I love being involved in the community! If you are interested in contacting me to participate in an event or be a part of your reading, please send me an email – it’s the quickest way to connect!

Here you go: shieldsvanessa@gmail.com

SCROLL DOWN TO FIND DATES & EVENTS!

2018

JULY 2018

Sunday, July 8 – Saturday, July 14 – Humber School of Creative Writing – Summer Workshop – I got accepted! Yahoo!!

JUNE 2018

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 – Windsor Poetry Slam Finals – Judge, Phog Lounge, Windsor, On, 8pm

Friday, June 8, 2018 – Guest lecture, Cardinal Carter High School, Topic: The Performance of Poetry

MAY 2018

Monday, May 28, 2018 – MY 40TH BIRTHDAY!

 

Monday, May 14, 2018 – Guest lecture – St. Joe’s High School

Tuesday, May 8, 2018 –POSTPONED Poetry Workshop – How To Do A Poetry Reading, 6:30pm – 8:30pm, Budimir Library. *FREE*

APRIL 2018

Monday, April 30, 2018 – Guest Reading, Walkerville High School

 

MARCH 2018

Monday, March 26, 2018 – 10am, Guest Poet, Writers Group, Windsor,ON

DECEMBER 2017

Wednesday, December 13, 2017 – Urban Farmhouse Press ‘By The River’ Poetry Anthology Book Launch 6:30pm – 8:30pm – featuring local poets reading poetry! @ Central Public Library, Ouellette Avenue.

Friday, December 8, 2017 – Mouth Piece Storytelling – The Childhood Edition – Featuring Guest Storyteller Janice Smith and Guest Musician Allison Brown. @ Villains Baestro 7:30pm stories begin. Free as always. *Note: this is the final competition of the season! All Master Mouth Pieces will move on to our annual Master Mouth-Off! Date TBD!

Wednesday, December 6, 2017 – Reading & Workshop – ‘The Gift of Poetry’ w/ Dorothy Mahoney and I! Budimir Library, 6:30-8:30pm. Free! Bring something to write on and with.

NOVEMBER 2017

Thursday, November 30, 2017 – Poetry Reading with Group of Seven poets – ‘Because We Have All Lived Here’ (Black Moss Press, 2017) @ Biblioasis. Time 7pm.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017 – An Evening with Author Karen Dionne – Interview & Reading, 6:45pm, Biblioasis, 1520 Wyandotte St. E, Free refreshment, Book sales & Signing, http://www.karen-dionne.com.

Thursday, November 16, 2017 – Guest Lecture, 11am-1pm, University of Windsor, School of Education

Wednesday, November 1, 2017 – Creative Living – The Power of Journal Writing, 7pm-9pm, $25/workshop or $100 for full 5-week Creative Living Course, Atelier Virgianne, 1078 Drouillard Rd. – Contact: Ruth Ann Wilhelm at 519-919-7874 for more details. 

OCTOBER 2017

Monday, October 30, 2017 – Guest lesson for Grade 7/8s, St. Gabriel Elementary

Thursday, October 26, 2017 – Nature Poetry All-Day Workshop with Massey Secondary School students, Ojibway Nature Centre and Park

Wednesday, October 25, 2017 – Harvest Pie Poetry Reading! With Philip Crymble, Peter Hrastovec, Deb Okun Hill and me! 6:45pm – 9pm @ The Riverside Pie Shop. Facebook Event Page Here

Thursday, October 19, 2017 – TedX Talk, Chatham Capitol Theatre, Chatham, ON. Tickets go on sale September 5th! I will be speaking at 3:50pm. Topic: The Original Stories.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017 – Poetry at the Manor, Willistead Manor, Windsor, ON, 7pm – First come, first serve seating!

Monday, October 16, 2017 – Special Event for ‘Because We Have All Lived Here‘ *Top Secret* – TBA

Thursday, October 12, 2017 – Read-A-Thon, Glenwood Public School, 11am – 12:30pm

SEPTEMBER 2017

Thursday, September 21, 2017 – Mouth Piece Storytelling – Special FLOOD Edition, 7pm @ Villains Baestro, 256 Pelissier, Featuring Musical Guest Dominic Carlone – Free event!

