Randall Maggs
Encyclopedia
Randall Maggs is a Canadian poet and former professor of English Literature
at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College of Memorial University, in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. He is one of the organizers and now artistic director of the March Hare, the largest literary festival in Atlantic Canada.
. The son of an Royal Canadian Air Force
officer, his family lived on bases in Western Canada while he was growing up. He later joined the forces himself as a pilot. He left to travel through Europe and North Africa and then return to university to do graduate work at Dalhousie
and the University of New Brunswick
.
.
Maggs' poetry has appeared in the 1994 collection, Timely Departures (Breakwater) and in several reviews and anthologies, such as Poetry Ireland Review, Coastlines: The Poetry of Atlantic Canada and Stephen Brunt's
The Way It Looks from Here: Contemporary Canadian Writing on Sport and the March Hare Anthology (Breakwater, 2007). He has co-edited two anthologies of Irish
and Newfoundland & Labrador poetry: However Blow the Winds (WIT & Scop, 2004) and The Echoing Years, published in 2007.
A collection of poems, entitled Night Work: The Sawchuk Poems, was launched in early 2008 at Toronto's Hockey Hall of Fame
and included in the Globe and Mail’s “Top 100 Books” for that year. A short film was produced with Randall Maggs, based on his book. Titled "Night Work: A Sawchuk Poem" the 4-minute film was premiered at the launch of the book, screened at the Atlantic Film Festival, and toured nationally with Moving Stories Film Festival. The short is directed by Justin Simms, with a screenplay by Greg Spottiswood, co-produced with Judith Keenan of BookShorts Literacy Program. In 2009, Night Work won the Winterset Award and E.J. Pratt Poetry Prize, and in 2010, the Kobzar Literary Award.
Maggs' close connection with Ireland was recognized in the Spring of 2007 when he was awarded a Coracle Fellowship to work in that country. An accomplished woodworker, he took part in the 2001 Ireland/Newfoundland exhibition, Wood: A Sculptual Investigation. One of his major pieces is the Black Rod used in Canadian Senate
ceremonies.
, Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate
.
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College of Memorial University, in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. He is one of the organizers and now artistic director of the March Hare, the largest literary festival in Atlantic Canada.
Early life
Maggs was born in VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. The son of an Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
officer, his family lived on bases in Western Canada while he was growing up. He later joined the forces himself as a pilot. He left to travel through Europe and North Africa and then return to university to do graduate work at Dalhousie
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
and the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
.
Academic and writing career
Since the late 1970s, he has lived on the west coast of Newfoundland, where he taught Literature and Creative Writing at Memorial University's Grenfell CollegeGrenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Grenfell Campus, formerly referred to as Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, is a Canadian liberal arts and science university located in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador....
.
Maggs' poetry has appeared in the 1994 collection, Timely Departures (Breakwater) and in several reviews and anthologies, such as Poetry Ireland Review, Coastlines: The Poetry of Atlantic Canada and Stephen Brunt's
Stephen Brunt
Stephen Brunt is a Canadian sports journalist, well known as a leading columnist for The Globe and Mail and as co-host to Bob McCown on Prime Time Sports.- Journalist :...
The Way It Looks from Here: Contemporary Canadian Writing on Sport and the March Hare Anthology (Breakwater, 2007). He has co-edited two anthologies of Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and Newfoundland & Labrador poetry: However Blow the Winds (WIT & Scop, 2004) and The Echoing Years, published in 2007.
A collection of poems, entitled Night Work: The Sawchuk Poems, was launched in early 2008 at Toronto's Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
and included in the Globe and Mail’s “Top 100 Books” for that year. A short film was produced with Randall Maggs, based on his book. Titled "Night Work: A Sawchuk Poem" the 4-minute film was premiered at the launch of the book, screened at the Atlantic Film Festival, and toured nationally with Moving Stories Film Festival. The short is directed by Justin Simms, with a screenplay by Greg Spottiswood, co-produced with Judith Keenan of BookShorts Literacy Program. In 2009, Night Work won the Winterset Award and E.J. Pratt Poetry Prize, and in 2010, the Kobzar Literary Award.
Maggs' close connection with Ireland was recognized in the Spring of 2007 when he was awarded a Coracle Fellowship to work in that country. An accomplished woodworker, he took part in the 2001 Ireland/Newfoundland exhibition, Wood: A Sculptual Investigation. One of his major pieces is the Black Rod used in Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
ceremonies.
Poem of the month
Maggs' poem "How things look in a losing streak" was chosen as Poem of the Month on February 11, 2008 by John StefflerJohn Steffler
-Biography:Born in Toronto, Ontario, Steffler was educated at the University of Toronto and the University of Guelph. Since 1975 he has lived in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador where he taught at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College...
, Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate
Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate
-Role:According to the laureate's official Web site: "The Poet’s role is to encourage and promote the importance of literature, culture and language in Canadian society...
.
External links
- Sir Wilfred Grenfell College (January 22, 2008) Grenfell English professor publishes book of hockey poetry. SWGC News Release.
- Brick Books http://www.brickbooks.ca/?page_id=3&bookid=170