Postcard Story Competition

Postcard Story Competition
$500.00 Prize

What is a Postcard Story?
It can be anything; a memory, part of a longer story, an anecdote or even an experimentation. The form lends itself well to dramatic images and sharp ideas. It is a blend of prose and verse that is conscious of sound and playful with language.
This competition is open to all Canadian citizens and landed immigrants. Original and unpublished (English language) fiction or nonfiction.

Word limit: 250
Deadline: Postmarked February 14, 2007
Entry Fee: $5

How to Submit Entries:
- Typed or computer-printed, double-spaced and numbered on 8.5 x 11 paper, not stapled.
- Submissions on computer disk or faxes will not be accepted.
- Include a separate cover letter with title of story, full name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and number of pages of entry. The author's name should not appear on the actual entry.
- Make cheque or money order payable to The Writers' Union of Canada. Multiple entries can be submitted together and fees can be added and paid with one cheque or money order.
- Results will be posted at www.writersunion.ca. Manuscripts will not be returned.
- Mail to PCS Competition, 90 Richmond Street East, Suite 200, Toronto, ON M5C 1P1.

Fraud Warning for Artists

The Nova Scotia Designer Craft Council (NSDCC) has recently received word of fraudulent activities targeting crafts people. They have asked that we send out this notice to our members as artists with websites have been targetted in the past.

Two members of the NSDCC have recently received large product orders through email. After requesting a deposit, the artist received a fraudulent bank draft which had been produced to duplicate a TD Canada Trust Bank Draft. The Bank Draft was missing key authenticating marks including a watermark. Recent occurences have involved the request that the orders be shipped out of country and that a portion of the deposit be returned. Please be aware that this activity has taken place, and if you notice anything suspicious, please contact the local RCMP.

New image and activities unveiled for Frye Festival

After eight years, the Northrop Frye International Literary Festival is updating its image to become the Frye Festival.

“We hope to communicate more clearly and more simply what the Festival is,” Chair Dawn Arnold told a press conference today in Moncton. “We also want to visually demonstrate that the Festival has something for everyone – that it is fun, innovative and forward-looking – that it captures the spirit of Moncton.”

As part of the Frye Festival’s image change, it now boasts a new brand promise, “Feed your imagination”. Arnold said the Festival will continue to feature internationally well-known authors and pay tribute to its namesake, Northrop Frye, but the growth of the School-Youth program is a key strategic initiative for the future. This program brings authors to schools across the region, impacting more than 6,000 last year. “One of our priorities for the coming years will be to continue growing this important program, ultimately throughout the entire Atlantic region,” Arnold said.

During a press conference today at the Greater Moncton International Airport, Frye Festival organizers unveiled a new logo and announced some of the confirmed authors who will participate in the 2007 edition, set for April 25 to 29. Anglophone authors include Harvey Pekar (American Splendor), Bernice Eisenstein, Emily Pohl-Weary, Patrick Lane, Douglas Fetherling, Karen Solie (UNB Writer in Residence), Marilyn Lerch, Laura Byrne Paquet, Elaine McCluskey, and Loris Lesynski. Francophone authors include Arlette Cousture (Les Filles de Caleb) Michel Rabagliati (the “Paul” albums), Dano LeBlanc (Acadieman creator), Jimmy Beaulieu, Daniel Poliquin, Michèle Laframboise, Rino Morin Rossignol, Georgette LeBlanc, and Bryan Perro.

A new collaboration with the Greater Moncton International Airport
“Poet Flyé” is an interesting new project for Frye Festival 2007, being organized in collaboration with the Greater Moncton International Airport (GMIA).

“A bilingual poet will visit all of the Frye Festival events and write a poem based on those experiences,” GMIA President and CEO Rob Robichaud explained at today’s press conference. “On the last day of the Festival, the poet will give a reading of the piece at the airport. The text will later be permanently posted here for the pleasure of passengers and visitors who can read it while they wait for their flights.”

Robichaud said such initiatives help keep the GMIA in touch with the citizens of the region. “It’s important for the business community and the private sector to be active in their community and support organizations like the Frye Festival, which contributes greatly to the vitality of our region,” he said.

Many more new activities
“Pop et Frye” is a series of informal talks, which will begin in January 2007. On the last Tuesday of each month, from January to April, local experts from area universities will present a public lecture on a variety of fun and innovative subjects, related to the Festival. These free events will take place at Moncton City Hall and will target a general audience, young and old alike.