Sunday, September 10, 2017 – Scattered Ecstasies, Willistead Manor, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, by Sho Art Experience.

JULY – AUGUST 2017

WRITE. WRITE. WRITE. WRITE. WRITE.

I will not be booking any events during this time. 

JUNE 2017

• June 9 -11, 2017 – League of Canadian Poets AGM, Toronto, ON – Chair of Feminist Caucus Panel – Feminism: Revisit, Revise, Revolutionize
• Thursday, June 1, 2017 – Mouth Piece Storytelling – The Secrets Event – Villains Baestro, Downtown Windsor, Featuring Jennifer De La O & Crissi Cochrane

MAY 2017

• Sunday, May 28, 2017 – Shout Out! Storytelling Event – Canada 150 Event- 2pm – 4pm, Windsor Jewish Community Centre
• Saturday, May 20, 2017 – Windsor’s 125 Birthday Party! Poetry on Demand, 12pm – 4pm, Adventure Bay/WFCU Aquatic Centre
• Thursday, May 18, 2017 – Guest lecturer, The Creative Process, University of Windsor
• Wednesday, May 10, 2017 – Keynote Speaker, United Way – Women Leading the Way Luncheon, Fogolar Furlan Club of Windsor, 12noon

APRIL 2017 – National Poetry Month!

• Sunday, April 30, 2017 – Literary Cafe, Oakville, ON
• Saturday, April 29, 2017 – 7pm – 8:30pm – Reading at The Steady Cafe with Adebe DeRango-Adem, Samantha Bernstein, and musical guest Carmel Liburdi

• Tuesday, April 25, 2017 – Guest speaking, Glenwood Public School, Windsor, ON
• Monday, April 24, 2017 – Guest speaking, Marlborough Elementary School, w/ Ben Van Dongen, Windsor, ON
• Thursday, April 20, 2017 – Mouth Piece Storytelling – The Danger Edition, Villains Baestro, Windsor, On – 7:30pm Start!

• Tuesday, April 18, 2017 – Celebrating Canadian Poetry Workshop – 6:30pm- 8:30pm, Budimir Library

• Tuesday, April 18, 2017 – Guest speaking Cathcart Elementary, Sarnia, ON
• Wednesday, April 12, 2017 – Poetry & Wine – Workshop, Reading and Open Mic at Oxley Winery

MARCH 2017

• Friday, March 10, 2017 – Women of Word Unite – Panel Discussion @ The Green Bean Cafe – 6pm – 10pm

FEBRUARY 2017

• Monday, February 27, 2017 – Guest Speaking, St. Joe’s High School
• Wednesday, February 22, 2017 – Hardcover Radio, Interview for Podcast
• Wednesday, February 15, 2017 – By The River Poetry & Prose Series, Riverside Public Library, Windsor, ON, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
• Saturday, February 11, 2017 – All Four Love – Poetry Reading w/ Dinner! 7pm -10pm, Thames Art Gallery, Chatham, ON
• 
• Tuesday, February 7, 2016 – Rowers Reading Series, 6:30pm, Rowers Pub, Toronto

JANUARY 2017

• Friday, Janaury 27, 2017, School Visit, Marlborough Public School, 1-3pm
• Tuesday, January 17, 2017, Art Bar Reading Series, 8pm, Free Times Cafe, 320 College Street, Toronto, ON w/ Claudio Duran & Diana Manole
• Saturday, January 14, 2017, Book Signing @Chapters Devonshire Mall – 1pm -4pm

DECEMBER 2016

• Friday, December 16, 2016 – Merry Christmas Baby, Glass Monkey Studios. 1378 Ottawa St, Windsor, 8pm, 19+ – $20 tickets! I’ll be reading poetry!

• Thursday, December 15, 2016 – Poetry In Voice – judge, St. Joe’s High School
• Tuesday, December 13, 2016 – Yoga Recess Holiday Party, Poetry On Demand, 5pm -7pm, 4050 Walker Road, Windsor
• Sunday, December 4, 2016, 7pm @ The Rondo, 633 Park St., Windsor, Mouthpiece Storytelling Master Mouth-Off Event!

