iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Poet Melissa Powless Day joined me on The Lit Room @ckcufm.bsky.social to talk about A Bow Forged From Ash (@palimpsestpress.bsky.social )! Catch Melissa @versefestottawa.bsky.social this Tuesday night 20:30. cod.ckcufm.com/programs/666...

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

I first heard the amazing #NitaProse discuss The Maid in Iceland, but she’ll be here, in #Ottawa, tomorrow, @writersfest.bsky.social. Highly recommended!

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Café Wim was one of my favourite places when I first moved to Ottawa, so I was delighted to find references in works by Colin McAdam and Andre Alexis. Join me next weekend @janeswalk.bsky.social #Ottawa to find out more #WriteOttwa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Here, Cameron Anstee reflects on some of his early work, on and about Frank Street: “the building’s foundation, slowly / giving way to one hundred years and more / I will never be older than this room / large enough to hold our books…” #WriteOttawa @versefest-ottawa.bsky.social

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Writer and #Ottawa Poet Laureate David O’Meara on Elgin St. yesterday: “sub-zero, / overnight, a brocade of frost / on storefront glass. He died in / a doorway, his home a thin / sleeping bag in a city of rooms.” Thank you David for this. @versefest-ottawa.bsky.social #WriteOttawa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

elegy for a friend, by @amandaearl.bsky.social: ~ how do we reflect on that which we hold dear, and grief, and loss. Thank you Amanda for sharing this on what turned out to be such a timely day. @versefest-ottawa.bsky.social #WriteOttawa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Jean Van Loon took us into the mind of JR Booth via her book #BuildingOnRiver (@cormorantbooks.bsky.social) while we stood on Parliament Hill, imagined it before there were buildings, and dreaming big dreams. Thanks to @versefest-ottawa.bsky.social and everyone who joined us today! #WriteOttawa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Next, Sneha Madhavan-Reese read from #ElementaryParticles and shared her very moving piece, Nathan Cirillo. We paused, stood in silence. @versefest-ottawa.bsky.social #WriteOttawa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

From today’s adventure —“there are some in every crowd” (Natalie Hanna, in lisan al’asfour, ARP Books 2022) - thank you to @battleaxepress.bsky.social for joining us today to explore #Ottawa in Verse, with many thanks also to @versefest-ottawa.bsky.social; #AwesomeOttawa; #WriteOttawa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

So excited to do this! We’re capping registration so we can avoid poetry through a megaphone. Ottawa has such great talent, and it’s fascinating to see how poets reflect on place in their work.

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

I’d rather it look like spring outside, and be eating tacos in St. Luke’s Park, but we can dream — here’s an excerpt from #Ottawa poet laureate David O’Meara’s The Tennis Courts in Winter #WriteOttawa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Vivian Vavassis’ Friday Poem (after @robmclennan.bsky.social) (in @arcpoetry.bsky.social) “so, you see, i have to believe there are saints in #ottawa walking along #elgin or bank among the guitar players & bums & busy entrepreneurs; their heads down and hurried hoping not to be outed….” #writeottawa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

elegy for a friend by @amandaearl.bsky.social “I’d been wandering the Farm Boy at Metcalfe and Lisgar holding a bunch of golden beets by the stems, conjuring up recipes with sweet potatoes and red onions, thinking of the salads I could make…” #writeottawa

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Reposted by Susan Johnston

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

BREAKING & BIG: Today in PARIS, citizens voted in a referendum to PEDESTRIANIZE 500 MORE of the city's streets, giving fresh momentum to efforts by city leaders to create people-places, curb car usage, and improve air quality. 66% of Parisians voted in favour of the measure, official results showed!

reuters.com

Paris residents vote in favour of making 500 more streets pedestrian

Parisians voted in a referendum on Sunday to pedestrianise a further 500 of the city's streets, giving fresh momentum to efforts by the French capital's left-leaning town hall to curb car usage and improve air quality.

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Also, I’m looking for a full copy of Michael #Fraser’s #poem Things to Do around #Ottawa when you're Black. It made the #CBC Poetry longlist; the first lines (see here: www.cbc.ca/books/litera...) are magic and I really want to read the whole thing so wonder if folks might help me source?

cbc.ca

Things to Do around Ottawa when you're Black by Michael Fraser | CBC Books

Michael Fraser has made the 2023 CBC Poetry Prize longlist for Things to Do around Ottawa when you're Black.

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Hello #Ottawa #writer friends - I have a poem by Raymond #Souster (“Farewell to Teaching” — references Dunton Tower at #Carleton and Dow’s Lake) and am trying to figure out whether it was included in one of his manuscripts. So far no luck. Any advice? #WriteOttawa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

I wish I could time travel to visit (among other things) gathering spots of #Ottawa past. Murray’s at the #LordElgin served up gossip and intrigue before my time. Here’s some spice from #HughHood in The Motor Boys in Ottawa. #WriteOttawa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Thinking back to the construction of the #Chinatown arch and the vibrancy it offers the neighbourhood. Appreciating @jcyliew.bsky.social’s visceral characterizations of it, and some of my favourite hangouts in #Dandelion @arsenalpulp.bsky.social. #WriteOttawa.

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Misty-eyed in the Library of Parliament with #TerryFallis in The Best Laid Plans… #WriteOttawa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Around the #RideauCanal locks near Parliament Hill with #AlanCumyn in Burridge Unbound #WriteOttawa.

