Award-winning author George Bowering will be coming to the South Okanagan as part of a Valley-wide reading project.
“George Bowering is one of Canada’s most celebrated writers,” said librarian Fern Teleglow, co-ordinator or Okanagan Reads. “Raised in Oliver, he has focused much of his work on British Columbia and in particular the Thompson Okanagan. We’re excited to have him share with us the telling of some of the area’s history.”
Bowering’s novel Shoot!, published by New Star Books, was chosen for Okanagan Reads — a project that encourages participants throughout the Okanagan to read the same book. The western novel follows the adventures of the McLean Gang and brings to life the historical account of the murder of Const. Johnny Ussher in the 1800s. Known as “breeds.” mixed Scottish and Salish blood, the McLeans were outcasts of both cultures and destined to be outlaws.
Bowering received the Governor General’s Award for poetry in 1969 and the Governor General’s Award for Fiction in 1980. He was named Canada’s first Poet Laureate in 2002 and has published more than 80 books of fiction, non-fiction, plays and poetry and has taught in universities across Canada. he recently published memoirs of his teenage years in the South Okanagan in Pinboy (Cormorant Books 2012).
Support for Bowering’s tour was made possible by a libraries and literacy grant from B.C. Education.
The author will be making four appearances at local branches of the Okanagan Regional Library, beginning with his hometown of Oliver on Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. He will visit Summerland on Feb. 28, Vernon on March 1 at 7 p.m. and Kelowna on March 2 at 2 p.m. Okanagan Reads runs until March 8 and readers can follow the dialogue at www.OkanaganReads.ca and join the discussion on the library’s social media channels.
