A sampling of the work of Canada’s next literary stars can be heard at Pages on Kensington bookstore, 1135 Kensington Road, Calgary, on the evening of April 1 as members of the University of Calgary’s Poetry Writing I workshop give a free public reading. The event begins at 7:30 p.m.

“Members of the 2007-2008 workshop already have demonstrated unusual promise,” said Tom Wayman, course instructor. “One of the class was just announced as an award-winner in the Alexandra Writers’ Centre’s /Freefall/ magazine contest, and another student won the 2008 CBC Calgary Poetry Face-off. Who knows what recognition the other seminar members are about to receive?”

Reading at the event are John Creary, Meghan Doraty, James Duffy, Barbara Green, Dale Kwong, Marilyn Letts, Tyler Perry, Steven Peters, Linnaea Spence and Cameron Taranoff.

The year-long class includes full-time U of Calgary students as well as community members. Poetry Writing I is the foundation year for two higher levels of instruction in the art form; the University of Calgary offers a parallel series of credit courses in fiction, as well as a number of credit courses in playwriting.