Poetry by the dam: Judy Backus in Central Hastings News

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Poetry by the dam

Poetry by the dam– Image 2

Judy Backus

The work of poet Jim Christy, of Corbyville, was featured during "Another Dam Poetry Reading," which included input from many of those gathered at the site where the background water music added to the ambience.

 

Central Hastings News

By Judy Backus

Canadian people's poetry was celebrated over the long weekend with the multi-faceted annual Purdy Country Literary Festival which was held at several Marmora venues. On August 2, all gathered at the library building for a symposium relating to Pauline Johnson and First Nations Art and History. As Chris Faiers, who organizes the events, said in promotional material, "This will be the eighth summer that poets will gather on the long August weekend in the greater Marmora area to share and celebrate. Many activities will take place at ZenRiver Gardens in the hamlet of Malone. Other events will be held in the Marmora Library building and on the Marmora dam ..." He went on to explain that "PurdyFest symposiums have been focusing on the life and legacies of Canada's major "People's Poets." To date these have examined the work of poets Al Purdy, Ted Plantos, Milton Acorn, Raymond Souster and Dorothy Livesay.

Faiers explained, "We are working our way back through Canadian history and this summer we'll examine and celebrate the life and legacy of Mohawk poet Pauline Johnson, who made her contributions a century ago." A Saturday afternoon symposium focusing on Johnson, included input from John Bacher who spoke on "Pauline Johnson: Pioneer Environmentalist".

The celebration began on Friday evening with a potluck supper at ZenGardens and continued throughout the weekend with the symposium

relating to Pauline Johnson and "another Dam Poetry Reading" held fittingly beside the dam where poets gathered to both listen and recite. That well-attended session began with a musical interlude presented by Morley Ellis which prefaced the round robin readings. The session doesn't usually include a featured reader, but this year an exception was made with Jim Christy, who was described by Faiers as being a poet/novelist/playwright/world traveller/raconteur, and Canadian icon, being invited to do an extended set.

Among his many well-received readings, was one titled "Doggone Poem" which included in part, 

"This poem is not Licensed by the authorities. It likes To saunter along, going where it wishes, And watches the other poems in there Enclosures. Those can whine and preen Or growl and bark all they want, Knowing they're safe On that side of the fence." 

The festival, which brings poets to town from both near and distant points, also included group readings during a Sunday session held at ZenGardens and hosted by Tai Grove of the Canada-Cuba Literary Alliance.

Apart from the poetry related events, Faiers had plans to accompany some of the visitors to points of interest within the area among them Greensides Farm and Callahan's Rapids Conservation Area. 


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On 2014-08-09, at 10:37 AM, Lindi Pierce wrote:

Oh well done Chris!
You must be so satisfied - and exhausted - now that everything is over, and went so well.
I was tied up doing interviews for an article, so didn't make plans with too-busy Michele to get up.
Next year?
hugs to you and Chase
Enjoy the rest of the summer
Lindi


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Thanks, Lindi  ;  )
It was another successful fest, & all events were very well attended. But it's just become too much for me to be the primary organizer at age 66. The symposiums did a great job of covering the history of Canadian political "People's Poetry", and now that this historical analysis is pretty well complete after 8 years, it's time to end PurdyFests on an upbeat note.

Congrats to you & MIchele & all the other A-frame vols on the incredible work you do down there in A-burg. I see that Richard is doing another fund raising presentation of his Purdy play in the same location at the end of August. Will try to generate some publicity, & see if Chase & I can wobble down there.

peace & poetry power!
Chris ... & Chase Wrffffffffffffffffffffffff!


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On 2014-08-09, at 11:49 PM, Richard M. Grove wrote:

the end of an era – going out with a bang – good job

tai


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Thanks, Junebug  ;  )
Your Sunday afternoon hostings of Canada-Cuba Literary Alliance (CCLA) & Hidden Brook Press group readings at ZenRiver Gardens were a big part of PurdyFests. Too bad you didn't get the chance to do your 'mid-stream' reading - I'm still a little suspicious of just what your plans were for that!!!

Yes, thanks to all & sundry who showed up, read & sometimes listened, wandered by the Upper Moira, & maaaybe sneaked a sip or two of strong dark rum during the sunny afternoons!

peace & poetry power!
Chris ... & Chase wrfffffffffffffffffffffff!

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What's the Problem with (dis)Services Canada and Seniors' Pensions?

