Betsy Warland
Encyclopedia
Betsy Warland is a Canadian
writer
and poet
.
in Art and Education at Luther College
in Decorah, Iowa
, Warland studied at Pennsylvania
's State College before immigrating to Canada in 1972. In 1975, she initiated the Toronto Women's Writing Collective, which lasted until 1981. In 1980, Warland became a Canadian citizen and three years later, in 1983, Warland initiated and helped to organize the Women and Words/Les femmes et les mots conference in British Columbia
. The conference proceedings were later converted into book form through In the Feminine: Women and Words Conference Proceedings. Warland was also a participant in the Federation of BC Writers
, one of the largest writer's associations in Canada. This participation continues to this day. Involved in the development of arts in general, Warland also contributed to the Special Council Committee on the Arts for the Vancouver City Council
.
Much of Warland's contributions to literature have been in the form of essays (and collections thereof), poems and books relating to feminism
, women's studies
and lesbian
issues. In 1991, Press Gang Publishers
produced InVersions: Writing by Dykes, Queers and Lesbians, a collection of essays by Canadian and American writers, edited by Betsy Warland. From 1993 to 1994, Betsy Warland was the writer in residence at the Saskatoon Public Library, in Saskatoon
, Saskatchewan
. This position was in partnership with the Saskatoon Public Library and the Canada Council
.
Warland continues to participate in writing projects and frequently runs talks and sessions such as the Vancouver Manuscript Intensive. A set of Warland's personal documents, interviews, photographs and manuscripts acquired in 1996 currently reside in the Library and Archives Canada
's literary archives.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Life
Betsy Warland obtained a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Art and Education at Luther College
Luther College (Iowa)
Luther College is a four-year, residential liberal arts institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, located in Decorah, Iowa, USA...
in Decorah, Iowa
Decorah, Iowa
Decorah is a city in and the county seat of Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8,172 at the 2000 census. Decorah is located at the intersection of State Highway 9 and U.S...
, Warland studied at Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
's State College before immigrating to Canada in 1972. In 1975, she initiated the Toronto Women's Writing Collective, which lasted until 1981. In 1980, Warland became a Canadian citizen and three years later, in 1983, Warland initiated and helped to organize the Women and Words/Les femmes et les mots conference in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. The conference proceedings were later converted into book form through In the Feminine: Women and Words Conference Proceedings. Warland was also a participant in the Federation of BC Writers
Federation of BC Writers
The Federation of BC Writers is the largest writers organization in British Columbia, Canada. Its stated goals are to foster the art and profession of writing in British Columbia; to generate a sense of community among British Columbia writers; to provide support for writers at all stages of their...
, one of the largest writer's associations in Canada. This participation continues to this day. Involved in the development of arts in general, Warland also contributed to the Special Council Committee on the Arts for the Vancouver City Council
Vancouver City Council
Vancouver City Council is the governing body of the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.The city is governed by the Vancouver Charter, not the Community Charter and the Local Government Act which are used for other municipal governments...
.
Much of Warland's contributions to literature have been in the form of essays (and collections thereof), poems and books relating to feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
, women's studies
Women's studies
Women's studies, also known as feminist studies, is an interdisciplinary academic field which explores politics, society and history from an intersectional, multicultural women's perspective...
and lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
issues. In 1991, Press Gang Publishers
Press Gang Publishers
Press Gang Publishing was a [feminist]] printing and publishing collective active in [Vancouver, BC, Canada between the early 1970s and 2002.-Early history:...
produced InVersions: Writing by Dykes, Queers and Lesbians, a collection of essays by Canadian and American writers, edited by Betsy Warland. From 1993 to 1994, Betsy Warland was the writer in residence at the Saskatoon Public Library, in Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. This position was in partnership with the Saskatoon Public Library and the Canada Council
Canada Council
The Canada Council for the Arts, commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an arts council of the government of Canada, created to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. It funds Canadian artists and...
.
Warland continues to participate in writing projects and frequently runs talks and sessions such as the Vancouver Manuscript Intensive. A set of Warland's personal documents, interviews, photographs and manuscripts acquired in 1996 currently reside in the Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada is a national memory institution dedicated to providing the best possible account of Canadian life through acquiring, preserving and making Canada's documentary heritage accessible for use in the 21st century and beyond...
's literary archives.