Poet

Alessandra Naccarato is the author of Imminent Domains: Reckoning with the Anthropocene (Essays) and Re-Origin of Species (Poems). Born and raised in Tkaronto (Toronto), she is a settler of southern Italian descent, whose work speaks to intersections of disability and climate crisis, collective change and queer resilience. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia, and a graduate degree in Community Economic Development from Concordia University, supporting two decades of work and research in grassroots social change, community arts, and the prevention of gender-based violence.

The recipient of the RBC Bronwen Wallace Award and the CBC Poetry Prize, she has worked extensively as an editor, mentor and workshop facilitator, toured nationally and internationally as a spoken word artist, and supported hundreds of writers across the country. Her poetry collection, Re-Origin of Species, was shortlisted for the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award, longlisted for the Pat Lowther Memorial Award, and named a Best Book of 2019 by CBC Books. Her essay collection, Imminent Domains (Book*hug Press, fall 2022), uses a personal lens and expansive research to explore world-change, emergent illnesses and interspecies survival.

Alessandra made her Death Rides a Unicorn debut and presenting her work in her Vancouver Book Launch event on Tuesday November 8th at Massy Arts. We look forward to reading her non-fiction book of essays Imminent Domains: Reckoning with the Anthropocene.

Poet

At the age of 32 Andre Prefontaine has never contributed to an RRSP, maintains ten-years of sobriety, studies astrology, is becoming misanthropic, and believes in ghosts because all the pieces of him that have died have got to go somewhere. Obtaining external forms of validation to remedy internal strife, Andre Prefontaine succeeded in winning a total of seven Slam Poetry championship titles. Two-time C.F.S.W winner (once as team captain and once as a coach), two consecutive Underground championships win, two Haiku Deathmatch titles, and one C.I.P.S championship which allowed him the chance to represent Canada at the “Coupe Du Monde” world cup of Slam in Paris, France where, midway through the competition, he realized he was a vampant, empty shell seeking other people's approval and thus lost the self-important drive which had seen him to that point. He did place fourth, though.

More recently, Andre Prefontaine has become a board member for the "Black Sheep Collective", an arts market in his hometown of Calgary, Alberta which he moved back to after losing his apartment in Toronto as a result of a break-up. Only to be chased out of Wellington, Ontario, by a group of white supremacists shortly thereafter. No joke, that’s literally what happened. As a result he is drafting a book about the whole ordeal while fulfilling Christopher Hitchins definition of a Curmudgeon. Regardless, his humor has remained dry, his wit has stayed sharp, and his heart still tender wherever the callouses fail to reach.

Andre made his Death Rides a Unicorn debut at Famous Last Words in 2023.

Poet

Brendan McLeod is a writer, theatre creator, and musician. He’s the author of a poetry collection, Friends Without Bodies, a novel, The Convictions of Leonard McKinley, and five theatre shows, including Ridge, his award-winning musical on the Battle of Vimy, and Brain, his comedic monologue on consciousness.

His music group The Fugitives has been nominated for a JUNO, as well as multiple Canadian Folk Music and Western Canada Music Awards, including Best Roots Group, Best Songwriter, and Best Vocal Group. He was the Poet of Honour at the 2012 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word and the 2015 Victoria Spoken Word Festival. He’s taught spoken word at Langara College, and is an active arts educator, currently touring his shows “Brain” to secondary schools and “Holy Guacamole, It’s a Poetry Show!” to primary schools.

Brendan made his Death Rides a Unicorn debut during Famous Last Words as our mystery guest in 2022.

Master of Ceremonies

(Under the Rooftops of Vancouver)

Cass King (She, They) is a singer, writer, and Maker of Strange Things. As one half of musical comedy duo The Wet Spots, she traveled the world, performing twice at the Sydney Opera House, and opening for Margaret Cho at Vancouver’s Center for the Performing Arts. More recently, she co-wrote and starred in ‘SHINE: A Burlesque Musical’, which Time Out New York called ‘Rent for our generation”.

She is proud to have been a member of the original Van Slam Poetry team in 1996, and she was a member of every Vancouver team from 1996-2001. She took 5th place at the US Nationals in 1998, but she is most proud to have acted as Slam Master from 1998 to 2000, because that took way more work. Her current band Cass King and the Cassettes are preparing for the 8th annual Bowie Ball at the Rickshaw Theatre, a fundraiser that has raised over $200K for the Canadian Cancer Foundation. Their album is called Naked on the Dance Floor. Check out cassking.com for more.

