Aqua Books
Encyclopedia
Aqua Books is a Canadian
independent bookstore
opened in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
by Kelly Hughes
in 1999. It has been acknowledged for helping revitalize downtown Winnipeg and creating an eclectic mix of programs and events for the Winnipeg arts and culture
community.
and hosts numerous literary and cultural events. Writers who have launched books or read at Aqua Books include Paul Quarrington
, Susie Moloney
, Shane Koyczan
, Sarah Klassen
, George Murray
, Miriam Toews
, David Bergen
, Joan Thomas
, Andrew Davidson
, Catherine Hunter
, and Margaret Christakos
. Lecturers have included politician Tim Sale
, musician Steve Bell
and activist David Northcott. Owner Kelly Hughes hosts a live in-store talk show called Kelly Hughes Live!, which has seen visits by writer Margaret Sweatman
, comedian Kevin McDonald
, children's entertainer Fred Penner
and actor/politician Tina Keeper
.
The store was visited by journalist Noah Richler
in 2009, who called it "one of the craziest, most amusing and well-ordered second-hand bookstores I have ever frequented".
, which is awarded annually to the best full length adult book of poetry
in either French or English by a resident of Manitoba
, Canada
. The Aqua Books Lansdowne Prize for Poetry Reading Series, hosted in conjunction with The Writers' Collective
, is based around this award.
bookstore. This program includes workshops, readings and manuscript evaluation. Writers-in-residence have included young adult writer Anita Daher
, crime writer Michael Van Rooy, playwright Carolyn Gray
and arts writer Amy Karlinsky. The first film writer-in-residence was former Alamo Drafthouse
programmer Kier-La Janisse.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
independent bookstore
Independent bookstore
An independent bookstore is a retail bookstore which is independently owned.-Literary and countercultural history:Author events at independent bookstores sometimes take the role of literary salons. The bookstores themselves, "have historically supported and cultivated the work of independent...
opened in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
by Kelly Hughes
Kelly Hughes
Kelly Hughes is a Canadian arts promoter and former actor.As a child star, Hughes appeared on Let's Go from 1981-1983. He went on to tour with Vancouver's Pacific Theatre in 1991. Hughes created Aqua Books in 1999 to help promote arts and culture in Winnipeg...
in 1999. It has been acknowledged for helping revitalize downtown Winnipeg and creating an eclectic mix of programs and events for the Winnipeg arts and culture
Winnipeg Arts and Culture
Winnipeg is well known across the prairies for its arts and culture.-Architecture:The Exchange District Historical site is the original site of commerce in Winnipeg. After the railways came to Winnipeg, this area was developed with many fine warehouses, offices and banks...
community.
Overview
Aqua Books consists of a bookstore, a restaurant called Eat Bistro, writers' studios and an events theatre. Aqua sponsors the Aqua Books Lansdowne Prize for PoetryAqua Books Lansdowne Prize for Poetry
Aqua Books Lansdowne Prize for Poetry/prix Lansdowne de poésie, established in 2007, is awarded annually to the best full length adult book of poetry in either French or English by a resident of Manitoba, Canada....
and hosts numerous literary and cultural events. Writers who have launched books or read at Aqua Books include Paul Quarrington
Paul Quarrington
Paul Lewis Quarrington was a Canadian novelist, playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker, musician and educator.-Background:...
, Susie Moloney
Susie Moloney
Susie Moloney is a Canadian author of horror fiction. The film rights to her book, A Dry Spell, were purchased by Cruise/Wagner Productions in 1997, for a reported seven figures.- Works :...
, Shane Koyczan
Shane Koyczan
Shane L. Koyczan is a Canadian poet and writer. Born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Koyczan grew up in Penticton, British Columbia. In 2000, he became the first Canadian to win the Individual Championship title at the US National Poetry Slam. Together with Mighty Mike McGee and C. R...
, Sarah Klassen
Sarah Klassen
Sarah Klassen is a Canadian writer. She is the award-winning author of A Feast of Longing and one other short fiction collection, The Peony Season, and five books of poetry....
, George Murray
George Murray (poet)
George Murray is a Canadian poet. Born 1971.Murray is the editor of the literary blog Bookninja.com , an associate editor at Maisonneuve magazine, and a contributing editor at several literary magazines and journals. After several years abroad in rural Italy and New York City, in 2005 he returned...
, Miriam Toews
Miriam Toews
Miriam Toews is a Canadian writer of Mennonite descent. She grew up in Steinbach, Manitoba and has lived in Montreal and London, before settling in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She moved to Toronto in 2009....
, David Bergen
David Bergen
David Bergen is a Canadian novelist from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He has published six novels and one collection of short stories since 1993...
, Joan Thomas
Joan Thomas
Joan Thomas is a Canadian novelist and short story writer, whose debut novel Reading By Lightning won the 2009 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book as well as the Amazon.ca First Book Award...
, Andrew Davidson
Andrew Davidson (author)
Andrew Davidson is a Canadian novelist. He has a B.A. in English literature from the University of British Columbia, and worked as a teacher in Japan before returning to Canada....
