| CPA HISTORY Digging into the lyrical layers of the Canadian Poetry Association's past, the notes from the original members were unearthed. Combing through their files, then, the following definitive history was culled. "The idea of starting an alternative organization to promote poetry has been talked about and been attempted by numerous groups since I first became involved in the poetry scene back in 1968." On March 05, 1985, Shaunt Basmajian wrote a letter -- "TO ALL MEMBERS: A Brief Note in Perspective of the "Canadian Poetry Association". The above is excerpted from the letter. Shaunt continues, "...It wasn't until recently that an honest effort was made by Wayne Ray to finally start a group that would once and for all represent all poets and non-poets alike, openly and democratically in one organization regardless of personal bias, publication criteria, professional capability." Wayne Ray substantiates Shaunt's comments: "The Canadian Poetry Association was founded on January 16, 1985 after many years of complaints against the staid literary clubs that control the pulse and purse strings of the nation." The Canadian Poetry Association was indeed founded on the night of January 16 1985 after the launching of the book No Cold Ash by James Deahl at the Balmy Arms Tavern in the Beaches area of Toronto. Shaunt states in his "TO ALL MEMBERS: A Brief Note... "As an organization, to most of us that were there that evening, it was basically agreed our main objective for the group would be to promote a broader exposure of poetry to the general public and hopefully develop into an international connection for Canadian Poets. We also agreed we would work in harmony with other groups and organizations and include both poets and poetizers alike in the organization. A note towards the founding of the organization was written and typed up by Chris Faiers a few days later and mailed to all those that seemed interested." It seems from that initial point, on the afternoon of February 24 1985, ten members or so, had their first official Canadian Poetry Association meeting. It was casually voted on to have Wayne Ray as the secretary of the Association. It was also decided for organizational reasons (bank accounts, loans, grants, etc.) to have a Board of Directors in name only. Bev Duario, Ted Plantos, Shaunt Basmajian and Wayne Ray were elected. It was their first priority, as a group, to start a newsletter. To communicate and set up a national network amongst themselves and to anyone else interested. Sheila Martindale suggested the idea of cross-the-country Chapters being instituted. Chris Faiers, Bev Duario, Jones and Shaunt volunteered to get these projects off the ground. The Canadian Poetry Association's next eight or nine meetings were held at St. Paul's Centre At Trinity, 427 Bloor Street, West, Toronto. And the rest, as they say, is history... The anecdotes dealing with the C.P.A.'s history skirted the aims of the Canadian Poetry Association. That summation only gave basic inklings as to the direction the original organizers wished to set their sails. Copyright (C) 2000-08 CPA. All Rights Reserved. |
| Association Canadiennede la Poesie |
