Welcome, fellow hOwlers,
What a year we’ve had together! It was filled with magic, inspiration, connection, and cherishing the divine feminine hOwl we all hold within! Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for being part of such a heartening space and for honouring the feminine with us. This past year with you all has been nothing short of amazing, illuminated by poets, musicians, spoken word artists, and a whole lot of howling together. Your support—through donations, your presence, your voices, and your hearts—has meant more than words can say, and it is all appreciated so deeply.
We are excited to be relaunching our newsletter, which will be sent out a maximum of five times a year. We would like to invite submissions from alumni event listings in the community.
Our first newsletter will be going out to our previous email list. You can always unsubscribe if you do not want to receive our newsletter! We thank you for understanding!
Here’s a look back at the moments that defined this past year.
We’re kicking off the new year with Woolf’s Voices 41, and we hope you’re ready to hOwl with us! Our first event of the year takes place on February 18th at 7:00 p.m., in collaboration with the wonderful folks at Shelf Life Books (1312 4th Street SW).
This edition features selections curated by Adrienne Adams and will be hosted by Tyler, The Merchant of Poetry. Mark your calendars, invite your friends, and come hOwl with us!
Everyone is warmly welcome to join us for an evening of vibrant art, soul-stirring poetry, live music, and incredible artists. Come as you are and share in a collective safer space that is deeply intersectional and invites us to honour the feminine—however we each define that word, in true Virginia Woolf style.
Explore this curated mix of creative magic:
Damase Elis
- is a Calgary-based singer-songwriter who writes stripped-back folk and blues songs grounded in storytelling and feeling. Her music explores desire,tenderness, and the inner worlds of women.
- IG: @damase_elis
- Web: damaseelis.com
Lynda Williams (she/her)
is the author of The Beauty and the Hell of It & Other Stories and a recipient of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award. Her work has appeared in Grain, The Humber Literary Review, and The New Quarterly.
Marley HeavyShield (they/she)
- is a Blackfoot (Kainaiwa) artist and writer currently attending AuArts. Taking inspiration from their Blackfoot culture and family, land and relationships are common themes in Marley’s work.
- Instagram: @abnormerl
Robin van Eck
- You probably know her better as the Executive Director for the Alexandra Writers Centre, but Robin van Eck is also a writer and creative based in Calgary. Her short stories and personal essays have been published in numerous literary magazines and anthologies across Canada and internationally. Her first novel, Rough, was published in 2020.
- @robinvan_eck
Shaun Hunter
- is the author of CALGARY THROUGH THE EYES OF WRITERS published in 2018. She continues to map the city’s literary landscape and explore Calgary’s largely forgotten 1920s literary scene.
- www.shaunhunter.ca
- https://www.facebook.com/shaun.hunter.5099
Tonya Lailey (she/her)
- did a master’s degree in political science, started a winery with family, got a pilot’s licence, became a sommelier and mother of two daughters before getting down to writing for real. She got an MFA from UBC in 2022. Her first full-length poetry collection, Farm: Lot 23 was published by Gaspereau Press in 2024. She’s finishing a second poetry collection and working on a short novel.
- @tonyalailey.bsky.social
- https://www.facebook.com/tonya.lailey
- tonyalailey.ca
We look forward to connecting and hOwling with you all on February 18th!
Register for the event here!
Thank you so much to our generous sponsors and supporters, whose kindness and commitment allow Woolf’s Voices and its artists to bring these events to life. We are deeply grateful to Shelf Life Books and the Alcove Center for the Arts for offering us space, and for creating a welcoming home where we can gather and honour the feminine with our hOwls. It is a true privilege to collaborate with these spaces and the wonderful people who run them, and we appreciate your ongoing support more than words can say.
In other news
Our Wolves’ Voices alumni are up to all kinds of fun, imaginative projects! Here’s what’s new in our vibrant creative community—and how we’re celebrating and supporting their work.
Edmonton Comes to Calgary: Theresa Shea in conversation with Julie Sedivy
Thursday, Feb 5th, 2026. 7:00 PM at Shelf Life Books. Find more information here.
Ready for a joyful smackdown? Join Calgary Poetry Slam on February 9th, 6:30 pm at Dickens Pub for their Poetry slam featuring Kay Fraser, an award-winning spoken word artist, educator and wellness practitioner.
Head on down to Speak up! A free spoken word open mic, hosted by MelVee X the last Thursday of every month. Find more information here.
Join Ashley Frerichs for a lovelying evening at the Poetry Parlour Open Mic night, on February 17th, 7pm at Pachamama Soul Flavour Emporium. You can find more informationhere.
All The Way Up, Calgary Poetry Slam is having an open mic night! Join them at @loopholecoffeebar for their monthly open mic. Doors open and sign up at 6:30 pm, all ages, first-come, first-served, and free!
Single Onion #217 The Single Onion celebrates Black History Month with a special event curated by Bethel Afework and featuring the poets Bkaay, Iftu Hargaay, and Jya Noe. WHEN: Thursday, February 19th, 7pm. WHERE: Shelf Life Books, 1302 4 St SW. Streaming: https://www.youtube.com/@SingleOnionPoetry
Experience the energy, creativity, and heart of the Ethnik Festivals 2026 performing artists. From breathtaking dance to soul-stirring music, comedy and spoken words—this is a celebration you won’t want to miss! ✨ Featuring, Wakefield Brewster performing on 28th February 2026, bringing the power, elegance, and entertainment to the Ethnik stage.
Sally V Truss, Elizabeth Millham, Vivian Hansen and Kimberley Jones are launching their 2nd Fates collection “Leylines & Landmines” Sunday, March 29th, 4pm at Owl’s Nest Books in Britannia Shopping Centre – 815a 49 Ave SW
Check out Alcove Center for the Arts’ upcoming events here! They have lots of fantastic events!
Thank you all again for an incredible year. We’re so excited to step into this new one with you.
We hope you enjoyed this newsletter! Let us know what else you’d love to see in future issues—your ideas help shape what we create.
We can’t wait to hOwl with you on February 18th at Shelf Life Books and to share space, stories, and conversation together. We’re truly looking forward to seeing you there.
Warmly,
The Woolf’s Voices Collective
