Moving houses
Melora Koepke
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Rob Benvie: Camouflaged as a writer
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Coach House Books makes headway eastward in hope of saving its homeland
"When I was an undergrad at the University of Winnipeg, Coach House books were objects of fascination for me... not only was the writing outstanding, but the books themselves were works of art," says local poet Jon Paul Fiorentino. It isn't only Coach House books that are fetish objects in the purest sense of the term. The building itself attracts visits from pilgrims and literati every day of the year. There is mysticism in the old coach houses of 401 Huron Street, Toronto, which have been operational as a printing press since 1968, with stained glass windows by Robert Fones and walls painted by David Bolduc.
The inky benedictions of the printing presses at CH have also been transforming their community for almost 40 years, both literally and figuratively. Through its illustrious history, Coach House Press's commitment to taking literary risks has made them a jumping-off point for some of the country's biggest names: André Alexis, Margaret Atwood, Christian Bök, George Bowering, Matt Cohen, Lynn Crosbie, Atom Egoyan, Dany Laferrière, Ann-Marie MacDonald, Gwendolyn MacEwen, Guy Maddin, Alberto Manguel, Don McKellar, Anne Michaels, bpNichol (for whom the alley behind Huron Street is now named), Michael Ondaatje, Paul Quarrington, Michael Redhill, Gail Scott, Susan Swan, and countless others.
It seems shocking, considering all this CanCred, that anyone would ever consider demolishing Coach House for any reason. But the buildings are slated for demolition by Campus Co-op Residence Inc. of the
University of Toronto, the landlord, in order to design and build more student bunks. The press, which has also been called "the most famous address in Canadian letters," may now need even more fame. Though the outfit is well known in Ontario and westerly, it has a much smaller profile in Quebec. With the idea in mind to create stronger ties between Coach House Books and the Montreal lit scene, Matrix magazine set up an annual event.
Fiorentino (an editor of Matrix and the author of Hello Serotonin, a CH book from last spring) hosts the second annual edition of Coach House Takes Montreal, where the press's fall authors will launch their books. Rob Benvie, fresh off his go with Camouflage Nights at Pop Montreal, sends off his first novel, Safety of War, on the occasion. Julia Williams opens the floodgates with her water-themed debut poetry collection, The Sink House, and former Montrealer Heather Birrell will read from her story collection, I know you are but what am i? Other readers include Geoffrey Brown, Mark Truscott and special surprise guests.
oooVancouver poet-pornographer Mingus Tourette (a name so good it's bad!) has declared a Poetry Emergency in Canada. He and a bunch of other panicked poetry practitioners cap off their cross-Canada Write the Nation tour when their Chevy C-30 one-ton pink ambulance, sirens a-blaring, screeches to a halt at Café Esperanza.
"People can either get on board, get out of the way, or get run down in the street like a dog," warns Tourette, the author of NUNT (Zygote Books).
Coach House Takes Montreal
Casa del Popolo, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m.
With music by The Sally Fields
Poetry Emergency
Café Esperanza, Oct. 22
It is so sad that such a historic and important literary building is being threatened with demolition so that there can be more student residences - surely there is space elsewhere? There are so many conglomerated, multi-national publishing houses with affiliated printing presses around the world that smaller endeavours like The Coach House really deserve support. I find it deplorable that the landlord (being a promoter and place of higher and further education at that) should even be considering getting rid of such a beautiful building: it doesn't make sense.
But then again, there's probably more money to be made from it being student halls than a piece of Canadian literary history and life: in this sick consumerist world, books, aesthestics and memories unfortunately don't hold much sway over profits.
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Ellen Reid
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{38 votes}
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It is quite astonishing that a reputable publisher and writer might engage in such shabby story-telling as would completely dupe a valued readership into believing that Coach House Books is "slated for demolition by Campus Co-op Residence Inc.". The landlord in this case is not the University of Toronto. In fact, this residence is a student owned organization (read "co-op") itself struggling to remain financially viable. We continue to support this cultural community and its laudable literary history (both in spirit and in-kind). Despite poorly investigated media releases and headline rhetoric, we continue to work towards the integrated preservation of this site. To be clear: There are no plans to demolish Coach House Books!
Dr. Steven Hanson
Director of Operations
Campus Co-operative Residence Inc.
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Steve Hanson
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{4 votes}
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I had the honour of being a student of Anne-Marie Macdonald, a wonderful writer and person. she changed the way I looked at all art and artistic creation not just literature but architecture, sculpture and film.
UofT student housing can be erected anywhere else in the central downtown district of toronto and its a shame that we, as torontonians are not fighting harder to preserve our heritage.
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Alon Lyons
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{11 votes}
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| Sign up to save the Coach House |
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Everyone should email the mean landlord, the University of Toronto. Don't they study architecture or history there?? Doesn't a famous landmark mean anything. Unbelieveable.
Toronto needs as many historic, beautiful buildings as it can save, since it is such a drab, uncharming city in most respects. There are beautiful old neighbourhoods, but not as many as Montreal. They should set an example to the youth attending University and show that history, memories and architecture are more important than more beds!! Surely the Co-op should know that. If it is a losing battle, I hope they can at least preserve the facade and the stained glass windows in some way.
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Joyce Stemkowsky
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{5 votes}
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