Friday Special Blend
Friday April 29th, 2022 with Susan Johnston
Celebrating ARC Poetry and Diana Brebner: in conversation with John Barton, Anita Lahey, and Chris Johnson

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the annual Diana Brebner Prize. ARC Poetry Magazine oversees the award, which is given to an emerging poet in the National Capital Region in her honour. Diana Brebner was a celebrated poet who spent her adult life here in Ottawa, and who was devoted to fos­ter­ing lit­er­ary tal­ent among new, local writers. ARC Poetry Magazine’s issue 97 looks back at the history of this prize and to the legacy of Diana Brebner. Tonight, as part of the Ottawa International Writers Festival, and in partnership with Qu’ART Ottawa, the ARC Spring Launch will take place, featuring readings by John Barton, Anita Lahey, and previous Brebner Prize winners Dessa Bayrock and Sneha Madhavan-Reese, alongside special guests Allure Ensemble. In today’s episode we’ll sit down with three celebrated poets and individuals who have a long history with ARC Poetry magazine as well as Diana Brebner and her work – Chris Johnson, John Barton, Anita Lahey.