Bob MacKenzie

Bob MacKenzie’s writing has been in more than 400 journals in North America and as far away as Australia, Greece, India, and Italy. His poetry’s been translated into Greek, Persian (Farsi), Arabic and other languages. Bob’s published 17 books of poetry and prose-fiction and his work's been in numerous anthologies. Throughout his career and for 18 years with the group Poem de Terre, Bob’s performed his poetry live with original music and he’s released seven albums.

Bob has received numerous local and international awards for his writing, including wins for his books in several international competitions, an Ontario Arts Council grant for literature, a Canada Council Grant for performance, and a Fellowship to attend the Summer Literary Seminars in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Bob's poems have been interpreted by visual artists and sculptors and a public art gallery devoted a visual arts exhibition to his poetry. He’s possibly the only poet with versions of his poetry in the Canada Council's National Art Bank.

Bob has also presented live events and open stages featuring performances by poets and musicians, beginning in the summer of 1966 with two major readings at Calgary’s Allied Arts Centre featuring a young George Bowering, later to be the first Poet Laureate of Canada, along with other Calgary poets, musicians, visual artists, and sculptors.