Peony Show 2017: Photos and Judge Blaine Marchand
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Blaine has had a career as a Canadian Diplomat with CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency), is a published writer and peony gardener. Blaine was president of the Canadian Peony Society (2009-2012) and editor of the CPS journal, Paeonia Nordica (2012 to 2015).
He has been a gardener for almost forty years. In 1998, he and his partner Jamie bought a 100-year-old Victorian school on acreage in Osceola, 120km northwest of Ottawa. Many years later, the property in Osceola showcases approximately six hundred peonies; and heritage varieties of Canadian-bred apples, daylilies, irises, lilacs, shrubs & trees grace the extensive gardens. As a published author, and in collaboration with Anne de Grace, Blaine will be reading his poetry in Nelson, BC on the evening of June 8th, 2017 (see below for more information). Blaine has been active in the literary scene in Ottawa for over forty years. He is currently working on two manuscripts of poems, as well as a collection of short stories. |
Over his 30-year career with CIDA, Blaine held key posts, working with independent Canadian film makers. His work took him on missions around the globe and, at the end of his career, on a two-year posting to Pakistan as First Secretary of Development. His many contributions at CIDA were recognized by an Award of Excellence (2004 & 2008), the Star of Asia Branch (2005) and the President's Award for Achievement (2011).
Acclaimed poet presents at the Nelson Library
Award-winning Ottawa poet Blaine Marchand will journey west to take part in the 2017 Peony Show June 9 – 11 in Castlegar. With a nod to Marchand’s poetic fame, the author will read from his work Thursday, June 8 at 7pm at the Nelson Public Library.
The National Poetry Contest and Archibald Lampman Award are among the accolades for Marchand, who, in addition to six books of poetry and a chapbook, has published children’s literature and non-fiction. He has been widely published in literary magazines and poetry anthologies, and is active in the literary world: he is a past president of the League of Canadian Poets and co-founder of the Canadian Review, Sparks magazine, the Ottawa Independent Writers, and the Ottawa Valley Book Festival. He was a monthly columnist for Capital XTRA, the LGBTQ community paper, for nine years.
At the Library, Marchand will read from his most recent books: Aperture, The Craving of Knives, and My Head, Filled With Pakistan. He will also read from a collection-in-progress, Where You Dwell.
Information about the Nelson Public Library and Marchand’s reading can be found at nelsonlibrary.ca.
Contact: adegrace@nelson.ca or 250-505-5684
Award-winning Ottawa poet Blaine Marchand will journey west to take part in the 2017 Peony Show June 9 – 11 in Castlegar. With a nod to Marchand’s poetic fame, the author will read from his work Thursday, June 8 at 7pm at the Nelson Public Library.
The National Poetry Contest and Archibald Lampman Award are among the accolades for Marchand, who, in addition to six books of poetry and a chapbook, has published children’s literature and non-fiction. He has been widely published in literary magazines and poetry anthologies, and is active in the literary world: he is a past president of the League of Canadian Poets and co-founder of the Canadian Review, Sparks magazine, the Ottawa Independent Writers, and the Ottawa Valley Book Festival. He was a monthly columnist for Capital XTRA, the LGBTQ community paper, for nine years.
At the Library, Marchand will read from his most recent books: Aperture, The Craving of Knives, and My Head, Filled With Pakistan. He will also read from a collection-in-progress, Where You Dwell.
Information about the Nelson Public Library and Marchand’s reading can be found at nelsonlibrary.ca.
Contact: adegrace@nelson.ca or 250-505-5684
Winners 2017 Peony Show:
- Best of Show, with an unknown variety (Identified as 'Pillowtalk') Derek and Anita Roulston, Castlegar, BC
- Best Single, Dutch Girl Peonies, Marvin and Adriana Work with 'Scarlett O'Hara', Beasley, BC
- Best Double/Bomb, Dutch Girl Peonies, 'Rosea Plena', Beasley, BC
- Best Tree Peony, Dutch Girl Peonies, 'High Noon', Beasley, BC
- Best Fernleaf, Dutch Girl Peonies, Fernleaf hybrid, P. tenuifolia x P. veitchii, Beasley, BC
- Best Multiple Bloom, Shirl Bayer with 'High Noon', Winlaw, BC
- Best Itoh Peony, Kat Enns with 'Sequestered Sunshine', Castlegar, BC
- Best Garden Beauty, Unknown, Kat Enns, Castlegar BC
- Best of Class, Amateur Floral Arrangement, Linda Cassidy & Wendy Burgess, Castlegar, BC
- Special Award for Artistic Merit, Canadiana design, Noreen Poznikoff, Rossland, BC
- Winner of the Chop Box competition, Cheryl Holmann; second place, Wendy Burgess, third place, Jodi Paulson