If, When

by Bren Simmers

The poems in If, When link the author’s contemporary experiences while living in Squamish, British Columbia, with those of her great-grandparents, who lived in the nearby mining town of Britannia a century earlier. Exploring the complex layers of relationship that make up a place—the many interactions and negotiations that transpire as different people live and work together within a specific environment—Bren Simmers offers a fresh and empathetic take on the inevitable tensions between land stewardship and economic development, finding, ultimately, much potential for connection and community.

Genres: Poetry

64 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2021

About the author

Bren Simmers’ first book of non-fiction, Pivot Point (Gaspereau Press, 2019), is a lyrical account of a nine-day wilderness canoe journey and a frank reflection on the roles friendship, mindfulness, and creativity play in the evolution of our lives. She is also the author of three books of poetry: If, When (Gaspereau Press, 2021), Hastings-Sunrise (Nightwood Editions, 2015), which was a finalist for the City of Vancouver Book Award, and Night Gears (Wolsak & Wynn, 2010). A lifelong west coaster, she now lives on PEI.

Reviews

[Luke Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this quite abit, Kayleigh kinda went off on this gift

[Jeliane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked it up because the book itself is beautiful and the author is Canadian. All to find out the subject matter is all about Squamish/Britannia which made for a fun surprise!

Lovely writing reflective of the identity of Squamish and the history of the Howe Sound area. Some of the prose hit hard being a local.