Hi Shiuli and Claudia! I had a great time, too. It was fantastic to meet you guys in real life and I left feeling very inspired. Some people have asked to be in touch with others who were there, so I might send one last email about that. Otherwise, the residency is done, so I'm not checking the email anymore. But keep writing and being awesome! Cuz you are. Emily

You're welcome, Nadia! I really liked both your pieces. Keep writing! :)

Hi Nadia, Yeah, Maria asked some thoughtful questions... and Paul had great answers. I hope she sees your comment! E

I'm posting a list of other poems about specific Toronto neighbourhoods that were mentioned when I asked for examples on Facebook. Because: what a wealth of responses I received! 1. The Martyrology Book 5 by bpNichol is all over Toronto; many specifics, but especially the Annex. (There' s a map at the beginning) It plays with the street names. 2. The poet Raymond Souster uses Toronto place names a lot. I know he’s got one called "Girl at the Corner of Dundas and Elizabeth" but I’m sure there are many more by him. 3. The Rosemary Sullivan poem "Double Take" that begins “It happened walking along Bloor Street.” When I google her I see she’s also got one called “Euclid Street” which references the Eaton Centre. Here's "Double Take." 4. Richard Greene "On Sherbourne Street." 5. Rob McLennan wrote a piece on erin moure writing on toronto: "Translating Pessoa: Winnett, Taddle, Garrison": "From Garrison Creek I see the earth to the antipodes of the Universe In this, my street is as big as any planet Because I..." 6. Would Dennis Lee's "Alligator Pie" have one? Like "Wiggle to the Laundromat" 7. Dionne Brand (anything from Thirsty); 8. Raymond Souster (try anything from Queen City) 9. Dorothy Livesay's "Queen City" 10. Erin Moure's "Sheep's Vigil by a Fervent Person" 11. Lynn Crosbie's poetry, especially from Queen Rat. 12. Paul Vermeersch's "The Light Keeps Changing." 13. Corrado Paina -- plenty of Italian Toronto streets in his books. 14. Pier Giorgio Di Cicco's "Six Months of the CN Tower." 15. Maggie Helwig's Glen Gould poem in Talking Prophet Blues (invokes the Don Valley, Toronto, Gould in myriad and powerful ways). 16. Ken Babstock's "Ledger" (in Methodist Hatchet) references the corner of Galley & Roncesvalles. 16. Karen Shenfeld has many poems set in Bathurst Manor. One is called "Bathurst Manor." Also "My Father's Hands Spoke in Yiddish" 17 "Anglosaxon Street," by Earle Birney doesn't name the street, but I think it's near Cabbagetown. It's definitely late 1940s Toronto. 18. Patrick Quinn did a whole book of Toronto poems, I beleive. 19. Al Purdy has a poem, rather humorous, set in Cabbagetown about a midnight visit to the monkeys in the zoo (back then). I think it's called Cabbagetown. --- Thanks to Rob McLennan, Gary Barwin (last year's eWriter in Residence), Lena Coakley, Sarah Elizabeth Ennals, Karen Shenfield, Rosie Lewis, Kate Sutherland, Joyce Grant, Amy Lavender Harris, Marni Jackson, Matthew Blackett, Susie Petersiel Berg.

This is a great post, Amy. It should really get people thinking more about gender and not boxing their characters into stereotypes. Thanks for writing it!