Cass made their Death Rides a Unicorn debut as the host for our first ever episode of Under the Rooftops of Vancouver, evening of erotica on November 17th 2023.

Poet

Catherine Lewis (she/her) is a Chinese Canadian writer and poet who lives in Vancouver on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. Her debut poetry chapbook Zipless is a finalist for two Bisexual Book Awards, including Bi Writer of the Year. Her poetry and prose have been featured in PRISM international, The Humber Literary Review, Pulp Literature, and Plenitude Magazine. First runner-up for Pulp Literature’s 2023 Magpie Award for Poetry, Catherine has been a finalist in creative nonfiction contests hosted by The Fiddlehead, Room Magazine, and The Humber Literary Review. She has performed at the Poets Corner Reading Series, Word Vancouver, and the Verses Festival of Words. A graduate of the Writer’s Studio at Simon Fraser University and of the Vancouver Manuscript Intensive, she is a Banff Centre Literary Arts alumna. Catch her on Twitter or Instagram at @cat_writes_604 or at www.catherinewriter.com.

Catherine made her Death Rides a Unicorn debut at the Seven Syllable Slam and is one of the first four featured readers at Under the Rooftops of Vancouver on Friday November 17th 2023.

Poet

Charlie Petch (they/them, he/him) is a disabled/queer/transmasculine multidisciplinary artist who resides in Tkaronto/Toronto. A poet, playwright, librettist, musician, lighting designer, and host, Petch was the 2017 Poet of Honour for the speakNORTH national festival, winner of the Golden Beret lifetime achievement in spoken word with The League of Canadian Poets (2020), and founder of Hot Damn it's a Queer Slam.

Petch is a touring performer, as well as a mentor and workshop facilitator. Their debut poetry collection, Why I Was Late (Brick Books), won the 2022 ReLit Award, and was named "Best of 2021" by The Walrus. Their film with Opera QTO, Medusa's Children, premièred 2022. They have been featured on the CBC's Q, the Toronto International Festival of Authors, and were long-listed for the CBC Poetry Prize in 2021.

Charlie made their Death Rides a Unicorn debut at Famous Last Words Episode 3 on Monday April the 24th, 6:30PM at The Wise Hall (1882 Adanac Street).

Poet

Dave Silverberg is a theatre artist, poet, journalist, editor and writing coach. His first solo JEWNIQUE toured across Canada, and he has performed his poetry in Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, NYC, Paris and London (UK). He staged his second solo show BEFORE & AFTER in both Toronto and Vancouver and is now working on a recording of his show.

His latest book of poetry is Close to the Edge Without Going Over, and his poetry been published in Arc, Living Hyphen, Descant and Broken Pencil

His non-fiction work has been published in BBC News, The Washington Post, The Toronto Star, MIT Technology Review and The Globe & Mail.

www.davidsilverberg.ca

David will be making his Death Rides a Unicorn debut at Famous Last Words Toronto Season 1 Episode 1 on Sunday March 17th at the Drake.

Poet

Born in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida residing in Scarborough. David Delisca is a writer, poet, actor and humorist. A versatile artist, he uses stories about the immigrant and diasporic experience, as well as other various human realities, to bridge realms of communication. His works and performances have been featured in Toronto Star, CBC, Netflix.

David is making his Death Rides a Unicorn debut during Famous Last Words Toronto Season 1 Episode 1 on March 17th.

Poet

Dina is a writer, podcaster, literary event host, editor, creative writing instructor and otter and dress enthusiast living in Vancouver on the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh people. She is the author of the short story collection, Don’t Tell Me What to Do, and four collections of poetry: Coping with Emotions and Otters, Blind Items, Rom Com, written with Daniel Zomparelli, and, It’s a Big Deal! She is the Artistic Director of the Real Vancouver Writers’ Series, hosts the podcast, Can’t Lit, with Jen Sookfong Lee and is on the editorial board of fine.press. Her chapbook, Douche Process, is available online at ryanfitzpatrick.ca/modelpress/. You can check out her website at dinadelbucchia.com.

