2009 - 2010 Social Events & Gatherings
with the Writers' Coop

First Writers' Open Mike Night of the Season

On September 10, 2009, close to twenty Coop members, community members, family and friends gathered in Room 3 of the Frances Morrison Library for the first event of the Coop's 2009-2010 season, the Coop's monthly Open Mike-- this year once again co-sponsored with the Frances Morrison Library.

Eight readers treated the audience to a nice variety of work, some prose, though mostly poetry. Readers included Daniel Kim (new), Jaqui Moore (new), Belinda Betker, B.K. Filson (new), Alison Flensburg, Gary Chappell, Coralee Grilz (new), and Jo Oliver.

Jo Oliver and Gary Chappell organized the event. Jo Oliver acted as the MC for the evening, and brought cookies as well.

Our thanks go to the readers, the audience, and the Library.

Some pictures from the evening are below as well as over here ===>


Daniel Kim	Jaqui Moore	Belinda Betker


B. K. Filson	Alison Flensburg	Coralee Grilz

Second Writers' Open Mike Night of the Season

On October 8, 2009, over twenty Coop members, community members, family and friends gathered in Room 3 of the Frances Morrison Library for the second writers' open mike night of the Coop's 2009-2010 season.

Following a welcome from SPL Writer in Residence Anne Simpson, ten readers treated the audience to an excellent variety of prose and poetry. Readers included Jaime Pinilla, Pam Bustin (new), Cathy Langdon, Cailean Bethell (new), Murray Cusitar (new), Erica Jen, Daniel Kim, Anna Flaminia (new), Jacqueline Moore and Gary Chappell.

Jo Oliver and Gary Chappell organized the event and acted as the MCs for the evening.

Some pictures from the evening are below as well as over here ===>


Jaime Pinilla	Pam Bustin	Cathy Langdon


Cailean Bethell	Murray Cusitar	Erica Jen

Third Writers' Open Mike Night of the Season

On November 12, 2009, over twenty Coop members, community members, family and friends gathered in Room 3 of the Frances Morrison Library for the third writers' open mike night of the Coop's 2009-2010 season.

Twelve readers treated the audience to an excellent variety of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Readers included Don Reimer, Cailean Bethell, Merrill Edlund (new), Jeanette Montgomery, Jaime Pinilla, Cathy Langdon, Jessica Weightman, Erica Jen, Peter Jonker, Barry Heath (new), Mic Lafreniere, and Gary Chappell.

Gary Chappell and Jo Oliver organized the event and acted as the MCs for the evening. Cathy Langdon brought homemade cookies.

Some pictures from the evening are below as well as over here ===>


Don Reimer	Merrill Edlund	Jeanette Montgomery


Jessica Weightman	Peter Jonker	Barry Heath

Fourth Writers' Open Mike Night of the Season

On December 10, 2009, a small but enthusiastic crowd (translation: we were mostly reading to each other) (explanation it was, after all, -32C) of Coop members, community members, family and friends gathered in Room 3 of the Frances Morrison Library for the fourth writers' open mike night of the Coop's 2009-2010 season.

Ten readers (of works by eleven writers) treated the audience to an excellent variety of fiction, non-fiction and poetry, most of it on a "seasonal theme" (for which readers received a free candycane). Readers included Jim Weseen, Cailean Bethell, Gayle Smith (new), Cathy Langdon, Carrie Ann Schemenauer (new), Pam Bustin, Amy Jo Ehman (new), Gary Chappell (reading his own work as well as a poem by Wes Funk), Andrea Ledding (new), and Jo Oliver.

McNally Robinson Booksellers, courtesy of General Manager Ian Goodwillie, contributed two 2009 Saskatchewan Book Award-winning books to a prize draw. The Book of the Year winner, Legacy of Stone: Saskatchewan’s Stone Buildings, was won by Jo Oliver, and the Nonfiction and Regina Book Award winner, Grass, Sky, Song: Promise and Peril in the World of Grassland Birds, was won by Amy Jo Ehman. As well, crafted Christmas tree ornaments were won by Carrie Ann Schemenauer and Julie Gyoba.

