Patricia Penn Anne Kemp (born 1944), better known simply as Penn Kemp, is a

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

poet, novelist, playwright, and sound poet who lives in

London, Ontario London is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River (Ontario), Thames River and N ...

. Kemp has been publishing her writing since 1972 and was London's first poet laureate, serving from 2010 to 2013.

Early life and education

Kemp was born on August 4, 1944, in Strathroy, Ontario, to parents Anne Kemp and James "Jim" Kemp. She was raised in the nearby city of

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

. Her father was an advertising and publicity executive at

London Life Insurance The London Life Insurance Company was a Canadian life insurance company that existed from 1874 to 2020. In 1997, London Life was acquired outright by Great-West Lifeco, the holding company of the Great-West Life Assurance Company, headquartered i ...

, painter, and

war artist A war artist is an artist either commissioned by a government or publication, or self-motivated, to document first-hand experience of war in any form of illustrative or depictive record.Imperial War Museum (IWM)header phrase, "war shapes lives" ...

. Penn says she wrote her first poem when she was six years old. She earned a

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

degree in English and literature from the

University of Western Ontario The University of Western Ontario (UWO; branded as Western University) is a Public university, public research university in London, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land, surrounded by residential neighbourhoods and the Thame ...

in 1966 and received certification as a teacher in 1968. In 1988 she received an Ontario Graduate Scholarship to complete a

Masters of Education The Master of Education (MEd or M.Ed. or Ed.M.; Latin ''Magister Educationis'' or ''Educationis Magister'') is a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum an ...

degree at the

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...

Career

Kemp taught high school English in

Timmins Timmins ( ) is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada, located on the Mattagami River. The city is the fourth-largest city in the Northeastern Ontario region with a population of 41,145 at the 2021 Canadian census and an estimated population of ...

and

North York North York is a former township and city and is now one of the six administrative districts of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the northern area of Toronto, centred around Yonge Street, north of Ontario Highway 401. It is bounded by ...

, Toronto for several years. Kemp's first book, ''Bearing Down'', was published by Coach House in 1972. In 1973, it was performed as a radio show for four voices in Seattle. In 1984, Kemp was writer in residence for Niagara Erie Writers in

New York State New York, also called New York State, is a state in the northeastern United States. Bordered by New England to the east, Canada to the north, and Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the south, its territory extends into both the Atlantic Ocean and ...

; for the Labrador School Board in 1986; for Flesherton Library in 1988 and '89; and at

SNDT Women's University SNDT Women's University, also called by its full name Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women's University, is a women's university in the city of Mumbai, India. The university headquarters are at Churchgate in South Mumbai, while the ma ...

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

in 1995. In 1994, Kemp's play, ''What the Ear Hears Last'', was produced by

Theatre Passe Muraille Theatre Passe Muraille is a theatre company in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is on Ryerson Avenue in the Alexandra Park neighbourhood of Toronto. Brief history One of Canada's most influential alternative theatres, Theatre Passe Muraille ("theat ...

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

and, in the same year, she was featured on the

CBC CBC may refer to: Media * Cadena Baja California or Grupo Cadena, a radio and television broadcaster in Mexico * Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canada's radio and television public broadcaster ** CBC Television ** CBC Radio One ** CBC Music ** ...

Radio show, "Sounding Off." In 1995 the Indian Institute of Canadian studies sponsored her tour of

colleges and universities. She was London's inaugural Poet Laureate, serving from 2010 to 2013 and

's Writer-in-Residence (2009–2010). Kemp runs Pendas Productions. In 2021, Kemp was commissioned by

Brescia University College Brescia University College was a Catholic higher education, Catholic Liberal arts college, liberal arts women's college located in London, Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. Affiliated with the University of Western Ontario, Brescia was the la ...

to deliver their inaugural Women's Day Poem. During the university's fourth annual Dr.

Colleen Hanycz Colleen M. Hanycz is a Canadian academic who is currently the president of Xavier University. She served as principal of Brescia University College from 2008 to 2015 and president of La Salle University from 2015 to 2021. On January 11, 2021, it w ...

Leadership Lecture, Kemp performed her poem "Choose to Challenge" as a riff on the theme, "Choose To Challenge: Finding Common Ground Through Dialogue."

Personal life

Kemp's left London, Ontario after graduating from Western University. She returned in 2001 and her mother had a stroke. She now lives in London and considers it her home. Her husband, Gavin Stairs, developed

vascular dementia Vascular dementia is dementia caused by a series of strokes. Restricted blood flow due to strokes reduces oxygen and glucose delivery to the brain, causing cell injury and neurological deficits in the affected region. Subtypes of vascular dement ...

and died in fall 2021.