NOVEMBER 2016

• Friday, November 25, 2016, 7pm – 9pm, The Steady, Toronto, ON – LAST STOP ON THE BOOK TOUR!!

• Saturday, November 19, 2016 – Bookapalooza, 10am – 3pm, Whitby, ON
• 
• Sunday, November 13, 2016 – Junction Reads
• 
• Thursday, November 3 – Sunday, November 6, 2016 – BookFest Windsor

OCTOBER 2016

• Sunday, October 30, 2016, Junction Reads, Toronto, ON
• Thursday, October 27, 2016, Poetry At The Manor, 7pm, Poetry On Demand
• Monday, October 24, 2016, Writing Workshop/Book signing, 7pm – 8:30pm, Budimir Library, Windsor, ON Facebook Event page click here!

• Tuesday, October 18, 2016, 6:30pm – 8:30pm, Reading & Book Signing with Liz Worth and Jessica Popeski, Ben McNally Bookstore 366 Bay Street, Toronto, ON  Facebook Event Page here!

• Tuesday, October 18, 2016, HOWL Radio Show, 10pm – 11pm, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
• Friday, October 14, 2016, Poetry Reading, 7pm – 9pm, Black Water Coffee Company, Sarnia, ON – Facebook Event page here! 

• Tuesday, October 11, 2016, Tree Reading Series, Ottawa, ON Profile here! Location: Gallery 101
• Monday, October 3, 2016, Poetry Reading, 7pm, The Phoenix Cafe, Hazel Park, Michigan Facebook Event page here! 

• Sunday, October 2, 2016, Black Moss Press Poetry Reading, 5pm – 7pm, Storytellers Book Store, 1473 Ottawa St., Windsor, ON Facebook Event Page here!

SEPTEMBER 2016

• Thursday, September 22, 2016 – Look At Her, Book Launch, Studio Theatre, University of Windsor Drama Building, 7m – 9pm, Windsor, ON Facebook Event Page here!

• Saturday, September 10, 2016 – ‘How-To’ Festival, Windsor Public Library, 11am- 2pm, Windsor, ON
• Thursday, September 8 – Saturday, September 10, 2016 – Scattered Ecstasies, SHO Art, Spirit & Performance, Windsor, ON

JULY 2016

• Sunday, July 17, 2016 – Open Streets, City of Windsor, 9am – 1pm, Pelissier – Poetry on Demand (With Windsor Poetry Slam

JUNE 2016

• Thursday, June 30, 2016 – Mouth Piece – The Music Edition @ Phog Lounge, 7:30pm – 1opm
• 

• Sunday, June 24, 2016 – 6:30pm – Guest Poet – Windsor Poetry Slam Finals – Phog Lounge – $5.oo admission

• Thursday, June 15th-19th, 2016 – Canadian Writers Summit, Toronto, ON, Panel – Making Our Own Solutions: The Writer as Cultural Agent (Fri. June 17th – 4pm – 6pm, Harbourfront)

MAY 2016

• Thursday, May 17th, 2016 – Slam-A-Phobia – poetry reading and Windsor Pride Event – 7pm @Walkerville Brewery

• Thursday, May 12, 2016 – Creative Process, Guest Lecture, University of Windsor, 5:30pm – 7pm

APRIL 2016 -National Poetry Month

• Monday, April 1, 2016 – Guest Speaking All-day workshop – Colchester North Public School (Writers-In-The-School Program, Writers’ Union of Canada)
• Monday, April 11, 2016 – Mouth Piece Storytelling – ‘The Road’, The Foundry Pub, 7:3opm, Free Admission

• Saturday, April 16, 2016 – Phog Lounge – Poetry Reading – 6:30pm – with Christian Laforest, Ben Van Dongen, Melanie Janisse-Barlow, and Joey Ouellette
• 

MARCH 2016

• Wednesday, March 30, 2016 – Battle of Bards (IFOA/Poetry NOW) – 7:30pm, Harborfront Centre,  235 Queens Quay West, Toronto M5J 2G8

  Cost: $10/FREE supporters, students & youth 25 and under Link: http://ifoa.org/events/poetry-now-8th-annual-battle-of-the-bards

• Friday, March 11, 2016 – 5pm – 9pm – Write On Rural (Poetry On Demand, Workshop/Dinner), Crazy 8 Barn, 14222 Talbot Rd, Palmyra – panel discussion with Ray Robertson, Dan Wells, Marty Gervais and Kara Smith.

