VIU’s student-run literary magazine, Portal, celebrates the release of its 34th issue with readings from most of its 21 authors, catering, cash bar, live music, a slideshow, photobooth, and recognition of authors, artists, masthead, and Creative Writing scholarship winners. This year’s launch theme builds on Bailey Bellisolo’s striking art of an outstretched hand on a bright red cover, “To Hold;” which suggests that, in these especially anxious times, there is a pressing need to find commonalities and unity, and to create circles, community, and lasting peace on all fronts.
“In this era of extremes, pronounced political and social divisions, and an unwillingness to collaborate, listen, share, and move forward together, literature is an invitation to put yourself in another’s shoes, to empathize, to see the larger picture. These student works are exceptional in their ability to animate that outstretched hand reaching for solidarity,” said Joy Gugeler, Portal’s Publisher and instructor.
This edition tackles pressing issues for both contributors and readers – isolation, the passing or estrangement of parents, miscarriage, fractured relationships, regret, the dehumanization of technology, fleeting youth, physical assault and attempts to break the chain of generational violence, corporate greed and environmental denial, bullying, trans identity, the immigrant experience, drug addiction, our fascination with death, and the courage it takes to face and recover from all of the above.
“As always, Portal touches upon the biggest issues of the day, leaving its literary fingerprints on a wide array of concerns voiced by diverse and creative artists. The entire Portal team has worked tirelessly to elevate and redefine what a literary magazine can be. I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve all accomplished together,” said Co-Managing Editor Lee Groen.
In assembling these 100 pages, Portal also shares an exclusive interview with celebrated Canadian poet Lisa Robertson in October when Pamela Medland and Taylor Fleming entitled “Graphic Accidents: Lisa Robertson on Mining a Lifetime of Notebooks.” Also unique to this issue is an interview with Kayla Czaga “Paying Attention: Kayla Czaga on Making Mistakes, Meeting Idols, and Obituaries” and review of her new collection Midway, as well as six other recent Canadian titles. The issue also features the winning poem for Portal’s 2025 Portent Prize by Sam Bollinger, “Anthropocene.” Next year’s $500 Portent Prize is for Script.
“I'm so proud of the Masthead for creating an issue that does justice to this year's lineup of contributors and artists, all of them inspiring and daring in their own way. We invite readers to take our hand and follow us through the pages,” said Co-Managing Editor Paige Vandop.
Vandop and fellow Managing Editor Lee Groen are two of four emcees for the event -- Acquisitions Editors Tara Wohlleben and Ali Dillon-Cardinal joining them --to celebrate emerging talents. As the Letter from the Editor declares, “Portal portends, it is a sign that something momentous is about to happen, transporting readers to wholly new and imaginative worlds.”
Tickets can be purchased at the door, but advance sales help to confirm numbers. Contact Joy Gugeler, the magazine’s Publisher, at joy.gugeler@viu.ca to arrange a purchase.
Portal 2025 sells for $12 at the launch, on newsstands, and at VIU’s bookstore and online shopping cart. The launch will also feature new Portal merchandise for sale – book bags, T-shirts, and stickers, as well as free bookmarks with front or backlist issues. Follow Portal on Facebook and Instagram for sneak peeks of the cover and excerpts from the magazine’s line-up.