The “Aliant Café Underground” will take place Wednesday during the Festival and will allow events previously held for high school students in various venues in the area to be combined under one roof, at Moncton’s Empress Theatre. The evening will put the spotlight on young composers of poetry, prose, and song.

The “Postcard story writing workshop” will be presented in collaboration with the Side-by-Side literary translation festival. This workshop will give participants the tools to become “experts” in writing stories on postcards.

Also new to the Frye Festival in 2007 will be the “volunteer host program”. The program will offer citizens a chance to get to know visiting authors. The program will link a volunteer with a participating author, with volunteers being asked to assist writers during their stay. “If you are interested or know someone who is passionate about reading, meeting new and interesting people, or passionate about one particular author present at the Festival, please contact us to subscribe to the program,” Arnold said.

Sponsors vital to Festival’s success
A large number of sponsors are involved with the 2007 Frye Festival. They include: Gold sponsor: Aliant; Silver sponsors: Greater Moncton International Airport, City of Moncton, Delta Beauséjour, Dr. Paul Goobie, and Hudson Design Group; Bronze sponsors: Moncton-Dieppe Optimist Club, David J. Morgan, CIBC Wood Gundy, Shift Central, and Lounsbury. Other contributors include: Association France-Canada, City of Dieppe, Bouton d’or Acadie, Éditions Perce-Neige, Espace Musique, Enterprise Greater Moncton, the English and French Studies Departments at l’Université de Moncton, UNB and Mount Allison University English Departments, School Districts 1, 2 and 11, Downtown Moncton Inc., Goose Lane, Greater Moncton Literacy Advisory Board, the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award, New Brunswick Foundation for the Arts, Théâtre l’Escaouette, Capitol Theatre, Tidewater Books, Writers Federation of New Brunswick, YMCA and Aramark. Media partners include: CBC Radio/Radio-Canada, Moncton Times & Transcript, Rogers Television, L’Acadie Nouvelle and CapAcadie.com.

Festival passes will be on sale at the Capitol Theatre Box Office this Wednesday December 13. They make an excellent Christmas gift!

For more details, visit www.frye.ca.

*******

Une nouvelle image et plusieurs nouveautés pour le Festival Frye

À sa huitième année d’existence, Le Festival littéraire international Northrop Frye modernise son image et devient le Festival Frye.

« Nous entamons un exercice de renouvellement de notre marque. Nous voulons communiquer mieux, plus simplement et plus clairement ce qu’est le Festival. Et aussi, nous voulons démontrer notre volonté de nous ouvrir à un public encore plus large », a laissé entendre la présidente du Festival, Dawn Arnold.

Avec son nouveau slogan « Plein la tête », le Festival Frye conserve ses valeurs habituelles telles rendre hommage à Northrop Frye et accueillir des auteurs de grande renommée, mais pour les prochaines éditions, on mettra aussi l’accent sur la croissance du programme scolaire-jeunesse. « Une de nos priorités pour les quelques années à venir reste la croissance de notre programme scolaire dans les provinces atlantiques », a souligné Dawn Arnold. Le Festival Frye rejoint déjà des milliers des jeunes dans leurs classes à chaque année.

En conférence de presse aujourd’hui, en plus de dévoiler le nouveau logo du Festival, les organisatrices et organisateurs ont annoncé quelques-uns des auteurs qui seront présents lors de la prochaine édition prévue du 25 au 29 avril 2007. Parmi les auteurs confirmés, dont certains s’intéressent au monde des bandes dessinées, notons la participation des auteurs de langue française Arlette Cousture (auteure des fameuses Filles de Caleb) Michel Rabagliati (les albums de « Paul »), Dano LeBlanc (créateur d’Acadieman), Jimmy Beaulieu, Daniel Poliquin, Michèle Laframboise, Rino Morin Rossignol, Georgette LeBlanc et Bryan Perro (auteur d’Amos Daragon). Les auteurs anglophones confirmés à ce jour sont Harvey Pekar (American Splendor), Bernice Eisenstein, Emily Pohl-Weary, Patrick Lane, Douglas Fetherling, Karen Solie, Marilyn Lerch, Laura Byrne Paquet, Elaine McCluskey et Loris Lesynski.