Following is the letter-to-the-editor I sent yesterday to Terry Bush, Central Hastings News. My first letter was published several weeks ago, and this is my response to Anne McNeill's letter-to-the-ed.

This letter was published on page 6 of Central Hastings News, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2013. Total distribution 474,000.
 

Dear Editor (Hi Terry):
Several weeks ago you published my warning to seniors that receiving their old age pensions and dealing with Services Canada will likely prove difficult. My warning still very much stands, despite the snarky letter in last week's paper claiming this was misinformation. 

However, Anne McNeill's letter did provide some basic information that I've been unable to obtain from the Services Canada website or from their employees. According to Ms. McNeill the basic annual guaranteed income for a senior is $16,573.20. I thank her for finally providing the supposed financial baseline for all seniors. Unfortunately, what should be, doesn't always mean it is! Ms. McNeill wrongfully assumes that I haven't applied for the supplements GAINS and GIS, which I definitely have done. I made all my applications well ahead of schedule, and twice I've provided additional financial statements to SC back up my applications. Despite being so proactive I continue to struggle far below the poverty level on under $1K a month in pensions.

Services Canada has handled my applications and requests for help and information in the same style manifested by the Prime Minister, the one who prorogues our Parliament to avoid uncomfortable situations. Simply, there have been no written replies from Services Canada. Ms. McNeil at least puts some information in print. This situation is not unique to me. It appears to be quite universal among seniors. When I discuss pensions with other seniors, seemingly everyone is getting a different amount, no one understands why, and many are not receiving even the baseline support presented by Ms. McNeill.

A friend in Hamilton was in a similar situation with SC when he qualified for his senior pensions several years ago. He was also being grossly underpaid, and it took the intervention of his MP for him to begin receiving his fair pensions. And yes, Ms. McNeill was frustratingly right here, as he now receives approximately the same $18,353.76 she believes I should be receiving. So does this mean each senior in Canada will have to visit their MP to get personal political help to begin receiving their fair pensions?

Guess this is a heads-up to our MPs as well ...
 (signed)
Chris Faiers
12 Main St.
Marmora, Ontario
K0K 2M0

613-472-6186

zenriver@sympatico.ca

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November 27, 2013

Dear Chris,

         I have been reading your recent pieces with great interest. What you report is completely correct. ALL Canadians living on the government pensions alone are forced to live below the poverty line. The poverty line (by the government’s own calculation) is about $20,000 at the present time for a single person. But the highest pension amount (C.P.P. plus O.A.S. plus G.I.S.) is considerably under $19,000. Exactly as you report.

         But hold on Chris, it actually gets worse. Last year I received a cheque for $600 from my publisher in royalties. Since this was a year ago, it was my first royalty cheque since going on the O.A.S. and the G.I.S. Guess what? The government cut my pension by $42.36 per month. $42.36 X 12 is $508.32. I was only able to keep $91.68 of my $600 in royalties! (This is absolutely true.)

         I went to my M.P. (a Tory, unfortunately, but that’s not my fault) and inquired. I was told that this is the way the system works for retired people.

         This is not a one-off. I read Good Times magazine. They have a financial consultant reply to questions from readers concerning retirement issues. A reader of Good Times earned $200 in interest. And guess what? The government took most of it by reducing his pension for a year. So he wrote to the financial consultant at the magazine and was told what I had been told by my M.P. That’s the way the system works for retired folk.

         In my opinion this is TOTALLY outrageous. If you are poor and do manage to earn a few hundred dollars, the government will take almost all of it!

         In the future I will tell my publishers to keep my royalties. As poor as I may be, I would much rather take a pass on $91.68 if it means I can keep $508.32 out of the hands of the federal government.

Fraternally,
         . . . James
                            

p.s. Please feel free to share this letter with others.

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Hi James,
Thanks for the further information. Arggggghhhhhh This is such a crock of shite!!!!  :  (  I'm sick of having to fight evil & incompetent governments & bureaucracies my entire adult life. I'd naively hoped that in my dotage I'd finally be able to devote myself full time to literary activities - my own writing, of course, but also coordinating events like our tribute to Ray Souster, the Imperial Public Library gig last year to Milt, PurdyFests (year #8 coming up!) etc. etc. .

