Spoken Word Canada
Encyclopedia
Spoken Word Canada, also referred to as SpoCan, is an organization of spoken word
performers and organizers. Formed from a committee of city representatives at the 2004 Canadian Spoken Wordlympics in Ottawa, Ontario
, SpoCan's mission is to "nurture, develop and advance spoken word artists, the professional spoken word community and the art of spoken word in Canada." SpoCan is also responsible for producing the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word
each fall.
The organization is governed by a Board of Directors composed of the National Director, the Past National Director, members of the Executive Committee, three Members-at-Large, and two local representatives from each of the sixteen communities represented on the Board: Victoria
, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, London
, Guelph
, Kitchener-Waterloo
, Burlington
, Toronto, Peterborough
, Lanark County
, Ottawa, Montreal, and Halifax. According to SpoCan's bylaws, new cities can be added to the SpoCan Board when "at least one arts organization and/or performance series from that city formally agrees to participate in SpoCan. The addition of representation from a new city must be ratified by a majority vote of the Board."
Individuals can also become members of SpoCan by registering with the National Director.
SpoCan has operated its national festival in each of the past seven years—in 2004 as the Canadian Spoken Wordlympics (in Ottawa), and from 2005 to 2010 as the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word (2005 in Vancouver, 2006 in Toronto, 2007 in Halifax, 2008 in Calgary, 2009 in Victoria and 2010 in Ottawa). Future editions of CFSW are in the planning stages for 2011 in Toronto and 2012 in Saskatoon.
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
performers and organizers. Formed from a committee of city representatives at the 2004 Canadian Spoken Wordlympics in Ottawa, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, SpoCan's mission is to "nurture, develop and advance spoken word artists, the professional spoken word community and the art of spoken word in Canada." SpoCan is also responsible for producing the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word
Canadian Festival of Spoken Word
The Canadian Festival of Spoken Word is an annual festival produced by Spoken Word Canada and planned by a local Festival Organizing Committee in each host city....
each fall.
The organization is governed by a Board of Directors composed of the National Director, the Past National Director, members of the Executive Committee, three Members-at-Large, and two local representatives from each of the sixteen communities represented on the Board: Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Guelph
Guelph, Ontario
Guelph is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Known as "The Royal City", Guelph is roughly east of Waterloo and west of downtown Toronto at the intersection of Highway 6 and Highway 7. It is the seat of Wellington County, but is politically independent of it...
, Kitchener-Waterloo
Regional Municipality of Waterloo
The Regional Municipality of Waterloo is a regional municipality located in Southern Ontario, Canada. It consists of the cities of Kitchener, Cambridge, and Waterloo, and the townships of Wellesley, Woolwich, Wilmot, and North Dumfries. It is often referred to as the Region of Waterloo or just...
, Burlington
Burlington, Ontario
Burlington , is a city located in Halton Region at the western end of Lake Ontario. Burlington is part of the Greater Toronto Area, and is also included in the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area. Physically, Burlington lies between the north shore of Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment...
, Toronto, Peterborough
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
, Lanark County
Lanark County, Ontario
Lanark County is a county located in the Canadian province of Ontario. As of 2006, the population is 63,785. Its county seat is Perth.The county took its name from the town of Lanark in Scotland.-Geography:...
, Ottawa, Montreal, and Halifax. According to SpoCan's bylaws, new cities can be added to the SpoCan Board when "at least one arts organization and/or performance series from that city formally agrees to participate in SpoCan. The addition of representation from a new city must be ratified by a majority vote of the Board."
Individuals can also become members of SpoCan by registering with the National Director.
SpoCan has operated its national festival in each of the past seven years—in 2004 as the Canadian Spoken Wordlympics (in Ottawa), and from 2005 to 2010 as the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word (2005 in Vancouver, 2006 in Toronto, 2007 in Halifax, 2008 in Calgary, 2009 in Victoria and 2010 in Ottawa). Future editions of CFSW are in the planning stages for 2011 in Toronto and 2012 in Saskatoon.