We're thrilled to announce that our first event of 2026 will take place on Thursday, February 5th. Poet and therapist, Vilma Blenman will be reading from her book of poems entitled 'Brown Eyes Watching: Reflections of a Black Canadian Poet'. 

Born in Jamaica into the lush landscape of a sugar plantation, Vilma began composing poetry (in her headspace) as a child walking along dusty roads fringed with hot hibiscus hedges. She migrated to Canada at age 17 and from that first wintry night has been observing scenes in settler spaces. Always a word lover, she started writing poetry while teaching in the Toronto District School Board where sheorganized Poetry Cafes and taught at-risk youth to write and perform poetry. A retired teacher, she is currently a therapist at LifeCare Centres in Durham.