Un événement à l’Aéroport international du Grand Moncton
L’événement « Poet Flyé » est un projet très intéressant qui verra le jour lors du prochain Festival. Il s’agit d’une collaboration entre le Festival Frye et l’Aéroport international du Grand Moncton (AIGM). Rob Robichaud, président et directeur général de l’AIGM, explique le but de cette activité et la raison pour laquelle l’Aéroport a accepté de s’y associer : « Un poète bilingue va se promener dans tous les événements du Festival et créer un texte à partir de ces expériences. Lors de la dernière journée du Festival, à l’Aéroport, le poète fera la lecture de cette œuvre qui sera ensuite affichée en permanence pour le plaisir des passagers et des visiteurs qui auront l’occasion de le lire pendant leur temps d’attente. Des initiatives comme celle-ci nous aident à garder un contact avec les gens de notre région. Il est primordial pour les personnes d’affaires et le secteur privé de s’impliquer dans leur communauté et de soutenir des organismes comme le Festival, lequel contribue énormément à la vitalité de nos régions », a laissé entendre Monsieur Robichaud.

Plusieurs autres nouveautés
« Pop et Frye » consistera en une série de conférences sûrement intéressantes, certainement inspirantes mais plutôt informelles qui débuteront dès janvier. Le dernier mardi de chaque mois, de janvier à avril, les universités de la région présenteront une conférence qui se rapporte au Festival. Ces événements gratuits auront lieu à l’Hôtel de ville de Moncton et s’adresseront à tous et toutes, jeunes et moins jeunes.

Le « Café Underground Aliant » consistera en une fusion des anciens événements pour adolescents organisés annuellement. Cette soirée mettra en vedette les jeunes créateurs de poésie, de prose et de chansons.

« L’Atelier d’écriture d’histoires sur cartes postales » sera présenté en collaboration avec le Festival de traduction littéraire Côte à Côte. Cet atelier permettra aux participants et participantes de devenir des « experts » en écriture d’histoires sur cartes postales.

Une autre nouveauté est le « Programme de bénévoles hôtes ». Le Festival donnera la chance aux gens de la région de mieux connaître les auteurs invités. Ce programme réunira une personne bénévole avec chaque auteur. Ces personnes seront à la disponibilité de l’auteur tout au long de son séjour à Moncton. « Si vous êtes ou que vous connaissez des personnes passionnées de la lecture, des rencontres ou même passionnées d’un auteur en particulier qui sera présent au Festival, communiquez avec nous pour vous inscrire au Programme », a laissé entendre la présidente du Festival.

Des commanditaires d’importance
Plusieurs commanditaires s’associent à l’organisation du Festival 2007. Commanditaire or : Aliant. Commanditaire argent : Aéroport international du Grand Moncton, Centre d’études acadiennes de l’Université de Moncton, Ville de Moncton, Delta Beauséjour, Dr. Paul Goobie et Hudson Design Group. Commanditaires bronzes : Club Optimiste de Moncton-Dieppe, David J. Morgan, CIBC Wood Gundy, Shift Central et Lounsbury. Collaborateurs : Association France-Canada, Bouton d’or Acadie, Éditions Perce-Neige, Espace Musique, Entreprise Grand Moncton, Départements d’études françaises et d’anglais de l’Université de Moncton, Départements d’anglais des universités UNB et Mount Allison, Districts scolaires 1, 2 et 11, Moncton Centre-ville inc., Goose Lane, Conseil consultatif de l’alphabétisation du Grand Moncton, Prix littéraire Hackmatack, Fondation des arts du Nouveau-Brunswick, théâtre l’Escaouette, Théâtre Capitol, Tidewater Books, Writers Federation of New Brunswick, Ville de Dieppe, Aramark et YMCA. Partenaires médias : L’Acadie Nouvelle, CapAcadie.com, Télévision Rogers Télévision, Radio-Canada, CBC Radio et Times & Transcript.

Les Passes Festivals seront en vente le mercredi 13 décembre à la billetterie du Théâtre Capitol… une excellente idée de cadeau de Noël !!!

