Junie’s debut book of poetry Eat Salt | Gaze at the Ocean (Talon Books, 2020) was short-listed for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. Her second collection allostatic load (Talon Books) came out in April 2025. Junie is a mentor for poets at SFU’s Writers’ Studio and also teaches in SFU’s Leadership Essentials Certificate program.
Junie is in conversation with author WADE COMPTON. Compton expertly guided the conversation delving into Junie’s recent work and what inspires Junie’s writing and her books.
Watch the video of this event, provided by REP-HERE in Canada, videographer Tracy Guinchard
More about Désil and Compton …
JUNIE DÉSIL is of Haitian ancestry, born of immigrant parents on the traditional territories of the Kanien’kehá:ka on the island known as Tiohtià:ke (Montréal), and raised in Treaty 1 Territory (Winnipeg). Junie has performed at various literary events and festivals. Her work has appeared in Room Magazine, PRISM International, The Capilano Review and CV2. A UBC alumnus, a participant in Simon Fraser University’s Writer’s Studio, and current UVIC MFA student.
Author and BCBHAS Keynote Speaker in 2024, WAYDE COMPTON hosted the evening. Wayde co-founded the Hogan’s Alley Society and Commodore Books, Western Canada’s first Black Canadian literary press. Wayde has published six books and has edited two literary anthologies.
