Slave Lake Fire Victim Who Used Poetry for the Healing Process to be Part of Alberta Arts Day

Slave Lake, AB- In the aftermath of the tragic fire that destroyed much of Slave Lake this past May, many of those left behind struggled to come to terms with the destruction it wrought. At this year’s Alberta Arts Day Slave Lake author, Dianne Tchir, will share the writing that helped her cope with the tragedy.

Having lost her home and all of her possessions in the fire that destroyed roughly 40% of the town, Tchir was left with incredible uncertainty and emotional turmoil in the months since the event. Poetry provided her with an outlet to help her better understand the meaning of those losses. The result was a series of ‘Firestorm’ poems and haikus that served an important and cathartic role in her healing process.

“When you lose all the material goods in your life, you’re literally left alone with your thoughts – that can be very difficult emotionally,” explains Tchir. “Getting those experiences and thoughts down on paper, as clichéd as it might sound, really helps alleviate some of the emotional stress and helps give purpose and meaning to what seems like an otherwise senseless event. Sharing what you’ve written also removes some of the isolation you feel after an event like this.”

Alberta Arts Day is an annual celebration showcasing artists and their work from around the province. Dianne will be attending the event on September 30^th with other artists from the Slave Lake area at the Sawridge Hotel Banquet Room, 1200 Main Street South, Slave Lake, (780) 849-3348.

For more information about Dianne and to see samples of her work, visit her at diannetchir.wordpress.com

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 To book an interview contact

Rachel Sentes, Publicist
Rachel@gal-fridaypublicity.com

604-366-7846