Dina was the winning Poet of Famous Last Words Episode 1 and will be reprising her role for Famous Last Words Episode at Verses 2024 on Tuesday April 23rd.

Poet

Duncan Shields is a computer games animator, science fiction writer, burlesque performer, podcaster, and spoken-word poet currently living in Vancouver, British Columbia with his daughter and wife. He has a voracious appetite for movies, comics, and science fiction/fantasy novels. He’s tall, he has blue eyes, a few tattoos, he’s a libra, he enjoys the rain and he likes bland burritos. He’s happy to be here.

Duncan will be making his Death Rides a Unicorn debut at Famous Last Words in 2024.

Poet

Ellie Sawatzky (@elliesawatzky) is a Vancouver-based poet, writer, editor, teacher, cat mom, renegade Mennonite, and euphonium hobbyist. Her début poetry collection, None of This Belongs to Me, was published by Nightwood Editions in 2021. A past winner of CV2’s Foster Poetry Prize, runner up for the Thomas Morton Memorial Prize, and finalist for the 2019 Bronwen Wallace Award, her poetry and prose have been published in The Fiddlehead, Room, Grain, The Maynard,PRISM international, and elsewhere. Ellie holds an MFA from UBC’s Creative Writing program and is currently an editor for FriesenPress, founder and facilitator of the Strathcona Poetry Studio, and a member of the Growing Room Collective. Find her at a costume party, in a cold body of water, or at www.elliesawatzky.com.

Ellie made her Death Rides a Unicorn debut at Under the Rooftops of Vancouver on Friday November 17th 2023.

Poet

Elliott Slinn is a performer who takes listeners on a journey of the heart with his honest song writing and poetry. With a unique style and an emphasis on the musicality of his lyrics, his storytelling and sonic signature weave together as one.

Slinn’s haunting and powerful voice carries an air of gentle melancholy, which captivates audiences and leaves listeners spellbound. His work has been described as immediate and accessible, as he aims to engage the soul and transform his personal tale into a shared experience.

He has performed at the: Lululemon Leadership conference, for Lush Cosmetics, the Vancouver and New Westminster Arts Council, the Real Estate Foundation of BC, the YWCA, New West Chamber of Commerce, VMF (Vancouver Mural Festival) and Vancouver Writers Festival. Most recently he was on the CBC radio program “North by Northwest” with Margaret Gallagher.

His street poetry, Moment Poems, has been welcomed in to numerous events, as he writes personalized on-the-spot poetry for people all around the city.

Slinn was named the Poet Laureate for the City of New Westminster in 2021, and was successfully elected to the New Westminster School Board as a Trustee in 2022.

Elliott made his Death Rides A Unicorn debut at Famous Last Words Episode 4 on Friday October 27th 7:00PM at The Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema (149 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1H7) as part of the Heart of the City Festival.

Poet

Erin Kirsh is an award-winning writer, performer, and funnyman from Toronto. Her writing has appeared in publications such as The Malahat Review, Cosmonauts Avenue, bBarren Magazine, Short Edition, CV2, ARC Poetry Magazine, QWERTY, Poetry is Dead, EVENT, PULP Literature, Geist and more.

Erin made her Death Rides a Unicorn debut at Famous Last Words, Episode 2 and joined us again for the first episode of Under the Rooftops of Vancouver on Friday November 17th.

Master of Ceremonies

(Famous Last Words Toronto)

Fannon Holland comes to from Pittsburgh, via Chicago, where he maintains that there are only two major differences between Canadians and Americans: Canadians have an indelible belief in universal healthcare and better beer.

Spoken word has allowed Fannon to travel across Canada, and on one fateful trip, earned himself a national title with the Guelph Spoken Word Team at CFSW, Winnipeg.

Fannon is a husband, father, port, rabble rouser, loud mouth, agitator and good trouble.

Fannon will be making his Death Rides a Unicorn debut at Famous Last Words Toronto Season 1 Episode 1 on March 17th at the Drake.

Poet

Fernando Raguero is a long time regular in the Vancouver Poetry slam scene. He has authored 8 poetry chapbooks and is a two time haiku death match champion. Fernando has been a member of two Vancouver poetry slam teams and co-founded the Crotchless Diaper Hotdog eating contest. Raguero serves up irreverent verse and has a wildly comical view of reality. His favourite yoga pose is saddle. He has his moments.

