2013 marks a few significant milestones for me. Ten years ago on June 4 I received my MA (English) from UNB. I framed the poster that announced my defence, which still hangs above my desk. The name of my thesis was “Brash Postcards from the Wilderness: Don McKay’s Ecopoetry.”

The other significant milestone that 2013 marks is five years since the publication of my book Terminal Moraine. After returning from Nuuk, Greenland in early September, my family and I drove to Saskatoon from Alberta (where we were living at the time) to attend the book launch. Estimates of the crowd that night ranged between 150-200 in attendance. Thistledown Press treated me well, paying for my travel and putting me up in a motel, and I launched with the three other poets from the New Leaf series, Taylor Leedhal, Adrienne Gruber, and Kelly-Anne Reiss. I’ll never forget this night because while I was reading a poem about my son’s syllable-testing as an infant, he said “daddy” loud enough for the room to hear. There was a collective “awwww” and I struggled to finish reading the poem (which to this day I can’t read out loud). Needless to say, this will be a story for me to tell for the rest of my life.

It’s also twenty years since high school graduation. Yikes, but who’s counting?

What will happen in the next five years? Ten? Twenty?

Well, more precisely, the spring book season. I’ve just finished copyediting the second of two Goose Lane spring poetry releases under the Ice House imprint: Carmelita McGrath’s Escape Velocity and Adrienne Barrett’s The House is Still Standing.

As associate poetry editor and member of the acquisitions board, I’ve seen the two manuscripts months and months ago when we accepted them. But they’re better now, thanks to editors Katia Grubisic and James Langer. But these aren’t the only books I’m looking forward to: one of my favourite poets, Sharon McCartney, has a new book Hard Ass coming out with Palimpsest. Can’t wait for this one! I think she’s one of the most underrated poets in the country. I am slightly biased–Sharon’s a friend of mine–but pick up any of her books, and I think you’ll agree with me.

And I’ll be glad once spring is actually here. Not only will I have these books in my hands, and not only will the snow mostly be gone, but I’ll be freed up a little from all the contracts that have come my way lately. Aside from these copyediting contracts, I’ve got a few proofreading jobs, a few grants to write for The Fiddlehead, and a re-write to do for the online English course I’m teaching through UNB. And that will mean I am almost on my way to Ottawa for The Writers’ Union of Canada’s AGM, where I’ll be moderating a panel on book reviewing. And then teaching a workshop at the Maritime Writers Workshop soon afterwards. And then off to the poetry festival in Whitehorse, Yukon. I’m busy, busy, busy, and I mostly like being that way. Hope to finish my own book this year, and things are starting to pick up–another reason I’m waiting for spring: more time, theoretically, to write! Or at least maybe by summer!

Well, another year is wrapping up, and as I reflect on 2012, I’m pretty amazed at how much I’ve accomplished — was it really only a year? I became gainfully employed, learned new skills, grew professionally and personally, and entered the rough and tumble world of politics as a city council candidate. It was a year of learning and growth, making new friends, and enjoying life. Here’s a recap of my year, an omnibus post.

Employment

Since moving back to Fredericton in 2010 (from five years in the western wilds of Alberta) I haven’t been able to say I’m securely employed. I can now! As most know, New Brunswick is not an easy place to find work. But I finally persevered. It’s been a long haul through tons of part-time and freelance work, but I can now say I am the Secretary/Graphic Designer of The Fiddlehead (a dream job working for the old fern!) and starting January 1, 2013 I’ll be taking over the online instruction of English 1145 at UNB through the College of Extended Learning.

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Publishing/Writing Success

2012 wasn’t entirely a banner year for publications, but it did come with some exciting news: I was officially invited to take part in the 2013 Whitehorse Poetry Festival. More details to come about that to be sure!

I also had the opportunity to teach a daylong workshop at the esteemed Maritime Writers’ Workshop here in Fredericton. I hope to do so again in the future.

But I did manage to get a few publications in a few magazines (The Malahat Review and Germination) and an anthology (Poet to Poet from Guernica Editions). And just yesterday (in time to count for 2012!) I received official word that I’ll have a poem in another anthology, I Found it at the Movies, scheduled for a fall 2014 release.

I also continue in my roles as Secretary of the Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick, poetry co-editor of The Fiddlehead, and Associate Poetry Editor at Goose Lane Editions. I was quite proud that I could be part of the successful launch of the first two collections of poetry in Goose Lane’s Icehouse imprint.