• Saturday, March 5th, 2016, 8pm – Windsor/St.Clair Rotary StorySlam – Guest Storyteller, Judge
• 

FEBRUARY 2016

• Tuesday, February 23, 2016 – 7:30pm @ The Foundry Pub, Downtown Windsor, Mouth Piece Storytelling – Host – With Special Guest Storyteller John Wing Jr.  – visit www.mouthpiecestories.com for all details. *Free Event*
• 

• Saturday, February 20, 2016 – Poetry On Demand at The Art Gallery of Windsor – 12noon – 2pm
• 

• Writing & Parenting Blog – Starts at the League of Canadian Poetry website! Yay! More details to follow!
• Chair, Pat Lowther Memorial Award Jury, League of Canadian Poetry – continued

JANUARY 2016

• Thursday, January 21, 2016 – Eastwood Public School – All-day workshop – Writers-in-the-School Program, Writers’ Union of Canada
• Chair, Pat Lowther Memorial Award Jury, League of Canadian Poetry – continued

DECEMBER 2015

• Tuesday, December 29, 2015 – Mouth Piece – ‘Home for the Holidaze’ – 7:30pm, Vesta Pizzeria, 770 Erie Street, Windsor, ON
• 

• Thursday, December 10, 2015 – Poetry In Voice Judge, St. Joe’s High School, 12:30pm – 2:45pm
• Tuesday, December 8, 2015 – Jean Foster Award Ceremony, Literary Arts Windsor, 7pm

NOVEMBER 2015

• From the Page to the Stage – Tuesday, November 10, 2015, Performance of ‘Momifesto’, 8pm, Atelier Virginianne, 1078 Drouillard Rd, $10 tix

• Poetry At The Manor – Thursday, November 12, 2015 – Willistead Manor, 7pm-9pm – Poetry On Demand 

OCTOBER 2015

• Thursday, October 1, 2015 – 7pm – Atelier Virginianne, 1078 Drouillard, Black Moss Press reading

• Friday, October 16, 2015 – Scattered Ecstasies, Sho Gallery, 628 Monmouth 

• Thursday, October 15 – Sunday, October 18, 2015 – BookFest Windsor! Various events. www.bookfestwindsor.com

• Thursday, October 22, 2015 – Ojibway Park – Guest Lecture for Massey Secondary (Students) (Poets in the School)

• Friday, October 23, 2015 – Marlborough Elementary School – Guest Speaking – Gr. 7/8s (Poets in the School)

• Thursday, October 29, 2015 – Glenwood Elementary  School – Guest Speaking – Gr. 7/8s (Poets in the School)

SEPTEMBER 2015

• Thursday, September 10, 2015 – Hosting Mouth Piece Mouth Off #2 – Food! @ Rino’s Kitchen. 7:30pm. Windsor, On See website for details! http://www.mouthpiecestories.com

• Sunday, September 27, 2015 – 100,00 Poets for Change, 2pm, Mackenzie Hall, Windsor, ON

• Saturday, September 26, 2015 @ 1-3pm- Word Up! at Maclaren Art Centre for Carnegie Days (and Culture Days) Festival, Barrie, ON Poetry reading with Anna Yin and Nalini Warrier – Focus on life stories – personal exploration on culture, history and memory – LINK HERE: http://maclarenart.com/events/talks-tours-and-film-screenings/word-up

AUGUST 2015

• Rest and relaxation with family and friends…oh, and finish that darn novel!

JULY 2015

• Sunday, July 12, 2015 – Pelee Island, Pelee Island Music Series – Workshop: The Writer’s Process, followed by reading. Music by Trevor Malcolm.

