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Literary Tour Photography

Emily Carr – Writer and Artist

I recently dropped by to see Emily Carr, the well known West Coast artist and writer, and, yes, she’s been dead since 1945. That doesn’t stop people like myself from visting her gravesite in Victoria’s Ross Bay Cemetery. The cemetery is the final resting place for a who’s who of British Columbia history but it’s only Carr’s site that draws fans who leave notes, and art supplies and pens. Carr’s artwork can be seen in many major Canadian galleries and her books, including Klee Wyck and The Book of Small and  are still in print. Fans can also visit Emily Carr House, the house where she was born which is maintained as a tribute to Carr and her work.

Carr’s grave marker surrounded by pine cones, pens, pencils, brushes and other items left by visitors.

A sample of Carr’s writing at her grave site.

A note and crayon left at the site

Emily Carr house

Categories
Literary Tour Photography

A literary walk through Toronto’s Annex

Greg Gatenby’s ‘Toronto, A Literary Guide’ published in 1999 is a thick book that provides a tour of residences and places in Toronto that have a literary connection.  This March, Stephen Cain, writing in Open Book Toronto,  told about a walking tour of the Annex area that he and another person designed using Gatenby’s book and updating to add more features. On a visit to Toronto last week I used both the book and Cain’s article to guide me on a wander through the Annex.

B. P. Nichol Lane off Huron Street south of Bloor.

Matt Cohen Park

Matt Cohen Park at the corner of Spadina and Bloor

Matt Cohen Plaque

Plaque in Matt Cohen Park

Gwendolyn MacEwen park

Gwendolyn MacEwen Park at Walmer and Lowther is a memorial to the poet

Macewen Bust

A bust of the poet and a portion of one of her poems.

Brunswick Avenue

Brunswick Avenue, a popular street for writers to reside.

Dooney\'s Cafe

Dooney’s Cafe at 511 Bloor , until recently a popular spot for writers to gather and the inspiration for the online site Dooneys Cafe, however, the owner sold the restaurant and is now in the process of opening a new spot The Alex Live at 296 Brunswick Avenue which Max Fawcett in the current issue of Toronto Life is touting as the new spot for writers to hang out.

The Alex Live

The Alex Live