Stephen Pender loves literature.
That might seem like a fairly obvious statement for an English professor to make, but according to an article recently published in University Affairs magazine, many literary scholars have become ambivalent about their 
raison d’être.
The University of Windsor will host a book signing by local authors—and UWindsor alumni—Peter Hrastovec and Marty Gervais, from noon to 1:30 p.m. today in its Vanier Hall location.
First-time author Hrastovec (BA 1979, LLB 1982) will sign his poetry collection In Lieu of Flowers. The paperback volume costs $17.
The University’s plans for its downtown campus cleared another hurdle Monday, as Windsor city council approved a change in the zoning of the Windsor Star, armouries and bus depot sites from commercial to institutional.
The Art Gallery of Windsor’s monthly art lounge will have a University flavour Thursday, as instructor Marty Gervais hosts and two of the three featured poets are UWindsor alumnae.
“Girls Night Out” will feature Kate Hargreaves (BA 2010, MA 2012), Vanessa Shields (BA 2002) and Melanie Janisse reading humorous works dealing with everything from roller derby to pregnancy.
Patrons will also have an opportunity to tour current exhibitions “Paris/Ojibwa” by Robert Houle, “The Wildcraft” by Kika Thorne, and “Mean Machines” by John Scott.
A reading on Friday will bring together two UWindsor graduates to recall “It all started at Riverside Arena.”
Laurie Smith (BA 1991, B.Ed 1993, BA 1995, MA 1996) recounts that she and Kevin Shea (BA 1977) have been friends since the first day of Grade 1.
“Growing up in the shadow of Riverside Arena, we had no idea how important that rink would be in our lives as writers,” she says.
A nod from a national publication came at a perfect time, says BookFest Windsor organizer Lenore Langs—just before the festival opens.
“What an honour to be included in Canadian Geographic’s list of top literary festivals in Canada,” says Langs, a UWindsor sessional instructor of expository and creative writing.
A free public reception Tuesday will launch the latest book by the University’s resident writing professional.
Ghost Road and other forgotten stories of Windsor is a new collection of local legends—only this is the Windsor we don’t know, says Marty Gervais. The best-selling author of The Rumrunners and My Town, he says these stories carry with them traces of the city’s weird and wonderful history.
English professor emeritus Eugene McNamara will read from his 16th volume of poetry at a publication launch reception Friday.
In recommending Kate Hargreaves for the Governor General's Gold Medal, the department of English Language, Literature and Creative Writing described the two-time grad (BA 2010, MA 2012) as “the most talented and hard-working student we have had the pleasure to teach and mentor.”
Hargreaves received the medal as the top graduate student in her cohort at Saturday’s Convocation ceremonies.
The University of Windsor will be well-represented at BookFest Windsor, October 25 to 27 at the Capitol Theatre and Arts Centre.
Members of the UWindsor faculty will join a number of alumni for the event, a celebration of the literary arts that will feature workshops and discussion, readings of poetry and prose, book signings and socials.
Among the professors—both past and present—who have committed to appear are Marty Gervais, Susan Gold, Karl Jirgens, Martha Lee, Nicole Markotić, Eugene McNamara and Stephen Pender.
