Portal “Reaches Out” to its community at the launch of its 2025 issue

The magazine launches on April 25 at the Bowen Park Auditorium from 7:30 to 9:30 pm.

Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) student-run literary magazine, Portal, celebrates the release of its 34th issue at Bowen Park Auditorium, 500 Bowen Rd. Doors open at 7 pm with a catered reception and live music, and readings begin at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $25 and include a $12 copy of the new issue. 

The evening will feature short excerpts by most of its 21 authors, followed by the presentation of 18 creative writing scholarships. This year’s theme builds on Bailey Bellisolo’s striking art of an outstretched hand on a bright red cover, “To Hold.” The image suggests that, in these especially anxious times, there is a pressing need to find commonalities and unity, and to create circles, community and lasting peace on all fronts.

“In this era of extremes, pronounced political and social divisions, and an unwillingness to collaborate, listen, share and move forward together, literature is an invitation to put yourself in another’s shoes, to empathize, to see the larger picture. These student works are exceptional in their ability to animate that outstretched hand reaching for solidarity,” said Joy Gugeler, Portal’s Publisher and Instructor.

This edition tackles pressing issues for both contributors and readers – isolation, the passing or estrangement of parents, miscarriage, fractured relationships, regret, the dehumanization of technology, fleeting youth, physical assault and attempts to break the chain of generational violence, corporate greed and environmental denial, bullying, trans identity, the immigrant experience, drug addiction, our fascination with death, and the courage it takes to face and recover from all of the above.

“As always, Portal touches upon the biggest issues of the day, leaving its literary fingerprints on a wide array of concerns voiced by diverse and creative artists. The entire Portal team has worked tirelessly to elevate and redefine what a literary magazine can be. I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve all accomplished together,” said Co-Managing Editor Lee Groen.

Portal also shares an exclusive interview with celebrated Canadian poet Lisa Robertson by Pamela Medland and Taylor Fleming entitled “Graphic Accidents: Lisa Robertson on Mining a Lifetime of Notebooks.” 

Also unique to this issue is an interview with Kayla Czaga, “Paying Attention: Kayla Czaga on Making Mistakes, Meeting Idols, and Obituaries” and a review of her new collection Midway, as well as six other recent Canadian titles. The issue also features the winning poem for Portal’s 2025 Portent Prize by Sam Bollinger, “Anthropocene.” Next year’s $500 Portent Prize is for script.

“I’m so proud of the masthead for creating an issue that does justice to this year’s lineup of contributors and artists, all of them inspiring and daring in their own way. We invite readers to take our hand and follow us through the pages,” said Co-Managing Editor Paige Vandop. 

Vandop and Groen are two of four emcees for the event, joined by Acquisitions Editors Tara Wohlleben and Ali Dillon-Cardinal, to celebrate emerging talents. As the letter from the editor declares, “Portal portends, it is a sign that something momentous is about to happen, transporting readers to wholly new and imaginative worlds.” 

Tickets can be purchased at the door, but advance sales help to confirm numbers. Contact Joy Gugeler at joy.gugeler@viu.ca to arrange a purchase.

Portal 2025 sells for $12 at the launch, on newsstands, and at VIU’s bookstore and online shopping cart. The launch will also feature new Portal merchandise for sale – book bags, T-shirts and stickers, as well as free bookmarks with front or backlist issues. Follow Portal on Facebook and Instagram for sneak peeks of the cover and excerpts from the magazine’s lineup.

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Media Contact:

Rachel Stern, Communications Officer, Vancouver Island University

C: 250.618.0373 l E: Rachel.Stern@viu.ca | W: news.viu.ca

The VIU community acknowledges and thanks the Snuneymuxw, Quw’utsun, Tla’amin, Snaw-naw-as and Qualicum First Nation on whose traditional lands we teach, learn, research, live and share knowledge.