JUNE 2015

• Friday, June 12, 2o15 – Mouth Piece Storytelling – Event Kick-off – Villains – 7pm – Facebook Event Page!

• Sunday, June 21, 2015, Art Fundraiser for Save Ojibway Group – 7pm -10pm, Poetry On Demand, Milk Coffee Bar 68 University W

MAY 2015

• Tuesday, May 12, 2015 – Ring Weavers – From the Page to the Stage – Short Story ‘Prell’ to be performed.  Atelier Virgianne, 1078 Drouillard Rd. Windsor, ON 8pm

• Wednesday, May 13, 2015 – Poetry On Demand, Teen Zone, Windsor Public Library – 3:14-4:45pm

• Thursday, May 14, 2015 – Interview with Nancy Duffy at The Nancy Duffy Show! Podcast to post!

• Tuesday, May 19, 2015, The Creative Process, Guest lecture, University of Windsor

• Friday, May 22, 2015 – Glenwood Elementary School, Guest lecture

• Thursday, May 28 – Sunday, May 31, 2015 – The Writers’ Union of Canada and League of Canadian Poets joint AGM and Conference, Winnipeg

APRIL 2015 – National Poetry Month!

• Wednesday, April 8, 2015, Poetry on Demand, 7pm, Caboto Club of Windsor, Made In Windsor Book Launch, (University of Windsor students)

• Sunday, April 12, 2015 – Poetry Reading, Art Gallery of Windsor

• Sunday, April 19, 2015 – Junction Writes Reading Series, Toronto, ON, 4pm-7pm, 3030 Dundas

MARCH 2015

• Thursday, March 5, 2015 – Rotary Breakfast Club – Windsor Yacht Club – ‘Literacy Talk’

• Friday, March 6, 2015 – Breaking Barriers Sponsored by Art-Indeed Wellness Through Creativity, 7-9pm, Leamington Art Centre

• Saturday, March 14, 2015 – Book Club Event – Vito’s Pizzeria

• Sunday, March 15, 2015 – Pillette Village Reading Series – 2pm – 4pm

• Wednesday, March 25, 2015 – Battle of the Bards!

FEBRUARY 2015

• Monday, February 9, 2015 – Glenwood Elementary School – Gr 7/8s

• Friday, February 27 – 28th, 2015 – Poetry Reading in Highgate, ON

JANUARY 2015

• Wednesday, January 14, 2015 – Judge – Poetry In Voice Competition – St. Joe’s High School

• Sunday, January 18, 2015 – 11am – 2pm – CREW Winery – Bagels, Bards & Chards Poetry Reading

DECEMBER

• Wednesday, December 10th, 2014 – Biblioasis Holiday Salon & Shmoozer, 6pm -9pm – 1520 Wyandotte St. E. 
  

• Sunday, December 28th, 2014, Phog Lounge, 8pm, Grown Ups Read Things They Wrote As Kids WINDSOR EDITION!  Facebook Event Page Here

NOVEMBER

• Thursday, November 6, Friday, November 7th, and Monday, November 9th, 2014 – Guest Lecture,  Massey Secondary School, English Class

• Saturday, November 8th, 2014 – Bluewater Reading Series, Sarnia, ON,  3pm-5pm

• Thursday, November 13, 204 – 1-2:3opm – Guest Lecture, Glenwood Elementary School

• Thursday, November 20th, 2014 – Odyssey Award Dinner – Recipient – University of Windsor Alumni Association

OCTOBER

• Thursday, October 2nd – Writing for Digital Media – University of Windsor, Guest lecture

• POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! Wednesday, October 8, 2014 – 7pm – Poetry At The Manor, Willistead Manor, Windsor, ON w/ Poets Laureates and Other Special Guests

• The Art of Business and the Business of Art
  Date: Thursday, October 16, 2014
  Time: 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. (approx.)
  Venue: Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator (DWBA)
  Address: 720 Ouellette Avenue, Windsor, Ontario N9A 1C2 (click for map)

• Saturday, October 18th, 2014 – Interview with Chris Hadfield! Windsor Symphony Orchestra event

