Alan Hill

Poet Alan Hill was chosen in February 2017 as New Westminster's fourth Poet Laureate. Mr. Hill is a resident of the Glenbrook North neighbourhood of New Westminster. He is co-manager of the Poetry New West reading series and has been a regular on the Vancouver reading circuit for over ten years. He has been published in North America and Europe in numerous print and online journals. Publishing highlights in Canada include having poetry included in Event, CV2, Canadian Literature, Vancouver Review, Antigonish Review, Sub-Terrain, Poetry is Dead, Quills and Cascadia Review. He has also published two collections of poetry, 'The Upstairs Country' (Silverbow 2012) and 'The Broken Word' (Silverbow 2013). In 2007 he featured in the 'Rocksalt' anthology (Mother Tongue), the first BC wide anthology of poetry for over thirty years. Alan immigrated to New Westminster from the UK after meeting, and being sponsored by, his Vietnamese-Canadian wife while working in Botswana.

Poetry Postcard Anthology Legacy Project

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Alan Hill in partnership with the City's Arts Services Department published A Poetry of Place: Journeys Across New Westminster which highlights the work of 35 local poets all working with the poetic form of the "poetry postcard." The intention of this collection was to highlight and explore physical location and its emotional and cultural significance specific to New Westminster residents. 

Starting in June of 2019, Hill workshopped the project with a variety of community partners including: Family Services of Greater Vancouver, Royal City Literary Arts Society, Douglas College, New Westminster Secondary School, Burnaby Central Secondary School and New Westminster Public Library. Afterwards, a call was put out to the New West community for submissions for the book. With the help of a selection committee of local literary professionals, the Poet Laureate curated and edited the submitted works and designer Johanna Bartels began work on the layout and cover. Images include photographs from Bartels and the participating poets as well as selected maps and archival images from the New Westminster Museum and Archives. 

To purchase your copy of this vibrant, multicultural and multi-dimensional collection of poetry postcards please contact museum@newwestcity.ca or (604-527-4640, press 2). Books are $12 (tax included).