Works

Theater

* 'Homeward Bound (2015); The Spousal Song (2013). PlayWrights Cabaret, The Grand Theatre, London, * 'The Dream Life of Teresa Harris, Eldon House, London (2013) * 'Scenes from the Electric Folklore Machine, Aeolian Hall, London (2012) * 'Mrtvolka, with Anne Anglin, Daniela Sneppova, Harbourfront Studio Theatre, Toronto * 'The Space Between: A Transmorphous Journey, Wolf Performance Hall, London (2010) * 'Re-Visions: a sound opera, with Brenda McMorrow, Bill Gilliam, Aeolian Hall, London (2009) * 'What the Ear Might Hear, (2009); When the Heart Parts, Playwrights Cabaret (2007) * 'Communication Breakdown, with Chris Meloche, McManus Theatre, London (2008) * 'Re:Animating Animus: a sound opera, Aeolian Hall, London (2008) * 'Xtra Text/ure. Symposium, Playing the Gallery: McIntosh Gallery Western U, London (2007) * 'Darkness Visible: a sound opera, with Chris Meloche, Aeolian Hall, London (2006) * 'Trance Dance Form: sound opera, with Bill Gilliam, Jean Martin, Brick Works, Toronto (2006) * 'Vocal Braiding: an experiment in poetry and theatre (with Patricia Keeney, directed by Don Rubin, 2000.) Performed in Jaipur, India and for Indian television; York University * 'Symposium on Canadian Theatre at the University of Rajasthan (with Don Rubin, 2000) * 'Temporary Harmonies, The Music Gallery, Toronto; U. of Mumbai, India * 'What The Ear Hears Last (The Gathering); Eros Rising, 1978, Theatre Passe Muraille, Toronto * 'Angel Makers, Red Theatre, Toronto. Trance Dance Form, Harbourfront, Toronto (1976) * 'The Epic of Toad and Heron: a play. Toronto Island Clubhouse and ON schools, (1977–2012) * ''The Dream Life of Teresa Harris'' (2013)

Individual poems

* "Simultaneous Translation" in * "The Dream Life of Teresa Harris" in

Poetry collections

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Recordings

* ''On Our Own Spoke''. Penn Kemp, Toronto: Pendas Productions, 2000. (CD/CD-ROM) * ''Two Lips''. Penn Kemp, Anne Anglin, and

Susan McMaster Susan McMaster (born 1950) is a Canadian poet, literary editor, performance poet, and former president of the League of Canadian Poets (2011–12). Early life and education McMaster came to Ottawa with her family in 1955 and attended First Avenue ...

, Toronto: Pendas Productions, 2001. (CD) * ''Time Less Time''. Penn Kemp, Darren Copeland, and Claude Gillard, Toronto: Pendas Productions, 2001. (CD) * ''Souwesto Words: 25 poets in Southwestern Ontario.'' Includes recordings from Penn Kemp, John Tyndall,

Molly Peacock Molly Peacock (born Buffalo, New York 1947) is an American-Canadian poet, essayist, biographer and speaker, whose multi-genre work includes memoir, short fiction, and a one-woman show. Career Peacock's latest book is ''Flower Diary: Mary Hies ...

, Emily Chung, Paul Langille, Sheila Martindale, Roy McDonald, Sadiqa Khan, Jan Figurski, Jody Trevail, Beryl Baigent,

John B. Lee John Busteed Lee (born 1951) is a Canadian author and poet who is Poet Laureate of Brantford, Ontario. Biography Early life Born in Highgate, Ontario, Lee was raised on a farm near the village of Highgate. He went to Ridgetown District Hig ...

Cornelia Hoogland Cornelia Hoogland is a Canadian poet, playwright and retired professor. She lived on Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada, but until 2011 divided her time between London, Ontario as well, where she was a professor at the University of Western ...

, James Reaney, Colleen Thibaudeau, Michael Wilson, Aimee O'Beirn, Jason Dickson, Marianne Micros, Skot Deeming, Victor Elias, David J. Paul, April Bulmer, Julie Berry,

Don Gutteridge Donald Joseph Gutteridge (June 19, 1912 – September 7, 2008) was an American infielder, coach, manager and scout in Major League Baseball. Primarily a second baseman and third baseman, he was a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Br ...

, Ergo Books, 2002. (CD)

As editor

* * * *

Other works

* Text and introduction to

Awards

In 2012, Kemp was awarded the

League of Canadian Poets The League of Canadian Poets (LCP), founded in 1966, is a national non-profit arts service organization based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The organization acts as the national association of professional and aspiring poets in Canada. The League co ...

' Life Membership Award. Kemp received a

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal () or The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2012 to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession in 1952. There are four versions of the medal: one iss ...

in 2013 for her service to the arts. In 2015, the League of Canadian Poets awarded Kemp the

Sheri-D Wilson Sheri-D Wilson, CM D. Litt, (also known as "The Mama of Dada") 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 ...

Golden Beret Award, which honoured her as a spoken-word poet.

External links

Penn Kemp – Penn, poet/playwright/performer

Penn Kemp, Poet Facebook page

Penn Kemp on Twitter

Penn Kemp works on Canadian Play Outlet

Mary McDonald collaborations with Penn Kemp

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kemp, Penn 1944 births Living people Canadian women poets University of Western Ontario alumni University of Toronto alumni Canadian schoolteachers Municipal poets laureate in Canada Canadian women dramatists and playwrights People from Strathroy-Caradoc Canadian spoken word poets 20th-century Canadian poets 20th-century Canadian women writers 21st-century Canadian poets 21st-century Canadian women writers Poets from Ontario