“Working Verse”: A Workers Celebration Event

Labour history and the arts have long gone hand in hand. From the early voices of workers and organizers to contemporary reflections on life and work, poetry has helped shape and tell the story of the labour movement.

Join us for an evening honouring the legacy of the labour movement in Saskatchewan and the poetry of the working class with Medrie Purdham and Charles Smith.

This event is in partnership with the Saskatchewan Government & General Employees’ Union. This event is in-person only and will not be livestreamed or recorded.

Event Details:
“Working Verse”: A Workers Celebration Event
Date: Tuesday, November 28th, 2025
Event: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

The Artesian is wheelchair accessible, all-ages, and a proud supporter of positive spaces initiatives with a zero-tolerance policy towards hate, harassment, and/or discrimination. We reserve the right to remove any patron creating an unsafe environment. The accessible entrance is available via a lift, Please ask staff for help if necessary.

Accessibility measures in this event:

A read-along copy of the speakers’ presentations is available during the live event only
Presenter self-descriptions
All authors will use a microphone when speaking
Wheelchair accessible venue (access to elevator on side of building)
Many non-alcoholic beverage options are available for purchase
Free admission

Meet our presenters:

Medrie Purdham (she/her) lives in Regina in Treaty 4 territory with her family, teaches at the University of Regina, and is a practicing poet. Her debut collection, Little Housewolf, was nominated for the Gerald Lampert Award and the Fred Cogswell Award, and won a Saskatchewan Book Award. Subsequent work has been a finalist for the Vallum Chapbook Award and the Montreal International Poetry Prize. She holds a Ph.D. In Canadian literature from McGill University, enjoys sewing and skating, and recently went go-karting for the first time.

Charles Smith