Fernando made his Death Rides a Unicorn debut at Famous Last Words Episode 1.

Poet

Hari Alluri (he/him/siya) is a migrant poet of Pangasinan, Ilokano, and Telugu descent who lives, loves, and writes on unceded Coast Salish territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples, and Kwantlen, Katzie and Kwikwetlem lands of Hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking peoples. Siya is author of The Flayed City and chapbook Our Echo of Sudden Mercy. Recipient of the Vera Manuel Award for Poetry, among other awards, grants, fellowships and residencies, his work appears through these venues and elsewhere: Apogee, Michigan Quarterly Review, Poetry, poetry in canada, PRISM International and—via Split This Rock—Best of the Net. @harialluri

Hari Alluri (he/him/siya) has a weakness for the types of beings -- human, deity, or otherwise -- who thieve and grieve, who joke and, terrible even, sing.

Hari made his Death Rides A Unicorn debut at Famous Last Words Episode 4 on Friday October 27th 7:00PM at The Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema (149 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1H7) as part of the Heart of the City Festival.

Poet

Isabella Wang is the author of the chapbook, On Forgetting a Language, and her full-length debut, Pebble Swing, is currently a finalist for the Dorothy Livesay Book Award. Her poetry and prose have appeared in over thirty literary journals and three anthologies. She is a double-major in English and World Literature at SFU, and an editor at Room magazine.

Isabella was one of our poets for Famous Last Words Episode 1.

Poet

Jennifer Alicia (she/they) is a queer, mixed Mi’kmaw and settler (German/Irish/Scottish) multidisciplinary artist originally from Elmastukwek, Ktaqmkuk (Bay of Islands, Newfoundland), now residing in Toronto. She is a two-time national poetry slam champion and her work has been featured in Canthius Magazine, NOW Magazine, CBC and imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival. Jennifer Alicia co-edited an Indigenous poetry anthology titled The Condor and the Eagle Meet and has a debut chapbook titled Mixed Emotions. Most recently, she participated in the Animikiig Creators Unit through Native Earth Performing Arts, working on her debut play titled To Go Home. Find out more about her work at: jenniferalicia.com.

Jennifer is making their debut at Death Rides a Unicorn during Famous Last Words Toronto Season 1 Episode 1 on March 17th.

Poet

Kai Cheng Thom is a writer, performance artist, and community healer. She is the author of Falling Back in Love with Being Human, a national bestseller in Canada, and the novel Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars, which was chosen by Emma Watson for her online feminist book club and shortlisted for the Lambda Literary Award.

Her poetry collection a place called No Homeland was an American Library Association Stonewall Honor Book, and her essay collection, I Hope We Choose Love, received a Publishing Triangle Award. She writes the advice column “Ask Kai: Advice for the Apocalypse” for Xtra.

Kai Cheng is making her Death Rides a Unicorn debut during Famous Last Words Toronto Season 1 Episode 1 on March 17th.

Orgasm

Little Death has been with us since puberty and only gets more weird, unusual as everyone ages. A little death has always been circulating around DRAU (Death Rides a Unicorn) events since their inception. This show is no different as we can expect to experience a little death at some point in the evening. Bring your own costume or perhaps a change of clothes if need be.

Death and his little friend made their debut at Famous Last Words episode 1 and will be arising once again for the debut of Under the Rooftops of Vancouver on Friday November 17th.

Poet

Lucia Misch is a writer, performer and facilitator from unceded Muwekma Ohlone land. Lucia's spoken word poetry has found a home everywhere from historic theaters to high school auditoriums, and their first collection of poetry, The Problem With Solitaire, was released by Write Bloody North in 2020.

Lucia was one of the poets in Famous Last Words Episode 1.

Poet

Marie Metaphor Specht is a multidisciplinary artist and poet living on the traditional territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples. She collaborates with filmmakers, lighting engineers, dancers, and musicians to create immersive and interactive works. A long-time member of the Canadian spoken word scene, Marie is currently serving a two-year term as the 6th Poet Laureate of Victoria, BC. Her work has been featured at festivals, arts events and poetry slams across the country. Marie’s poetry has been published in Oratorealis, Untethered Magazine, Chestnut Review, The Hellebore, and Room Magazine, among others. Soft Shelters is her debut poetry collection published with Write Bloody North.