• Thursday, October 23rd, 2014, BookFest Windsor – Small Press Showcase – Panel Member, Walkerville Theatre

• Saturday, October 25th, 2014, BookFest Windsor – Student Writers Awards – Moderating, The Capitol Theatre

SEPTEMBER

• Monday, September 8, 2014 – Interview with Kurt Sasso – on Podcast – Two Geeks Talking

• Tuesday, September 16, 2014 – Art Bar Reading Series – Toronto

• 
  Friday, September 19th and Saturday, September 20th – 8pm – Scattered Ecstasies, SHO Gallery – Poetry On Demand

• Saturday, September 27th, 2014 – 100 Thousand Poets for Change Windsor/Essex, Windsor, ON, Mackenzie Hall, 7pm-10pm https://www.facebook.com/events/1450494778560923/

AUGUST

• Thursday, August 21, 2014 – Port Dover – The Beatles Festival & Poetry Reading

• Sunday, August 10th – 6pm – Pelee Island Winery, Pelee Island- Poetry Reading

JULY

• Hmmmm….

JUNE

• Friday, June 6, 2104

Guest lecture at Massey Secondary School – English Students – ‘On Editing’

MAY

• Monday, May 5th, 2014

Guest lecture with Massey Secondary School English students @ Ojibway Nature Centre

• Tuesday, May 13, 2014 – 5:30pm

Reading at The Art Bar in Toronto!!! 8pm! *POSTPONED TO TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16!

• Wednesday, May 28th, 2014

• Thursday, May 29 – Sunday, June 1st, 2014

The Writers’ Union of Canada AGM ‘OnWords’ Conference

• Friday, May 30th, 2014

Workshop Panelist: The Art of Presenting: Reading & Performance (with Charis Cotter, moderator Amy House)

APRIL

IT’S NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

• Monday, April 7th

Glenwood Elementary – Speaking to grade 8s about poetry.

• Tuesday, April 15th

St.Clair College MediaPlex – ‘Live’ Interview on cable show!

• Thursday, April 24th – Friday, April 25th 

Reading in Port Dover, ON

• Monday, April 28th

Guest Speaker St. Joe’s High School

MARCH

• Saturday, March 22nd, 2014

Entrepreneurship Practice and Innovation Centre Workshop “The Business of Art: How to Make Money Doing What You Love”. Guest Speaker 2:45pm – 3:30pm.

• Thursday, March 13th, 2014 

Guest lecturer – Oakland University, Oakland, MI

FEBRUARY

• Friday, February 21, 2014

• Wednesday, February 19th, 2014

Guiding student winners of the Poetry in Voice Recitation contest on performance and presentation at St. Joe’s High School.

• Monday, February 3, 2014

Publishing Practicum class – University of Windsor – Judging the debate between English majors and business majors on the “usefulness” of poetry.

JANUARY

• Monday, January 13, 2014

University of Windsor, Editing & Publishing Class – Guest Speaker

• Tuesday, January 14, 2014

St. Joseph’s High School – Judge for Poetry In Voice poetry recitation contest

• Thursday, January 16, 2014

Cranberry Tress Press ‘Happenstance’ Anthology Launch @ The Caged Squirrel

• Monday, January 20th, 2014

Poetry On Demand for Windsor Regional Hospital ‘Spa Day’

1/2 day at Metropolitan Campus, 1/2 day at Ouellette Campus

• Tuesday, January 21, 2014

University of Windsor, Creative Writing Class – Guest Speaker

• Thursday, January 23, 2014 

Official Book Launch for ‘I Am That Woman’

•  Saturday, January 25, 2014

MudPuppy Gallery ‘Beat Night’: An evening of original poetry, music and storytelling.  Held at the Dowtown Espresso Cafe in Amhersburg, 264 Dalhousie.  Admission $3.00 per person.

2013

• Monday, December 9, 2013

Glenwood Elementary School – Visit Grade 8 students. Conversation about ‘The First 250 Words’.

• Saturday, December 14th, 2013

Cost: $17.00 – BUT ON SALE FOR $15.00

CASH ONLY PLEASE!