Uploaded April 2022 | Updated September 2026, 20 hours ago
Geography and land in literature, from rivers to mountains, often become characters with personalities and stories of their own. Join poets Joseph Dandurand (The East Side of It All), ryan fitzpatrick (Coast Mountain Foot) and Laurie D. Graham (Fast Commute) in conversation about their latest collections and the intersections of place, land, environment, generational lessons, and the fluctuations that happen in these spaces over time. Moderated by poet Phoebe Wang (Admission Requirements).
This video is part of The Word On The Street Toronto’s ongoing City Imagines programming, a wide-ranging series of free online discussions that consider urban spaces and the people who live and create in them.
---
Featured Books and Resources
The East Side of It All by Joseph Dandurand: anotherstory.ca/item/wsxHDXv980QBDBzJdrI4ow
Coast Mountain Foot by ryan fitzpatrick: anotherstory.ca/item/fHsUtIQkUNrgt7vl0PMMpw
Fast Commute by Laurie D. Graham: anotherstory.ca/item/ssARrWrToAY6OKeG6NJIkQ
Admission Requirements by Phoebe Wang: anotherstory.ca/item/ssARrWrToAbeZXsD2trCNQ
We encourage you to visit https://native-land.ca to learn more about the land you live on, wherever you’re tuning in from.
Connect with WOTS!
Website: toronto.thewordonthestreet.ca
Twitter: twitter.com/torontoWOTS
Instagram: instagram.com/torontowots
TikTok: tiktok.com/@torontowots
Facebook: facebook.com/torontoWOTS
---
Timestamps
00:00 Intro & Meet the Panelists
6:29 Reading from ryan fitzpatrick
12:58 Reading from Laurie D. Graham
18:30 Reading from Joseph Dandurand
26:10 Waterways, Rivers, and Creeks
31:37 Ravines
37:40 Mountains
42:15 How Weather Affects the Writing Process
44:30 Prairies, Grasses, and Flat Expanses
47:14 How Place and Motion Affect the Writing Process
49:01 Witnessing, Unbelonging, and the City Spirit
53:35 Decolonizing Canada Through Writing About Land
58:13 Reading from Joseph Dandurand
1:01:18 Reading from Laurie D. Graham
1:03:39 Reading from ryan fitzpatrick
1:05:45 Reading from Phoebe Wang
1:08:18 Favourite Places to Write About
1:12:25 Writing Exercises to Get Creative Juices Flowing
1:16:41 Final Thoughts & Thank You
Geography and land in literature, from rivers to mountains, often become characters with personalities and stories of their own. Join poets Joseph Dandurand (The East Side of It All), ryan fitzpatrick (Coast Mountain Foot) and Laurie D. Graham (Fast Commute) in conversation about their latest collections and the intersections of place, land, environment, generational lessons, and the fluctuations that happen in these spaces over time. Moderated by poet Phoebe Wang (Admission Requirements).
This video is part of The Word On The Street Toronto’s ongoing City Imagines programming, a wide-ranging series of free online discussions that consider urban spaces and the people who live and create in them.
---
Featured Books and Resources
The East Side of It All by Joseph Dandurand: anotherstory.ca/item/wsxHDXv980QBDBzJdrI4ow
Coast Mountain Foot by ryan fitzpatrick: anotherstory.ca/item/fHsUtIQkUNrgt7vl0PMMpw
Fast Commute by Laurie D. Graham: anotherstory.ca/item/ssARrWrToAY6OKeG6NJIkQ
Admission Requirements by Phoebe Wang: anotherstory.ca/item/ssARrWrToAbeZXsD2trCNQ
We encourage you to visit https://native-land.ca to learn more about the land you live on, wherever you’re tuning in from.
Connect with WOTS!
Website: toronto.thewordonthestreet.ca
Twitter: twitter.com/torontoWOTS
Instagram: instagram.com/torontowots
TikTok: tiktok.com/@torontowots
Facebook: facebook.com/torontoWOTS
---
Timestamps
00:00 Intro & Meet the Panelists
6:29 Reading from ryan fitzpatrick
12:58 Reading from Laurie D. Graham
18:30 Reading from Joseph Dandurand
26:10 Waterways, Rivers, and Creeks
31:37 Ravines
37:40 Mountains
42:15 How Weather Affects the Writing Process
44:30 Prairies, Grasses, and Flat Expanses
47:14 How Place and Motion Affect the Writing Process
49:01 Witnessing, Unbelonging, and the City Spirit
53:35 Decolonizing Canada Through Writing About Land
58:13 Reading from Joseph Dandurand
1:01:18 Reading from Laurie D. Graham
1:03:39 Reading from ryan fitzpatrick
1:05:45 Reading from Phoebe Wang
1:08:18 Favourite Places to Write About
1:12:25 Writing Exercises to Get Creative Juices Flowing
1:16:41 Final Thoughts & Thank You