Plus de détails sur le site www.frye.ca

New Brunswick Writers and Laubach Literacy New Brunswick

Hello Marilyn,
Many thanks for meeting with me on Friday morning. It was so encouraging to hear from you and Noeline that there is a definite interest in your helping the cause of literacy in New Brunswick.
One of the contributions we discussed was the possibility of your members being interested in writing for the Focus on Literacy column that appears every two weeks (usually on a Tuesday) in the Times & Transcript newspaper. The articles of about 750 to 800 words relate to any issue that focuses on literacy -- individual stories, socio-economic impacts, opinions, "what literacy means to me," etc. I am attaching a sample of a story about one of our students that was written by Wendy Kitts earlier this year.
Please let me know if any of your members are interested in contributing to the column so that I can put together a schedule. Articles will have to reach me no later than the Friday before the Tuesday publication date. I will confirm the dates with you when you have some idea of your members' commitment.

Regards,
Peter

Behind the faces in the Laubach Literacy campaign – Part 3

BY WENDY KITTS

Two years ago Margaret Lutes was canvassing money in Fredericton for Laubach Literacy - the volunteer non-profit organization that taught her to read at age 42 - when she encountered a woman she will never forget.

"I knocked on a door and a woman said to me, 'Oh, is there still that many stupid people in New Brunswick?' and I went, 'they are not stupid, they are trying to learn to read and write' and I'm thinking, 'I'm one of those stupid people'. That was killing me inside, I wanted to get out of her door and never look back. I was horrified.

I saw her the other day and I thought 'oh, has she seen the commercial? Does she realize I was one of those stupid people?'

I despise that word stupid. Nobody,” the Douglas woman emphasizes, “is stupid. I raised five kids, five grandchildren, own three homes and cars…this is the face of someone who can’t read.”

Margaret in fact, is one of four faces ages 19 to 63 featured in a current television campaign for Laubach Literacy who reveal that up until recently, they could not read.

Branded a “bad kid”, Margaret sat out her last school years at the back of the class, ignored. Though she was willing to go to what the students referred to as the “stupid” room for extra help, Margaret was told she didn’t have a problem.

“I was a child struggling with bad teachers. I begged for the help. I didn’t fail,” she says forcefully, “they failed me”.

By grade nine at fifteen, Margaret dropped out of school, marrying young.

“I ended up in a very violent marriage, very violent marriage,” Margaret emphasizes, “and then ended up as a single parent at 26 raising five kids”.

Margaret spent most of her adult life ashamed to admit her secret.

“I kept a phoney face - a false face. I didn’t want my children to know. I couldn’t read a bedtime story. I read pictures.”

Then one day Margaret revealed to her husband’s (second) boss’ wife that she couldn’t read. The next day the woman gave her the phone number for Laubach Literacy.

“I no longer cared what anyone else thought. I wanted to learn for myself.”

Margaret is now working on her General Educational Development (GED) diploma which turned out to be the fight of her life.

Margaret refused to pay the $1600 GED fee charged by the community college feeling she is owed a grade twelve education.

“Everybody has the right to learn. I feel very strongly about that. I am entitled. I have the right as a Canadian citizen. They give people in prison the right to an education. It should be for anybody but I don’t have that right.”

Margaret continued to show up for classes making “pretty good marks” until they finally agreed to cover her registration fees.

“I fought and I fought hard. I think I was trying to make a stand – no, I am a Canadian citizen - you let me fall through the crack in the first place – you’re NOT ever going to let me fall through the crack again, or anybody else.”

As Margaret gets ready to write her exams, she is positive about her future.

“I will make it. I am no longer going to allow anyone to stop me. I have hopes and dreams for myself and have hopes and dreams for others out there. I’m not ashamed anymore. I will never be ashamed again.

I will fight until I can’t fight anymore. I want to see the literacy rate change dramatically. I am going to make sure I do the best with everything it takes in my heart to make changes for as many people as I can.

For every time a person speaks freely, that can open the door for one more person. By changing my life that has changed my children’s life, and my grandchildren’s.”

And one of the most rewarding changes with her grandchildren has been that she’s able to do something with them that she was never able to do with her children - read bedtime stories.

‘It’s amazing. It’s a feeling that couldn’t be bought.”

Wendy Kitts is a freelance writer in Hillsborough and the coordinator of the YMCA Peer Youth Tutor Program at Forest Glen School. More information on literacy programs, tutoring and training for all New Brunswickers is available from Laubach Literacy New Brunswick at 384-6371 or 1-877-633-8899. In the next column, Andrew Caissie’s story, that of another student who fell through the cracks.