Electric Mermaid Live Reads Featuring: Kamal Parmar @Char's

Electric Mermaid Live Reads Featuring: Kamal Parmar @Char'sWednesday August 26th 2026 doors 5:30pm open mic 6-8pm
Nanaimo poet and writer, Kamal Parmar has been passionately involved in writing since the last 20 years.  She has a number of books, in poetry and non-fiction, to her credit.  Her poems are simple, though poised and evocative enough to set the reader thinking.  She also has a number of poetry publications in reputed Canadian literary journals and magazines.  She has a few books published in UK, Canada and India.  She has won many Honorable Mentions and prizes for her poems and has also given many poetry readings and presentations in various libraries, in ON, SK and in BC.  Her books are available in most libraries in Canada and she is also a book reviewer.
She was an active Board member of the B.C Federation of Writers, and was also Secretary of The Ontario Poetry Society, while in Ontario. She was also an active member of various Writers’ organisations and Guilds. Currently, she is a full member of the League of Canadian Poets , a member of Haiku Canada and of The Writers Union of Canada . She is also a Board member of the Canadian Authors Association—BC Branch.
During her tenure as a Poet Laureate of Nanaimo, she had been organizing readings and panel discussions with the community of Nanaimo and other cities of Vancouver Island, in order to create awareness about poetry .
She is of the view that whether one is a beginner, playing with words or an established writer, poetry is a very powerful tool in combating any ills in us ..be it mental, social, emotional or physical. Poetry reveals the ‘inner voice’ of a person.
Her latest ie. eighth poetry book is titled, ‘A silent serenade.’
to  buy  her books at  http://www.silverbowpublishing.com/store.html
WebSite => https://poeticverse.ca/books/

What to Expect: Whether you join the Electric Mermaid in person at Char’s Landing or via Zoom, expect to enjoy an eclectic array of open mic readers sharing brief (5 minute max) samples from their literary, and sometimes musical, works, along with a longer reading from one or more featured reader(s) sharing published, or soon to be published, work. Come engage with a dynamic and inspiring literary event that welcomes and encourages writers at all levels of development.
The Electric Mermaid is a hybrid literary event that began over 20 years ago under the banner of Words on Fire. First organized by North Island College creative writing students Fran Thiessen, Vicki Drybrough, and Libbie Morin, monthly meetings took place in Smitty’s Restaurant on 3rd Avenue in Port Alberni with reader’s voices competing with the clatter of dishes emanating from the kitchen. After a brief stint in another café, Words on Fire graduated to Char’s Landing where it persisted for a few years before its resurrection into its current iteration as Electric Mermaid, named in honour of Luma, a mermaid sculpture that illuminates the hall at Char’s. Covid pushed the event onto Zoom, and it continues to thrive as a hybrid event enjoyed by audiences live at Char’s and across Canada and beyond on Zoom.

Electric Mermaid: Live Reads from Char's Landing, Port Alberni, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada and via ZOOM !

Spoken Word Open Mic, last Wednesday of each month, Char's physical doors open 5:30pm Pacific Time, Live Reads 6-8pm

Emcee: Derek Hanebury   Moderator: Karl Korven   ZOOM Producer: Charlene Patterson

We also welcome you to join us via ZOOM and click this automatic ZOOM link below:https://zoom.us/j/93236999892?pwd=N2FLZkxGMUhyTk5ySGVOenhuZFcxdz09

PRE-REGISTER and sign up for a 5-minute spot at the open mic by emailing ElectricMermaidReads@gmail.com

PayWhatYouCan cover in lieu of rental to help Char's Landing support the live arts gratefully accepted with our thanks.OR eTransfer to electricmermaidreads@gmail.com please include the event date and your email address