Sheri-D Wilson


Sheri-D Wilson, CM D. Litt, is a Canadian poet, performer, educator, speaker, and producer. She is the author of fourteen books, four short films, three plays, and four poetry & music albums.
Sheri-D's latest work, THE ONEIRONAUT∅1, was published in 2024 by Write Bloody North. It is the first volume in a three-book one-story trilogy of speculative poetry, which explores extreme lucid dreaming, dream healing, and a call for a change in a dystopian regime.

Awards and honors

In 2019 Sheri-D was appointed to the Order of Canada for her contributions as a spoken word poet and community leadership.
  • City of Calgary Arts Award
  • Poet Laureate Emeritus of Calgary
  • Doctor of Letters—Honoris Causa from Kwantlen University
  • City of Calgary Arts Award
  • CBC Top 10 Poets in Canada
  • ffwd Readers’ Choice Award—Best Poet
  • Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Poetry
  • Woman of Vision
  • 2005 SpoCan Poet of Honour
  • USA Heavyweight Title - Bumbershoot
  • CBC Face-off
  • Confessions, a jazz play, 5 Jessie Nominations

    Books

  • The ONEIRONAUT (2024, Write Bloody North)
  • A Love Letter to Emily C
  • The Book of Sensations
  • Open Letter: Woman Against Violence Against Women
  • Goddess Gone Fishing for a Map of the Universe
  • Autopsy of a Turvy World
  • Re: Zoom Winner: 2006 Stephan G. Stephansson Poetry Award
  • Between Lovers
  • The Sweet Taste of Lightning
  • Girl’s Guide to Giving Head
  • Swerve
  • Bull’s Whip & Lamb’s Wool''

    Editor

  • YYC POP: Portraits of People
  • ''Spoken Word Workbook: Inspiration from Poets who Teach''

    CDs

  • Dragon Rouge
  • Sweet Taste of Lightning
  • ''Re:Cord''

    Community work

A strong advocate for social change and community building in Sheri-D Wilson founded The Spoken Word Program at The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. She was director and faculty of that program. At which time Tanya Evanson took over as director of the program. Sheri-D Wilson also edited The Spoken Word Workbook: Inspiration from Poets who Teach in 2011, an educational tool for teaching and writing Spoken Word.
In 2012, she was featured in Chatelaine Magazine, in a story about the creative mind. A regular on CBC, In 2013, she was interviewed by Canadian icon Sheilah Rogers. In 2011 she was honored to be presented by The National Slam of Canada in “Legends of Spoken Word.” In 2009 CBC called her one of the Top 10 Poets in Canada. In 2003 she won the USA Heavyweight title for poetry, and in 2006 The National Slam of Canada presented her with the Poet of Honour Award. Of the beat tradition, in 1989 Sheri-D studied at Naropa University’s Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, in Boulder, Colorado.
Her influences include Guillaume Apollinaire, T.S. Eliot, Diane di Prima, Anne Waldman and Allen Ginsberg.
  • Founded/ Artistic Director - Calgary Spoken Word Festival
  • La Directrice Artistique - School of Thought: Languages Lost & Found
  • Founded/ Directed - The Spoken Word Program @ The Banff Centre
  • Produced - The National Slam of Canada 2008
  • Co-founded and organized the Vancouver Small Press Festival 1988-1990
  • Co-founded and organized The Commercial Street Art Festival 1988-1990

    Reading highlights

  • Write Bloody North
  • JazzYYC with Quincy Troupe
  • The Blues Festival with Sheila Jordan
  • New—New Year’s Eve Poem @ Olympic Plaza
  • Denman Island Readers & Writers Festival
  • Live at the Bolt—Shadbolt Gallery
  • Marvellous Urbanities, Surrealist Poetry Night
  • Wordspell
  • Kerouac Vigo International Festival
  • When Words Collide
  • League of Canadian Poets AGM
  • Saskatchewan Festival of Words
  • Word on the Lake
  • Yukon Writers Festival
  • Women’s March on Washington
  • Word on the Street
  • Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts
  • Verses Fest
  • Women’s Rape Centre Montreal Memorial
  • llega Spoken Orality
  • National Slam Feature
  • VI Festival de Poesía las Lenguas de América
  • Feature Guest, The Emerald Awards - Performer 2014
  • Verses Poetry Festival 2014
  • WordFest 2012
  • V125PC 2011
  • National Slam-Legends of Spoken Word 2011
  • Vancouver International Writers Festival '11,'02,'00,'95,'93,'90
  • Maple Stirrup en El Arco de la virgin 2010
  • Art 4 Change 2010
  • Festival maelstrÖm reEvolution 2010
  • Blue Met 2009
  • Voix d'Amériques 2008,2005
  • The Raving Poets 2004
  • Bumbershoot 2003, 1999, 1992, 1991, 1989
  • The World Poetry Bout 2002
  • Poetry Africa 2001
  • WordFest 2008, 2000, ’95
  • Harbourfront Reading Series 1993
  • Small Press Festival 1990

    Other highlights

  • Women and Words, 2003-2012
  • First Time Eyes: Unearthing Spoken Word, 2007 essay
  • Heart of a Poet, 2006, featured poet documentary series
  • Bowery Project, 2005, Alberta Scene, 2005
  • Human Rights Symposium 2005: Victoria
  • Sounds Like Canada, 2002 CBC Poet in Residence
  • Addicted: Notes From The Belly Of The Beast, 2001 essay entitled Blackout
  • Confessions a Jazz Play, 1991 text of play