, Catherine Hunter
Catherine Hunter
Catherine Hunter is a Canadian poet, novelist, editor, professor and critic.Hunter received a BA from the University of Winnipeg and an MA and PhD from the University of Victoria...
, and Margaret Christakos
Margaret Christakos
Margaret Christakos is a Canadian poet who lives in Toronto.-Life:Christakos was born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario. Christakos received her B.F.A. in Visual Arts from York University in 1985. She lived in Montreal from 1985 to 1987, settling in Toronto in 1988. She went on to pursue an M.A...
. Lecturers have included politician Tim Sale
Tim Sale (politician)
Edward Timothy Sale was a Manitoba politician, and a former member of the Premier Gary Doer's cabinet.Sale was born in Goderich, Ontario in 1942...
, musician Steve Bell
Steve Bell (musician)
Steve Bell is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is among the best-known Christian musicians in Canada and is an accomplished songwriter and record producer. Steve has an extensive catalogue of songs including "Deep Calls to Deep", "Eventide" and...
and activist David Northcott. Owner Kelly Hughes hosts a live in-store talk show called Kelly Hughes Live!, which has seen visits by writer Margaret Sweatman
Margaret Sweatman
Margaret Sweatman is a Canadian writer.Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sweatman was educated at the University of Winnipeg, Concordia University and Simon Fraser University....
, comedian Kevin McDonald
Kevin McDonald
Kevin Hamilton McDonald is a Canadian comedian and actor, known as a member of the Canadian sketch comedy group The Kids in the Hall.-Early life:...
, children's entertainer Fred Penner
Fred Penner
Frederick Ralph Cornelius Penner, is a Canadian children's entertainer who gives appearances throughout North America. His television show, Fred Penner's Place, aired on CBC in Canada from 1985 to 1997. It was co-produced by Nickelodeon in 1989 and 1990.Penner was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba...
and actor/politician Tina Keeper
Tina Keeper
Tina Keeper, OM , is a Cree activist, producer, former actress and former member of the Canadian House of Commons.Keeper is best known for her role as RCMP officer Michelle Kenidi in the CBC Television series North of 60, about the fictional aboriginal community of Lynx River. She also hosted a...
.
The store was visited by journalist Noah Richler
Noah Richler
Noah Richler is a Canadian journalist, who was raised in Montreal, Canada and London, England. He is the son of Florence Isabel Wood and famous Canadian novelist Mordecai Richler...
in 2009, who called it "one of the craziest, most amusing and well-ordered second-hand bookstores I have ever frequented".
Aqua Books Lansdowne Prize for Poetry
Aqua Books sponsors the Aqua Books Lansdowne Prize for PoetryAqua Books Lansdowne Prize for Poetry
Aqua Books Lansdowne Prize for Poetry/prix Lansdowne de poésie, established in 2007, is awarded annually to the best full length adult book of poetry in either French or English by a resident of Manitoba, Canada....
, which is awarded annually to the best full length adult book of poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
in either French or English by a resident of Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The Aqua Books Lansdowne Prize for Poetry Reading Series, hosted in conjunction with The Writers' Collective
The Writers' Collective
The Writers' Collective was founded in 2000 as The Collective for Professional and Developing Writers to provide a service to the Manitoba writing community. They operate with the assistance of Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism and The University of Winnipeg. They also receive generous...
, is based around this award.
Winners
- 2007 — Laurie BlockLaurie BlockLaurie Block is a Canadian poet and educator. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he studied at the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba.-Bibliography:*Governing Bodies - poetry, 1988 ISBN 0-88801-140-7...
, Time out of Mind - 2008 — Alison CalderAlison CalderAlison Calder is a Canadian poet and educator.She was born in England, grew up in Saskatoon, and lives now in Winnipeg, where she teaches Canadian literature and creative writing at the University of Manitoba...
, Wolf Tree - 2009 — Rosanna Deerchild, this is a small northern town
Writer-in-residence Program
Aqua Books is one of only two bookstores in Canada to feature a writer-in-residence program, the other being the University of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
bookstore. This program includes workshops, readings and manuscript evaluation. Writers-in-residence have included young adult writer Anita Daher
Anita Daher
Anita Daher is a Canadian writer of juvenile and teen books. She has said she draws writing inspiration from the many places where she has spent time, including Summerside, Prince Edward Island; Yellowknife, NT; Churchill, Manitoba; Baker Lake, Nunavut and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario...
, crime writer Michael Van Rooy, playwright Carolyn Gray
Carolyn Gray
Carolyn Gray is a Canadian playwright. Her full-length play The Elmwood Visitation was produced by Theatre Projects Manitoba in 2007 and won the Manitoba Day Award for excellence in archival research...
and arts writer Amy Karlinsky. The first film writer-in-residence was former Alamo Drafthouse
Alamo Drafthouse
The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is an American cinema chain founded in 1997 in Austin, Texas, United States. It has screens in nine locations across Texas and one in Winchester, Virginia...
programmer Kier-La Janisse.