University of Alberta Press celebrated both poetry and our 50 years in publishing on April 25 with three remarkable readers:
- Apostrophes VIII: Nothing Is But You and I by E.D. Blodgett (read by Astrid Blodgett)
- There Are Not Enough Sad Songs by Marita Dachsel
- Magnetic North: Sea Voyage to Svalbard by Jenna Butler
Our Chief Librarian and Vice Provost Dale Askey opened the event with a supportive message. Alice Major, as MC, brought warmth and a personal touch to the program.
Having Norma Gutteridge there, as one of the two founding publishers / staff members of University of Alberta Press, was a highlight. She was delighted to see the continued strength and success of the press. She brought along an article from the 1969 Folio (the campus newspaper) that spoke of the shoestring financing available to the fledging press and told us how she and husband Leslie Gutteridge took page proofs home to work on them in their “spare” time. Norma also appreciated that we followed through on her idea of having a celebratory cake.
Special thanks go to Jerome Martin and Ted Bishop for their musical contributions; Steve and Sharon Budnarchuk from Audreys Books for ongoing support and bookselling; the Poetry Festival for providing their good sound system; and the Faculty Club staff for excellent service.
Thank you to all who came and celebrated with us in this special anniversary year.
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