April 2 & 3, 2004
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

The Gathering of Christian Poets is for you, the Christian Poet.

Pre-registration for April 2nd "Poets' Bistro Cafe" $20 / At the door: $25
Pre-registration for April 3rd "Gathering" $20 / At the door: $25

Pre-registration for both events is $35 total
(You must register for both events simultaneously to qualify for this offer.)

Please Pre-Register

Our venue, The Terrace Theatre, has limited seating. Use the registration form at the bottom of this page to ensure a place for yourself. By pre-registering you will also save $5 on each event. If you register for both events at the same time, we'll take off another $5, for a total saving of $15 off the prices at the door.
Pre-registering means we have heard from you and received your registration fees prior to March 27, 2004. For information, call 780-461-0221 and leave a message for Nathan (be sure to leave your phone number).

Where is Edmonton, Alberta, Canada?

Edmonton is a mid-sized city (pop. 700,000) in the Canadian province of Alberta.

The average daytime high temperature in early April is 50F. The average overnight low is 32F. (The record daytime high temperature in April is 88F and the record night time low is –13F.) As you can see, temperatures vary greatly so bring warm "winter-and-spring" clothing. A sweater and a windbreaker (or down-filled jacket) are a good plan in case it's chilly.

By April 3 most of the snow is usually gone, but leaves are not yet on the trees.

More information about Edmonton.

If you are arriving from outside of Canada, please contact us ahead of time for information.
   

There are three separate events at the 2004 Gathering—the Poet's Bistro Cafe on the evening of April 2, the Gathering of Christian Poets all day on April 3 and the Poetry Readings and announcements of contest winners in the evening of April 3.

Click on the map for a closeup view of event locations that you can print.

The map shows the location of the Coast Terrace Inn and the nearby Econolodge, both recommended places to stay overnight if you are arriving from out of town.

The Poet's Bistro Cafe is hosted by Nathan Harms, Executive Director of Utmost Christian Writers Foundation, in a small community hall adjacent to his home. Nathan's condo community is hard to find, but the map makes it very clear. If you are not sure call his home at 780-461-0221.

The Gathering and Poetry Readings are in the Coast Terrace Inn at 4445 Calgary Trail South, Edmonton, Alberta. The Coast Terrace Inn spans the entire block between Gateway Boulevard (north) and Calgary Trail South, so you can enter the parking lot directly no matter which direction you are going.

As hosts of the Gathering of Christian Poets we do our best to help you get around the city if you lack transportation. We can usually arrange to have you picked up at the airport or the bus depot . . . provided you let us know in advance. Of course we will also help you find your way to the events as well.

Special instructions for those already registered.

Read about last year's Gathering here.

April 2, 2004
6:30pm — 10:00pm

Poets' Bistro Cafe
($20 pre-registration)

Join other Christian poets as Nathan hosts the first ever Christian Poets' Bistro Cafe. The authentic Italian meal includes salad, pasta, Italian rolls, dessert and beverages.

You are requested to wear an item of "continental clothing" for this dinner—be it a jaunty hat, a flamboyant scarf, or something more elaborate. (Some of your hosts will be dressed entirely in costume appropriate to a European cafe, but full costumes are optional.)

Following dinner, we'll feature an "open mike" session where you can read your own poetry to other dinner guests. (Don't forget to bring your best work!)

There will be plenty of time for visiting after dinner. This is fellowship and fun at its finest!

Registration Forms

April 3, 2004
9:30pm — 4:00pm

The Gathering of Christian Poets
($20 pre-registration)

  9:30 Introductions and audio visual devotional feature, "In The Presence of His Keeping."

10:15 Why Not Say What Happened? Try leaping into poetry from a variety of different platforms, all leading to descriptions of your own reality. This high energy interlude of poetic fun and beauty will lead you to care for your own life with your own words and love it!
         Mary Elizabeth Lauzon, our workshop leader, is a registered nurse currently specializing in adolescent psychiatry. She is a poetry therapist with 13 years experience leading creative healing workshops, retreats, conferences and classes with many different populations. For 5 years Mary Elizabeth taught in Calgary schools as an arts integration specialist. She is the recipient of several national grants for work in poetry therapy and is author of The Kisses of His Mouth, nominated for best first book award by the Writer's Guild of Alberta.

11:30 LUNCH (Lunch is not included in the registration fee, but is available at your expense in the restaurant right outside the door of our workshop. We hope you'll join us.)

  1:00 Pudding and the Poet: Achieving Swirl. Poetry demands linear and non-linear brain activity, enough vanilla to provide stability, enough chocolate to provide mystery and excitement. This interactive experience will help you remember—you were created to attain Swirl!
         Fenna A. Schaapman, B.Sc., our workshop leader, is a spiritual mentor, facilitator and the resident poet at Spiritual Directions, Calgary where she offers Rough Draft, a monthly, drop-in poetry workshop and many journal-writing and spirituality programs. She organizes the annual Writing Toward The Light Multi-faith Poetry Contest and Concert. Fenna was the first prize winner of the 2002 Odes of March poetry contest. Her work has appeared in publications such as Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction, Salvo: 2003 Calgary Stroll of Poets Anthology and Prairie Messenger.

  3:00 COFFEE BREAK

  3:30 To be announced. Be sure to come back soon for details. Last year Chef Andre wowed the workshop with his creation of a poetic "huppsy-down kek." What can possibly be in store for this Gathering?!

  3:50 Conclusion and door prizes

Registration Forms

April 3, 2004
5:30pm — 8:30pm
(Free Event — No registration required)

  5:30 Poetry Readings. Invited poets read their work.

  7:00 Utmost Christian Poetry Contest winners are announced in the Terrace Theatre at the Coast Terrace Inn in Edmonton, Alberta!

  7:15 Poetry Readings. Selected Christian poets are in the spotlight as they read their own works. (These are not "open mike" sessions. If you wish to read, you must contact Nathan Harms by March 15.)

Gathering of Christian Poets Registration Form


Your name:

Street address:
City:

Prov or State
Postal Code:
Email address:

Phone Number:
   

Yes, I will attend the Poets' Bistro Cafe AND The Gathering. You will receive my $35 registration fees before March 27.

Check the box, if yes to both events.

The address for pre-registration is: Nathan Harms, 121 Morin Maze, Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA T6K 1V1. Make checks payable to "Utmost Christian Writers Foundation."
   

Yes, I will attend The Gathering, but NOT the Poets' Bistro Cafe. You will receive my $20 registration fees before March 27.

Check the box, if yes to The Gathering.

The address for pre-registration is: Nathan Harms, 121 Morin Maze, Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA T6K 1V1. Make checks payable to "Utmost Christian Writers Foundation."
   
I hope to attend one or both of these events, but am not sure I'll make it. You can contact me by email nearer the date.
Check this box, if yes.

The address for pre-registration is: Nathan Harms, 121 Morin Maze, Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA T6K 1V1.

Make checks payable to: Utmost Christian Writers Foundation

Please note that we are not able to provide refunds of registration fees.

We can also make arrangements for you to pay your fees securely online via PayPal. Please email us for further information.

This web site is copyright ©2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 by Nathan N. Harms. All rights reserved. This site was authored by Nathan N. Harms. All contents belong to Nathan Harms, Utmost Christian Writers Foundation or the original authors. Reproduction of this site, in whole or in part, is prohibited without written permission. All rights reserved. Trademarks may not be used without permission of the trademark owners.