Check out the Charming Capybara Launch!

Last week NOW HEAR THIS! celebrated the launch of our third anthology of writing by student participants in the S.W.A.T. Program: The Capybara!

At left you can see NHT! Staffers Rachel Hopwood, S.W.A.T. Program Coordinator, Whitney French, Special Projects Coordinator, and former Program Manager Mark Laliberte (who also did layout and design on The Capybara)!

The launch was held on Wednesday, March 23rd at the Gardiner Museum from 6-8pm.

The event was a huge success, despite old man winter’s final attempt to snow us under and discourage anyone from venturing outside. Over 100 people traipsed through the blizzard from all over Toronto to be in attendance. In fact, it was standing room only! Program Coordinator Rachel Hopwood MC’d the evening’s program, which included short speeches by Teresa Paoli of the Toronto Catholic District School Board and Karen Mulhallen, editor-in-chief of Descant and president of the Descant Arts & Letters Foundation. Two writers-in-residence, Natalie Zina Walschots and Devon Code spoke about their experiences with the program and read from some of their work. And, most importantly, seven S.W.A.T. students read their newly-published work for a rapt audience! Many thanks were voiced, including a huge ‘thank you’ to the Ontario Trillium Foundation who provide the funding that makes the initiative possible. Gourmet fries and crudités by Jamie Kennedy Kitchens were enjoyed by all.

We thank everyone for coming out to support the program and the students, and for enjoying the evening with us! Follow the jump to see some more photos from the event!

Checking out the merchandise!

What a crowd!

Teresa Paoli of the TCDSB.

Natalie Zina Walschots speaks.

Carolyn McGee reads her poem "Into the Darkness."

Korey Francis reads an excerpt from "The Gods."

Andrew Nguyen reads "Intrinsic Theories of the Heart."

Melissa D'Angelo reads her memoir.

Devon Code speaks to the crowd.

Carly Cookman reads her amazing poem "Cravings."

Jenny Breau reads her prose piece "That Ladybug Smell."

Award winner Jordan Pereira reads from his poem "Suppose You Fell In Love With A Streetcar."

Descant Arts & Letters Foundation President, Karen Mulhallen, thanks the crowd.