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Going for a ride on the #RideauCanal with author #JoanneProulx… can’t wait for spring! #WriteOttawa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Druids! And druids running around downtown Ottawa. J. McCurdy’s #fantasy The Serpent’s Egg features some great chase scenes #WriteOttawa.

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Colin McAdam’s Fall makes reference to boarding school kids drinking at the former Earl of Sussex pub #WriteOttawa.

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

There’s a small #spoileralert here, in this second of two pieces about the Alexandra Bridge from #TerryFallis’ The High Road. #WriteOttawa.

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Next up, two pieces of spice about the Alexandria Bridge, starting with Mary Jane Maffini’s mystery around #Bluesfest. #WriteOttawa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Gwen Tuinman takes us back to when the #RideauCanal was brand new in her 2024 novel Unrest… #WriteOttawa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

I’ll never know if I took a cab that William Hawkins was driving, but glad to finally work through his poems. Here’s a take on the canal #WriteOttawa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Anita Lahey’s work references many #Ottawa settings… here’s a piece about what later became the William Commanda bridge #WriteOttawa. Looking forward to biking across it again soon.

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Here’s a piece from #KatieTallo’s Poison Lillies, partially set at the Ambassador Court in the #Glebe. #WriteOttawa.

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Starting off today’s #WriteOttawa collection with some romantic action at the #LordElginHotel, with thanks to the late Elisabeth Harvor.

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Reposted by Susan Johnston

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

“Someone with a 1-hr car commute needs to earn 40% more to be as happy as someone with a short walk to work. On the other hand, if someone shifts from a long commute to a walk, their happiness increases as much as if they’d fallen in love.” #CityMakingMath 50 reasons to want more walkable streets.

fastcompany.com

50 Reasons Why Everyone Should Want More Walkable Streets

From making you live longer to making cities more resilient: If you want a reason to make your city more walkable, it's in here.

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Reposted by Susan Johnston

VERSe Ottawa / VERSeFest (prior account lost, @versefest-ottawa.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

OUR FESTIVAL SCHEDULE IS NOW FULLY ONLINE: March 25-29, 2025: Check out the schedule for the fifteenth annual VERSeFest: Ottawa's International Poetry Festival! tickets, evening passes + festival passes! and of course, donations are always welcome (we even issue tax receipts). www.verseottawa.ca

verseottawa.ca

Verse Ottawa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Next up here on #CKCU, @ayelettsabari.bsky.social talks about her magical new novel, Songs for the Brokenhearted, about song, love, and uncovering (our) family stories.

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Reposted by Susan Johnston

rob mclennan @robmclennan.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

save the date(s): VERSeFest: Ottawa's International Poetry Festival! March 25-29, 2025 : Eileen Myles! Chelene Knight! Pamela Mosher! Oana Avasilichioaei! etc (with more information to come) @versefest-ottawa.bsky.social ; www.verseottawa.ca/en/versefest

verseottawa.ca

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Adding in some #WriteOttawa pieces that I’d missed sharing here before. First up: Nina Berkhout’s reference to Maman at @nationalgallerycan.bsky.social

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Last one for tonight. Several folks recommended walking through the Glebe as seen in Charles de Lint’s books. Here’s a piece from #Moonheart. #WriteOttawa.

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Cold War action at the Chateau Laurier in Joyce Wayne’s Last Night of the World. #WriteOttawa.

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Here’s a unique view of the Experimental Farm, courtesy of @jrrrremy.bsky.social’s Death and the Intern. #WriteOttawa.

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

One of the most fun places to start is probably with Ian Fleming. Here’s the moment when #JamesBond visited the Parliament Buildings. #WriteOttawa.

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

I’ve had good luck collecting quotes from fiction and poetry set in Ottawa. I’m starting to share quotes, in no particular order, and have a bit of a backlog to share here. #WriteOttawa.

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Thanks @michaelblouin.bsky.social for joining Micah and I at #CKCU to talk about #HardElectric, and doing the interview in the middle of a power failure — it was awesome to watch you turn on your flashlight and just. keep. reading! Interview is now posted and available via ckcufm.com.

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

“After leaving the safe house, I walked along the #canal all the way to the lift-iron bridge, the one I’d crossed with Zabotin a few days ago, before he’d told me about the atomic diagrams and how he’d concealed them from the Director. I continued on to #Elgin Street.” #JoyceWayne #WriteOttawa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

I was sure someone had told me that #HughHood had set some of his #CanLit fiction in #Ottawa, but I’m not finding it here. Can anyone suggest particular works? #WriteOttawa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

The first piece of #Ottawa fiction I’ve come across that references National Defence HQ. Thank you @alastairluft.bsky.social for your service and for your writing. #WriteOttawa

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Susan Johnston @joycuriosity.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

No project mapping #Ottawa #literary settings would be complete without the indefatigable @robmclennan.bsky.social and in particular The Ottawa City Project — his elegy to the former #2 #OCTranspo bus almost makes me miss riding it - aaaand he has a piece about the Duke of Somerset. #DareWeDream

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Reposted by Susan Johnston

Cassie Smith (she/her) @cassiesmith.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Ottawa's climate targets rely on 20-30% of all trips in the city to be taken on OC Transpo. Currently it's 8.5%. How do they plan to get there? I'd recommend nurturing young riders - something I spoke about at transit commission today and wrote about here: www.envirocentre.ca/the-future-o...

envirocentre.ca

The future of transit IS kids on the bus - EnviroCentre

The things we learn when we are young stick with us. Can you still remember your childhood phone number and […]

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