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Politics

I’ve always been interested in politics, but in 2012 I dropped my own writ by declaring as a candidate in the municipal election, running unsuccessfully as a city councilor in Fredericton’s ward 6. But all was not lost. I garnered 15% of the vote, but before the campaign I did not even know 15% of the people in the community. And I didn’t know how to run a campaign. I learned that fast, and learned a lot about the history of the region, made some good friends, and got actively involved in Fredericton’s future. I was successfully in one endeavor: I volunteered with a group of citizens who campaigned to rezone a strawberry U-pick and surrounding forest to protect it from development. My own city councilor was opposed, but public pressure from our group, and my own efforts to get community members to contact her, caused her to finally support it. I was proud of my efforts running for city council, but I was tremendously proud of our group’s efforts. Most recently, I’ve been the lead person investigating the possibility of a car-free street downtown, and the idea took off with media interviews and meetings with various stakeholders. Early in the new year, Downtown Fredericton Inc. will be hiring a consultant to envision the future of downtown, and this provides our group with a great opportunity to participate in that vision.

I couldn’t ask for much else (except an iPad!): my family is healthy and happy. My wife continues to work on her novel. My son is in grade 1 now! And he is reading and writing at a very high level. I’ve made tons of new friends. And I have a new nephew!

I’m looking forward to 2013 and all the challenges it will inevitably bring. But I am thankful for the opportunities I have, and for my family and friends.

What are my goals and resolutions for 2013? I would like to meet more of my Twitter friends. I would like to finally finish my second book and send it out to prospective publishers. And I would like to continue working hard to make Fredericton and New Brunswick a better place for us all. Oh, and eat less junk food!

All the best from me for a happy and prosperous 2013 for all.

I’ve travelled up to the north shore of New Brunswick to visit family, and today climbed Dalhousie mountain with my wife and son. It was a beautiful day, and the fall colours were spectacular.

Did you hear about the new poetry imprint from Goose Lane Editions? The editors of this series are Ross Leckie, Katia Grubisic, David Seymour, James Langer, and me. The first two books are due out this fall, which means very soon! I’m very excited to get my hands on copies of Patrick Warner’s Perfection and Stewart Cole’s Questions in Bed. (Follow the links to read more info about both books!)

I feel very fortunate to live in a beautiful province. From our mighty rivers teeming with salmon to our ocean vistas, from our old growth forests to our smart, sustainable cities, New Brunswick is a special place with kind and creative people, and loads of potential.

But as much as I love New Brunswick, as much as I am a proud New Brunswicker, there is one sour note about this day, and it lurks in the background of any discussion about New Brunswick: our political climate, which stifles our potential. Our economy, as every one knows, is in shambles. And it doesn’t seem to be getting better. The Margaret Ann Blaney appointment has all but disappeared from public scrutiny, the anti-shale gas resistance has seemingly petered out. And the government keeps doing things the same old way, without innovation, without long-term vision. We have some very bright and innovative people and ideas here. People and ideas that should guarantee bright prospects. These true innovators need a government that is seriously interested in progress.

So here’s my passionate plea as a New Brunswicker, one who has had to move away to work but fought tirelessly for the first opportunity to return: hold your politicians to account. Demand more from them. Do not fall for easy slogans like #nbfirst (no apologies to Mike Murphy), slogans that are basically meaningless. Judge them on their track record, not on what they promise. As a poet and someone who spends a lot of time studying language, I can tell you that language is easily manipulated. (I recommend reading George Orwell’s essay “Politics and the English Language.”) So forget about who your father or grandfather voted for. Here’s my suggestion: Stop listening to what politicians say. Judge them on what they do. Hold their feet over the fire. Maybe the tables will turn and they will listen to you. Which is what they were voted into office for in the first place.

If that sounds radical, then paint me radical. But it seems pretty simplistic to me. Forget about transitions: the time for change is now!

No sooner had I began blogging again, I receive word that I’m going to have a poem in The Malahat Review’s special East Coast issue coming this Fall. I haven’t had a poem accepted in what feels like years, so this was very welcome news. I feel as though my writing is gaining some momentum, which is nice after struggling to juggle raising a son, working, volunteering, and most recently running for public office. A good day, and to quote Samuel Pepys, and so to bed.

Today is my birthday. Ten years ago I hadn’t met my wife yet, definitely wasn’t a father, had only literary ambition instead of numerous publications, and was still a student and penniless, I’ve come a long way. Though I am not a whole lot richer monetarily, I sure am richer when it comes to everything else. I’ve been married for six years (today’s my anniversary, too), I have a healthy and happy 5 year old son, and am working at Canada’s oldest and one of the most prestigious literary magazines. I’m making a living doing what I love. I’m working on my second book, and I’m healthy. I’ve got lots of great friends and live in a wonderful city. I couldn’t ask for much more.

If you’re looking for information about my campaign for city council, please click here. You’ll find my platform, links to interviews and photos, and much more!

If you live in Ward 6, I hope I can count on your support on May 14, 2012.

The polls:

Advance polls: Saturday, May 5 and Monday, May 7, Kinsmen Club of Nashwaaksis, 141 School Street, 10am to 8pm.

Election day: Monday, May 14, Greenwood Baptist Church, 150 Greenwood Dr., 10am to 8pm.