Somehow I've managed to do all these things on an extremely limited budget (& also publish 2 books with Hidden Brook Press), but as I continue to age I know I'll be able to do less & less, & if I have to spend a substantial amount of my time & mental energy doing EXTREME budgeting, well, some of my planned golden age activities just ain't gonna happen. I'd love to finally tour Canada - I've never been to B.C., for God's sake. And I should be able to afford decent dental care - I need at least one root canal and possibly several fillings.

Even my little dog, Chase, is subject to the harshness of extreme budgeting. He is due for a visit to the vet, but I'm holding off on that. My old Sube is rusting & is possibly getting dangerous to drive. I sure won't be driving it on the 401 on a regular basis, which means I haven't been able to visit friends in TO, or attend literary events there for some time. Some good news, tho, as my mother has earmarked a nice $ gift for me, so I should have enough from that to repair the Sube into a temporary safe driver, & then in the spring buy a newer & safer used vehicle.   

But this is just so wrongheaded & counter productively cheap of the government to skin seniors for a few bucks. $500 more a month would mean a world of difference for me - the difference between being a happy, healthy & extremely productive senior, & one who is slowly sinking into dubious health & who is unnecessarily financially limited with his ability to contribute to society in so many areas.

Great to hear from you ... say hi to Norma from Chase & me ...
as always, peace & poetry power!
Chris ... & Chase Wrffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff!

p.s. I accepted your offer to share your letter, & it's now posted on my blog (following)

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Nov. 28, 2013

Hello,

Thank you so much for taking the time to write us. We really do appreciate your response to the program as we always love hearing from our listeners. Due to the high volume of mail we receive at the show, I can not reply to each of you individually. Please be assured that all our incoming mail -- regardless of whether it is supportive or critical -- is distributed in our daily mail pack that is sent out to the entire staff here at The Current. This includes story ideas so producers who are interested in creating a pitch for the show can make a pitch at the story meeting.

I apologize for the impersonal reply. But please know we do read your letters and love hearing from you.

If you are requesting information, I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Lisa Ayuso
Associate Producer
The Current, CBC Radio One

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PurdyFest article: "Central Hastings News" by Judy Backus

article in Central Hastings News
Thursday, August 8, 2013
page 13
by Judy Backus

Purdyfest continues to attract poets

Aug 08, 2013

A two-daylong celebration of poetry took place in Marmora with the seventh annual and increasingly well attended Purdyfest. The weekend began with a Friday evening potluck held at Zen River, the home of local poet Chris Faiers.

A Saturday afternoon symposium, held at the William Shannon Room, provided insight on the work of Canadian poet Dorothy Livesay from a variety of perspectives. Presenters included visiting poets, Marsha Barber, Paulos Ioannou, Anna Yim and Terry Barker.

The traditional Saturday afternoon open reading by the dam site resulted in many of the more than 25 who arrived from as far away as Hamilton and Ottawa, gathering in the shaded area, one by one standing to read from their works. Prior to that, local musician and poet Morley Ellis provided a musical interlude, accompanying himself on his guitar, while the crowd enjoyed the tunes, with some singing along while they rested on the grassy knoll.

With the music playing in the background, Faiers, commented that the people's poetry movement seemed to be growing in Canada, mentioning that he had spent time
over the past two weeks in Ameliasburgh, initially helping to prepare the Al Purdy A frame which is going to become a writer in residence location. Of the project, he said, "This will be the first time in Ontario that we will have a [famous writer's] residence that has a writer in residence associated with it."

With regard to Purdyfest, he said, "There's a back and forth between us and the A frame and we support the fund raising ... It's just good that people's poetry, and poetry in general are getting more acceptance, and growing and becoming more recognized by the public."

 

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Aug. 17/13

Hi Chris, each and all,
It was good to meet with you again. What a wonderful feel there is around the dam and Zen river. thanks for making this happen.

It was fascinating to learn about Livesay. That poem Marsha was fab! I'll look for your book.

Thanks for the summary and haiku Chris and the copy of the copy of your write-up on Livesay, Paulo.

We already read aloud your book to each other, Ann B; it was wonderful! Simon and Melanie, what was the name of the puppet theatre? (I think I wrote it down but it's probably one of those illegible squiggles.)

I too took a few photos. I seem to have paid more attention to the dogfolk than I realized at the time. There's an album on Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pearlpirie/sets/72157635064055432/

Brian hasn't gone thru his photos yet.

just back from the trip after,
Pearl

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