Whatever form her work takes, Marie leads with compassion as she composes moments of nourishing intimacy and connection. She believes in intrepid acts of beauty. She believes in the power of stories shared.

www.mariemetaphor.com

Marie made their Death Rides a Unicorn debut at Famous Last Words Episode 4 on Friday October 27th 7:00PM at The Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema (149 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1H7) as part of the Heart of the City Festival.

Unicorn

MarLa B works as a juggler, character actress, puppeteer, poet, musician and more. With a BFA in Acting from Toronto Metropolitan University, MarLa has been a guest artist in over 600 schools across Canada performing live theatre shows and teaching workshops in mask, drama, juggling and spoken word poetry.

Splitting her time between the GTA and Los Angeles, MarLa’s beloved act, The Juggling Chef delights audiences of all ages and appears in community festivals, farmer's markets, libraries, schools and birthday parties.

Winner of the Stand Up to Cancer - Music as Healing Grant 2022, MarLa’s original song “People We Could Be” is available to stream on all platforms. Find out more at TheMarLabs.com.

MarLa will be making her Death Rides a Unicorn debut at Famous Last Words Toronto Season 1 Episode 1 on March 17th at the Drake.

Uni the Unicorn

Uni is the antithesis of Death. Uni is joy and love, buoyant and distracting. Most of the time, Uni has chocolate and bubbles to share.

The role of Uni for is played by the wonderful and talented Meris Goodfellow.

Meris Goodfellow has traipsed the theatrical trails for eons, circling ever closer to the fey and wild skylands.

Channeling Uni is an honourable inner sanctum to breach, especially alongside such wild and amazing creatures as grace the stage with this production.

You may also recognize Meris from backstage at some show you were in, OG Dusty Flowerpot productions, smashing bronze with Gamelan Gita Asmara, or wondering why that person walking on Commercial Drive has such an epic RBF.

Meris made her Death Rides A Unicorn debut at Famous Last Words Episode 4 on Friday October 27th 7:00PM at The Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema (149 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1H7) as part of the Heart of the City Festival.

Poet

Patrick de Belen is an award-winning poet, filmmaker, educator and storyteller of many other mediums. His poetry, films and other projects often explore themes of mental illness, the Filipino-Canadian experience, social justice, youth empowerment and advocacy, grief and healing.

He is most known for his poetic collaborations with the Toronto Raptors, the NFL, CBC, his 2 spoken word EPs and multiple cine-poems and independent films he wrote and directed himself.

When he isn’t onstage, or writing, he is an educator and youth mentor, partnering with many institutions like addiction centres, mental health focused organizations, libraries, schools, jails and more - advocating for storytelling opportunities and platforms in as many spaces as possible.

Patrick will be making his Death Rides a Unicorn debut at the first Famous Last Words Toronto Season 1 Episode 1 on Sunday March 17th at the Drake.

Poet

RC Weslowski is an award-winning spoken word poet and radio broadcaster. He has featured at such distinguished events as the Nuyorican Café Poetry Slam, The Bowery Poetry Club, The Toronto Poetry Slam, The Art Bar Reading Series, Planet Poetry, The Poets Corner, The Otoba Poetry Slam, Song and Bird Reading Series, the Verses Festival of Words and now the Edmonton Poetry Festival. RC has led poetry “wordshops” with Word Travels Australia, The Banff Centre for the Arts, The Tuscon Poetry Festival, The Victoria Spoken Word Festival and many more. RC’s first book of poetry, “My Soft Response to the Wars” is out on Write Bloody North Publishing. www.writebloodynorth.ca

RC made his Death Rides a Unicorn in our first Famous Last Words Episode and will be returning for our first episode of Under the Rooftops of Vancouver on Friday November 17th.

Master of Ceremonies

Famous Last Words (Vancouver)

Sara is an actor, writer, and comedy show producer who is best known for her shows Teen Angst Night, Say Wha?! Readings of Deliciously Rotten Writing, and for appearing in commercials as the frazzled woman in need of a product.

The Georgia Straight called her "charismatic" and the WestEnder twice included her in their list of Vancouver's funniest people. Her comedy shows have made many lists of "things you should do tonight" and toured to Toronto, Seattle, Portland and the UK. She has appeared at the All Jane No Dick Comedy Festival, The Vancouver Comedy Festival, Verses Festival, The Vancouver Poetry Festival, The PuSh Festival, The Olio Festival, Latitude Festival, and Bumbershoot.

