaster community, everyone is encouraged to do their best to mitigate transmission.
Anuja Varghese, local queer South Asian writer, won the Governor General's Literary Award this year for fiction with her short story collection Chrysalis
The Governor General's Literary Award is one of the oldest and most prestigious literary awards in Canada. Chrysalis, written by Anuja Varghese, is one of the 14 titles that was among the winners. The book is a collection of short stories about South Asian women in transformative periods, and it explores the themes of sexuality, cultural norms and family.
The title of the book speaks to how the stories are all centred around the theme of transformation.
"If you're in a chrysalis, you're kind of in this transformative state. So, Chrysalis is also the title of the last story in the book, which also happens to be the very first story I ever sent out into the world," said Anjua Varghese, the author of Chrysalis.
If you're in a chrysalis, you're kind of in this transformative state. So chrysalis is also the title of the last story in the book, which also happens to be the very first story I ever sent out into the world.
Anuja Varghese, author, Chrysalis
Varghese grew up in Kingston, Ontario and completed her bachelor’s degree at McGill University. She then lived in Toronto for 10 years. She moved to Hamilton around 2017 and started to put her short story collection together. She wove her experiences from each city into her stories, especially in Toronto.
She particularly enjoys reading horror, fantasy and fairytales, and she incorporated elements from these genres into her collection. She also emphasized the importance of diversity in her stories.
"We're seeing more representation now. But especially when I was growing up, and even still, a lot of horror and fantasy in general really centres [around] white main characters. So it was important to me to centre queer and racialized women and girls in my stories and to have that representation in the kind of stories that I like to read and write," explained Varghese.
Since she is a second-generation South Asian and queer woman, she always wanted to see characters like her represented in stories. As such, Varghese hopes that her book can be a mirror for those who have not seen their experiences represented.
Now that diverse authors who are speaking against injustice and oppression but are being censored and silenced, she believes that right now is an important time to celebrate, amplify the voices and use the power of storytelling as a means of resistance.
The impact that her book has had on students has been rewarding so far. Whenever Varghese goes to book events or festivals, she always has readers come up to her expressing their gratitude in being able to see characters similar to themselves in her book.
"[At] almost every event I go to, students will come up to me, usually either queer or racialized students and they'll say, “This is the first time I saw characters like me in a story or a mainstream book.” And that just means a lot. I really wish there had been stories like this for me when I was in my teens and early 20s, [when I was] trying to figure out who I was," said Varghese.
[At] almost every event I go to, students will come up to me, usually either queer or racialized students and they'll say, “This is the first time I saw characters like me in a story or a mainstream book.” And that just means a lot. I really wish there had been stories like this for me when I was in my teens and early 20s, [when I was] trying to figure out who I was.
Anuja Varghese, author, Chrysalis
Varghese hopes that her success will open doors for emerging BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ writers in the community. She is currently working on expanding one of the short stories from Chrysalis into a novel, and, in the meantime, Varghese will be celebrating her achievement with friends.
This new program creates creative opportunities for a selected poet to encourage engagement with poetry writing in the community
The Poet in Place program is a new inclusive initiative that aims to engage the city's community with poetry and the literary arts.
The program spotlights a chosen poet or spoken word artist who has a term of two years and receives a total honorarium of $20,000, or $10,000 each year. The selected poet's responsibilities include performing original works at public events, delivering poetry workshops in collaboration with the Hamilton Public Library and developing creative placemaking projects.
Brianne Gascho is the cultural project specialist for the city of Hamilton. Her role consists of supporting arts and culture in the community. For this particular program, she is in charge of developing and managing the project as the lead.
Gascho explained the program was originally directed by the city council. They had pushed for a poet laureate program to do more for the literary arts in the city and Gascho and her team were tasked with assembling the project. After community consultations and research, they decided to create a program different from a traditional poet laureate program, as they wanted to remain accessible and to stay rooted in creative placemaking.
Gascho highlighted some key differences between a poet laureate program and Hamilton’s Poet in Place program. One key difference is that laureate programs are rooted in certain conceptions of merit and achievement, making them inaccessible to many artists, especially unpublished ones. Hamilton’s Poet in Place program does not require applicants to be published. Another key difference is that Hamilton accepts Poet in Place applications from spoken word artists, rather than only accepting applications from page poets. These features, Gascho explained, make the program unique to Hamilton.
“What really makes this program different is the amount of placemaking-based project work. . . which is using specific places and spaces in our city to implement projects. So we're going to create opportunities for engagement that are very specific to Hamilton [using poetry],” said Gascho.
The process for choosing the poet begins when the city receives applications from poets, according to Gascho. Application materials include a project proposal, artist bio, community engagement statement and poetic works in the form of writing or video. City staff then check each poet’s eligibility requirements before sending their applications to a jury.
The jury consists of poets, spoken word artists and people with placemaking and project expertise, though the specific members of the jury are not revealed until after the poet has been chosen. The jury reviews applications and reaches a consensus decision for the poet before announcing it in the new year. The process is entirely community-led.
Reception for the program has been both positive and negative. Gascho said that some negative reception is to be expected with the social issues the city currently faces, with people concerned about the monetary cost of the program and whether it is at the expense of funding other initiatives.
On the other hand, there has been a lot of positive support from the city council, the mayor and the broader arts community. This has highlighted a positive outcome of the project, which is that citizens and people not normally engaged with the arts have been given the opportunity to explore that side of Hamilton more.
Gascho also pointed out that the program is relevant to students as a way to venture beyond the academic setting on campus and explore more of what the city has to offer.
“It's an opportunity for students to engage with practicing artists and arts professionals. . . it provides opportunities for students to actually connect with these [poetic] projects. . . and be able to see the literary arts and more broadly, the creative arts activated in our community,” said Gascho.
Gascho encourages students to attend workshops or performances held by the poet in the future. If they have any questions or would like further information about the program, they can connect with her or other members involved in arts and culture. Her information is located here. She hopes that students will enjoy what the program has to offer and feel involved in the community.
