Why a poetry journal dedicated to a specific area?

Souwesto, popularized by James Reaney and Greg Curnoe decades ago, has a rich, artistic history & present day. Without conveying an affront to larger areas such as the GTA or American border cities, Souwesto has a unique, lived experience akin to relatively smaller metropolitan areas and rural communities. Of course, this has dramatically changed in the 2020s, with an ever-burgeoning growth in population for cities such as London, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Windsor; and with folks from Toronto choosing this region to reside in, as well as the obvious influences of our shared, online culture, our distinctiveness may no longer be as readily apparent, but yet the geographic perspectives remain. Focusing on a particular region provides much less travel stress for the organizing of future events, as well as keeping the costs of producing physical issues at a minimum. From the start, SPR will be a digital magazine, though possible print options will be immediately pursued. Poetry is a craft the editor/publisher is well acquainted with, so the journal will be engaged with presenting new and unpublished verse; as well as poet interviews + book/chapbook reviews pertaining to Souwesto authors. Thank you for coming aboard.

—Andreas Gripp

   April, 2026