She is a graduate of the acting program at Studio 58 and has an MA in Creative and Life Writing from Goldsmiths, University of London. Her column The Environmentalist from Hell appears in Asparagus Magazine where she writes about sustainability and environmental matters. She recently returned to professional theatre in a run of Mom's The Word at Theatre North West.

Sara made her Death Rides a Unicorn debut as the Master of Ceremonies for Famous Last Words Episode 1.

SALONNIÉRE

Sean is a poet, activist, academic and storyteller based out of Vancouver’s downtown eastside. He has organized over 500 literary and spoken word events across Canada and the US and has performed across North America and in Europe.

He is the founder of the Vancouver International Poetry Festival (now entitled Verses) and the Vancouver Storytelling Slam. He has been lead organizer of the Bolts of Fiction literary series and the Vancouver Poetry Slam, Co-Chair of Spoken Word Canada (SpoCan), tournament director for the Individual World Poetry Slam in Charlotte North Carolina and the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in various cities.

He teaches first and second year communications and he is far sillier than he appears.

Sean is the curator for Death Rides a Unicorn.

Poet

Sheri-D Wilson, aka the Mama of Dada, is the award-winning author of 13 books, 4 short films, and 4 albums which combine music & poetry.

An international artist known for her electric performance-style, Sheri-D has performed and taught workshops at festivals around the world.

In 2019 Sheri-D was appointed to The Order of Canada, for her contributions as a Spoken Word Poet and her leadership in the community. In 2017, she received her Doctor of Letters – Honoris Causa from Kwantlen University.

Other Honors: 2018-2020 Calgary Poet Laureate Emeritus * 2015 City of Calgary Arts Award * 2013 CBC Top 10 Poets in Canada * 2009 Ted Talk * 2006 Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Poetry * 2005 SpoCan Poet of Honour * 2006 People's Choice Award * 2006 Woman of Vision * 5 Rosie Awards * 2003 USA Heavyweight Title * Her 1991 jazz-play, Confessions, received 5 Vancouver Jessie Nominations * Ace Award.

In her poems, Wilson explores personal story, beauty & love, social justice, lost languages, bullying, violence against women & the earth. Wilson brings a quirky sense of humor, and uplifting presence to all of her work.

A strong advocate for social change & community building – Founder & Artistic Director: Calgary Spoken Word Society (2003-2022) & Spoken Word Program | The Banff Centre (2005-2012)

Sheri-D is a Marriage Celebrant & Ceremonialist and she’s working on an epic poem to be published by Write Bloody North in 2023.

www.sheridwilson.com

Sheri D made her Death Rides a Unicorn debut as part of Alessandra Naccarato’s book launch for Imminent Domains: Reckoning with the Anthropoceneat at Massy Arts on November 8th. We are looking forward to Sheri D’s new book that is coming out in the spring of 2023.

Poet

Sonya Littlejohn recently graduated from Simon Fraser University with a certificate in Community Capacity Building. She holds a bachelor of arts from UBC, a career in poetry performance and facilitation, and communication building. She is a community engagement facilitator, a cultural worker, community coordinator, mad artist and poet.

Sonya made her Death Rides a Unicorn debut by winning the first ever Seventeen Syllable Slam in 2023 a Word Vancouver.

Poet

As a Black, Queer, mother, warrior, poet, Truth Is ... takes an unique approach to talking about the intricacies of life. Their intersectional approach allows for the audience to explore experiences, through an empathetic and compassionate lens, fostering empowerment, community, and resistance from shame.

Truth Is ... has been on a dozen national slam teams since 2006. They are current co-artistic director of not-for-profit arts organization Guelph Spoken Word and has also been the past recipient of the 2018 National Poet of Honour distinction, the Min Sook Lee Labour Arts Awards and Guelph's Top 40 under 40

Currently, Truth Is ... is set to debut their long awaited "A Portrait of Palinoia" project, a celebration of the beauty, distinctiveness and magic of Black women in 2023.Description goes here

Truth Is..made their Death Rides a Unicorn debut at Famous Last Words Episode 3 as part of the Verses Festival of Words on April 24th 2023.