by Ampersand - Biography

Author / Educator / Editor

Carolyn Marie Souaid has been writing and publishing poetry for over 20 years. She completed her undergraduate studies in English Literature and a teaching degree (English and ESL) at McGill University before going on to complete a Masters in Creative Writing at Concordia University. Since the 1990s, she has been a key figure on the Montreal literary scene, having co-produced two major local events, Poetry in Motion (the poetry-on-the-buses project) and the Circus of Words / Cirque des mots, a multidisciplinary, multilingual cabaret focusing on the “theatre” of poetry. Over the years, she has mentored many emerging poets and has worked as a book reviewer and teacher. Currently serving as poetry editor for the Winnipeg-based literary press, Signature Editions, she has toured her work across Canada and in France, and has been shortlisted for a number of awards including the A.M. Klein Prize and the Pat Lowther Memorial Award. In 1996, she won the David McKeen Award for Swimming into the Light.

EDUCATION

• BA (Honours) in English Literature, McGill University, 1981
• Diploma in Education, McGill University, 1983
• MA in Creative Writing, Concordia University, 1995

BOOKS

• Paper Oranges (2008)
• Flight (2007)
• Satie’s Sad Piano (2005)
• Snow Formations (2002)
• October (1999)
• Swimming into the Light (1995)

SELECTED ANTHOLOGIES

• Language for a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from the Middle East, Asia & Beyond (2008)
• Freedom: Anthology of Canadian Poets for Turkish Resistance (2006)
• Future Tense: New English Fiction From Quebec (1997)
• The Urban Wanderers' Reader (1995)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• Literary: The Malahat Review, Windsor Review, Poetry in Canada, Quarry, Geez Magazine, CV2, The Fiddlehead, The Antigonish Review, Arcade, Rampike, Ellipse, Vintage, Literature and Arts of the Americas, U.S 1 Worksheets, The New Quarterly, Delaware Valley Poets Anthology

• Mainstream: The Montreal Gazette (features & book reviews); Today’s Parent

RADIO COMMISSIONS

• Blood is Blood (CBC Radio, 2006)
• Imagining the Great Day (CBC Radio, 2002)
• Snow Formations (CBC Radio, 2001)

INSTALLATIONS / PERFORMANCES

• Lisez Montréal Inspire (2005)
• La poésie prend le métro (2005)
• Circus of Words / Cirque des mots (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
• Random Acts of Poetry (2004, 2005, 2006)
• Poetry in Motion (Montreal’s poetry-on-the-buses project, 2004)

AWARDS & HONOURS

• David McKeen Award (1996)
• Pat Lowther Memorial Award (2006)*
• Mary Scorer Award (2006)*
• A.M. Klein Prize for Poetry (1996, 2000, 2003)*
• CBC Literary Awards Competition (1999)*

* shortlisted

PROFESSIONAL ARTS GRANTS

• Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (1997, 2003, 2005)
• Canada Council for the Arts (2001, 2009)

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• The League of Canadian Poets
• The Quebec Writers’ Federation
• UNEQ (2004-2007)

SELECTED RADIO / TELEVISION INTERVIEWS

• This Morning Live (Global Television, 2004)
• More to Life with Mary Ito (TVOntario, 2003)
• This Morning with Michael Enright (CBC Radio, 2000)

SEMINARS / WORKSHOPS

• Writers-in-Schools / Culture in Education
• Writers-in-Cegeps
• Quebec Writers’ Federation poetry workshops
• Quebec Writers’ Federation Mentorship program
• Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers Convention
• Springboards

FESTIVALS / CONFERENCES

• Symposium International Contre l’Isolement (Paris, France)
• Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival (Montreal, QC)
• Festival International de la Poésie (Trois-Rivières, QC)
• Winnipeg International Festival of Authors (Winnipeg, MN)
• Alberta LitFest (Edmonton & Fort McMurray, AB)
• Arab Canadian Heritage Festival at Harbourfront (Toronto, ON)
• BookFest (Windsor, ON)
• Words Aloud (Durham, ON)
• Ottawa International Writers’ Festival (Ottawa, ON)
• Eastern Townships Language Arts Festival (Lennoxville, QC)

UNIVERSITIES / COLLEGES

• Instructor:
McGill University, Concordia University

• Guest Lecturer: University of Winnipeg, John Abbott College, Champlain College (St-Lambert), Champlain College (Lennoxville), Bishops University, College Durocher

CLIENTS (Writing, Editing & Translation)

• Signature Editions (in-house poetry editor)
• Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport
• Festival International de la Poésie, Trois Rivières (Québec)
• Les Éditions Brault et Bouthillier

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Commission consultative en littérature (2006-2009)
3-year appointment to an advisory body of the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. Itemized & prioritized the needs of English-language writers in Quebec

• Regional Representative: League of Canadian Poets (2005-2006)
Represented Québec and Nunavut on the National Executive Committee; drafted policy; liaised with other representatives to implement, promote, and publicize poetry initiatives at the regional and national levels

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Quote
		by Ampersand. "Biography." Ampersand. Ed. Carolyn Marie Souaid. Montreal: Editorial Poetas de América. Apr 26, 2006. < >