“Sandra Ridley’s fourth collection of poetry, Silvija, adds to her already impressive body of writing. The book, which is organized into nine sections, situates Ridley as one of the preeminent Canadian poets of her generation. Her writing is comparable to that of her Canadian foremothers: Erin Mouré and Nicole Brossard.” —Robert Anderson, for The Puritan
Sandra Ridley is a writer of five books of poetry: Fallout, Post-Apothecary, The Counting House, and Silvija (a finalist for the 2017 Griffin Poetry Prize) and Vixen. She has been nominated for the KM Hunter Artist Award for Mid-Career Writer and for the Ottawa Arts Council Mid-Career Artist Award. She has taught poetry at Sage Hill Writing Experience, Carleton University, and has been a mentor through Ottawa’s Supportive Housing and Mental Health Services “Footprints to Recovery” program for people living with mental illness. Sandra facilitates poetry workshops and continues to give guidance to writers on a one-on-one basis. From time to time, she offers comprehensive editing and mentoring services through the Poetry Lab.
Sandra grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan and lives in Ottawa. She completed a Master's Degree at York University's Environmental Studies with a specialization in philosophy and environmental thought.
Vixen was published by Book*Hug Press in October 2023.
Vixen’s introduction video here.
Torchlight: Section V of Vixen video here.
Upcoming Events
Tranzac Club, Oct 27, 2023, 7:00-9:00 pm, 292 Brunswick Avenue, Toronto, ON—with Book*hug Authors Kathryn Mockler (Anecdotes) & Michael V. Smith (Queers Like Me)
Librairie l’Euguélionne, Oct 30, 2023, 6:00-7:30 pm, 1122 Boulevard de Maisonneuve East., Montreal, QC—with Kathryn Mockler (Anecdotes), Hana Shafi (People You Know, Places You’ve Been), & Michael V. Smith (Queers Like Me)
Perfect Books, Nov 2, 2023, 6:30-8:00 pm, 258A Elgin Street, Ottawa, ON—with Kathryn Mockler (Anecdotes), Michael V. Smith (Queers Like Me), and special guest Ben Ladouceur