Gary Chappell and Jo Oliver organized the event and acted as the MCs for the evening. A special spread of goodies, healthy or calorically rich (and sometimes both), fed all who mingled and chatted during the intermission.

Some pictures from the evening are below as well as over here ===>


Jim Weseen	Gayle Smith


Amy Jo Ehman	Carrie Ann Schemenauer

Fifth Writers' Open Mike Night of the Season

On January 14, 2010, over thirty Coop members, community members, family and friends gathered in Room 3 of the Frances Morrison Library for the fifth writers' open mike night of the Coop's 2009-2010 season.

Thirteen readers (and there was a waiting list) treated the audience to an excellent variety of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Readers included seasoned veterans Anne Simpson, Belinda Betker, Wendy Weseen, Mic Lafreniere, Jaime Pinilla, Erica Jen, Chander Behl and newcomers Christ Kennedy, Helen Cote, Mike Worby, Austin Hunter, Anne O'Brien-Lloyd, and Clayton Armstrong.

Gary Chappell and Jo Oliver organized the event and acted as the MCs for the evening.

Sorry, no pictures at this time.

Sixth Writers' Open Mike Night of the Season

On February 11, 2010, about twenty Coop members, community members, family and friends gathered in Room 3 of the Frances Morrison Library for the sixth writers' open mike night of the Coop's 2009-2010 season.

Ten readers treated the audience to an excellent variety of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Readers included Christ Kennedy, Graham Addley, Cailean Bethael-Rempelle, Cathy Langdon, Laurel Sapp (who drove from North Battleford to read), Merrill Edlund, Alice Kuipers, Chander Behl, Michael Worby, and Gary Chappell.

Sorry, no pictures at this time.

Writers' Coop Midwinter Party: Duelling Cupids

On February 19,2010 about thirty enthusiastic partiers gathered in The Refinery lower level to celebrate the midwinter and the vagaries of love. You can see the rules, and pictures from the party, here. In brief, food and wine were consumed, duels were fought, and a victor emerged: Jo Oliver took home the prize.

Thanks to Peter Jonker, Kristina Komendant and volunteer Kathy Morrell for organizing the evening, to Writer in Residence Anne Simpson for MC'ing the duels, and to everyone who pitched in and had fun.

Seventh Writers' Open Mike Night of the Season

On March 11, 2010, eleven Coop members, community members, family and friends gathered in Room 3 of the Frances Morrison Library for the seventh writers' open mike night of the Coop's 2009-2010 season.

Readers included veterans Cailean Bethel-Van Rempelle, Jaime Pinilla, Gary Chappell, and Jo Oliver, and first-timers Evans Bamwesiye, Kevin Norlin, and Carmen Davies.

Sorry, no pictures at this time.

Eighth Writers' Open Mike Night of the Season

On April 8, 2010, seventeen Coop members, community members, family and friends gathered in Room 3 of the Frances Morrison Library for the eighth writers' open mike night of the Coop's 2009-2010 season.

Ten readers treated the audience to an excellent variety of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. New readers included Virginia Dakiniewich, Dean Head, and Gwendolyn Gresham, while repeat performers included Clayton Armstrong, Jessica Weightman, Cailean Bethel-Van Rempelle, Wes Funk, Kevin Norlin, Jo Oliver, and Gary Chappell.

Sorry, no pictures at this time.

Ninth Writers' Open Mike Night of the Season

On May 13, 2010, a record (for this year) 36 Coop members, community members, family and friends gathered in Room 3 of the Frances Morrison Library for the ninth and final writers' open mike night of the Coop's 2009-2010 season.

A record fourteen readers treated the audience to an excellent variety of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. New readers included Carol Harrison, Christina Shah, Francie Millar, Adele Spechen and Christian Lafleur, while repeat performers included Wendy Weseen, Erica Jen, Jaime Pinilla, Cailean Bethel-Van Rempelle, Don Reimer, Donald B. Campbell, Cathy Langdon, Kevin Norlin and Gary Chappell.

Sorry, no pictures at this time.