But how do you grow a poet?
Start: with an invocation

– Robert Kroetsch, “Seed Catalogue”, Field Notes

Field Notes 1 – Workshop
Sharon Thesen: poetics of narrative

April 18, 2026
Denman Island BC

workshop: 10:00am – 3:30pm
reading: 7:00pm – 8:30pm

We are pleased to announce Rain Shadow Poetics Lab’s inaugural event of 2026, the first of our Field Notes, an on-going series of regional poetry events.

Join us in the Beaufort rain shadow for Field Notes 1, an all-day workshop with Sharon Thesen, followed by a public reading where Sharon will be joined by Scott Lawrance, Lorraine Martinuik and Lorin Medley.

Workshop info

Denman Activity Centre, 1111 Northwest Rd.
morning session: 10:00am – 12:00pm
afternoon session: 1:15pm – 3:30pm

Reading info

After the workshop and a dinner break, our evening reading will be held from 7:00pm – 8:30pm at Denman Island Community Hall (Back Hall), with offerings from new books by Scott Lawrance and Lorraine Martinuik, a reading by Comox Valley’s Lorin Medley, as well as a feature reading by Sharon Thesen – the perfect way to draw the day together. Suggested donation of $10; entry is included for workshop participants.

Workshop fees

The fee for this workshop is $150 (general) / $120 (RSPL 2026 – 2027 members), representing a 20% discount for active RSPL members; workshop seats are limited to 18 participants, and advance access will be offered to active RSPL members.

RSPL membership & workshop pre-sales

Becoming a member of Rain Shadow Poetics Lab helps support our goal of bringing innovative Cascadian poetry into communities across Vancouver Island. Members receive early and discounted access to RSPL readings, workshops and panels, as well as Field Notes series events in communities across the island rain shadow.

To ensure equity and access, a current RSPL membership must be obtained prior to purchasing a discounted seat for the workshop. 

If you would like to join Rain Shadow Poetics Lab for 2026 – 2027, please go to https://rainshadowpoeticslab.com/membership/ for PayPal link or send an e-transfer for $20 cdn to rainshadowpoeticslab@gmail.com (auto-deposit has been enabled); once received, we will send a confirmation email/invoice.  

If you have received an email confirming RSPL 2026 – 2027 membership and you wish to attend the workshop, please email rainshadowpoeticslab@gmail.com to let us know and we will add you to the list; during the pre-sale period, you will be sent an email with instructions for reserving your seat. For those of you who have joined RSPL in the last few weeks and have indicated your wish to participate in the workshop – rest assured, you have been added to the pre-sale list.

Accessibility

Venues
The Denman Island Activity Centre lounge, the site for the workshop, is accessible for people with reduced mobility; the Denman Island Community Hall, a few steps from the Activity Centre, has two steps up from ground level to the main entrance.

Fees
We have attempted to keep fees for the workshop accessible; to facilitate this, we have reserved a very (very) limited number of seats for attendees who may be experiencing financial hardship. Please reach out to rainshadowpoeticslab@gmail.com for further information.

Travel to/from Denman Island

For participants coming from the big island, the workshop schedule is structured to allow you to catch the 9:00am ferry from Buckley Bay and grab a warm beverage before we get underway at 10:00am; if you are planning to attend the evening reading, we have ensured that you’ll have time to catch the 9:10pm ferry back to Buckley Bay (note: the locations of the workshop and readings are 8-10 min walk at a moderate grade from the Denman Island ferry terminal, for those who wish to walk or bike onto the ferry).