Poetry Reading

An Evening of Poetry with Qurat Dar & Nisha Patel

Join us for a powerful, resonant night of poetry as we welcome two of Canada’s most acclaimed contemporary voices to the Found stage.

Qurat Dar, Mississauga’s Youth Poet Laureate (2021–2023) and the 2020 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Champion—brings her sharp, soulful work to Cochrane. Her poems have appeared in Arc, Room, and Canthius, and have been showcased at the Art Gallery of Mississauga and across the TTC. Her debut collection, Non-Prophet, winner of the inaugural Claire Harris Poetry Prize, establishes her as an essential new voice in Canadian literature.

Nisha Patel, Poet Laureate Emeritus of the City of Edmonton and Canadian Poetry Slam Champion, joins us with her trademark blend of tenderness, fire, and truth. A disabled culture worker deeply rooted in community advocacy, Nisha is the author of Coconut and A Fate Worse Than Death. Her highly anticipated third collection, For the Record, arrives fall 2026 with Arsenal Pulp Press.

Together, Qurat and Nisha create an evening that is intimate, bold, and deeply human—an invitation to reflect, gather, and experience poetry that moves.

Settle in with a drink, bring a friend, and let these two remarkable artists lead you somewhere unforgettable.

All attendees will receive $5 off any book by the visiting poets when purchased during the event.