Jessica Tremblay is a Canadian haiku poet and cartoonist, best known as the creator of Old Pond Comics. Originally from Québec, she began writing haiku in her teens and published her first collections, Le sourire de l’épouvantail (2003) and Les saisons de l’épouvantail (2004), with Les Éditions David.

Her haiku poems appeared in several anthologies and were exhibited in museums, art galleries and public spaces. Her haiku "late for work / cherry petals / in my hair" was sculpted on a rock that can be seen at the VanDusen Botanical Gardens.

In 2007, she launched Old Pond Comics as a playful and educational fusion of haiku and comics. Her comics appeared in international haiku journals and online. She received grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the British Columbia Arts Council to expand the “haiku-comic” form.

In recent years, Jessica expanded into electronic literature and hybrid forms. In 2022 she was part of the ILINU/ILIDI digital literature incubator, collaborating with Mexican poet Marjha Paulino on a generative, multimedia work that was featured in the Electronic Literature Organization’s “(un)linked” exhibition".

She lives in British Columbia, Canada.

 

Listen to "Long Walk", a haiku by Jessica Tremblay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CV - Haiku

Books

• Le sourire de l’épouvantail: haïku. Ottawa: Editions David, 2002. Print.
• Les saisons de l’épouvantail: haïku. Ottawa: Editions David, 2003. Print.

Anthologies

• Le plus petit poeme au monde, Helene Leclerc, 2024. Print
• Mon été haiku, by Jeanne Painchaud, 2020. Print.
• Anthologie du tanka francophone. Laval: Editions du Tanka Francophone, 2010. Print.
• Montreal: a haiku anthology. Pointe-Claire: King's Road Press, 2010. Print.
• La lune dans les cheveux. Beauvais: Editions l'iroli, 2010. Print.
• Adrénaline. Gatineau: Editions Vents d'Ouest, 2009. Print.
• Where the Wind Turns: The Red Moon Anthology of English-Language Haiku. Winchester, VA: Red Moon Press, 2009. Print.
• Carpe Diem: Canadian Haiku Anthology. Ottawa: Editions David, 2008. Print.
• Pixels. Gatineau: Editions Vents d'Ouest, 2008. Print.
• La rumeur du coffre à jouets. Beauvais: Editions l'iroli, 2008. Print.
• One thousand cranes. Romania: Société de Haiku de Roumanie, 2008. Print.
• Regards de femmes. Lyon/Montréal : Editions de l’Association Française du Haïku/ Adage, 2008. Print.
• Dix vues du haïku. Lyon : Editions de l'AFH, 2007. Print.
• L'érotique: poème court/haïku. Bruxelles: Editions biliki, 2006. Print.
• Dire la flore. Ottawa: Editions David, 2004. Print.
• Dire la faune. Ottawa: Editions David, 2003. Print.
• Poèmes du lendemain: Trois. Trois-Rivières: Ecrits des Forges, 1994. Print.

 

Awards

• Golden Haiku, Washington D.C. (2016)
• Ricepaper Haiku Death Match with Kim Fu and Elaine Wood, First Place Winner (September 29 2013)
• Fuji-San Haiku Contest, Japan (2011)
• Kusamakura Award,Third Prize, haiku, Japan (2009)
• International Haiku Award, haiku, Romania (2009)
• Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival Haiku Invitational (2008 Best BC poem, 2006 honorable mention)
• Mainichi International Haiku Contest, Japan (2007)
• poetry in transit, Concours Et si j’étais poète, Montreal (September 2007), finalist
• Concours de haikus et senryu (Association francaise de haiku), France (2005)

 

Exhibition Work (haiku in public places)

• 2016 Washington D.C. (street), United States
• 2016 Words. Northern Front Studio Gallery, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
• 2016 VanDusen Botanical Garden (garden), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• 2015 Casa de Cultura de Azcapotzalco (cultural centre), Mexico City, Mexico.
• 2015 VanDusen Botanical Garden (garden), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• 2013 Attention: Poesie Lumineuse (Printemps des Poetes de Quebec). Musee National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec (museum), Quebec city, Quebec, Canada
• 2012 Attention: Poesie Lumineuse (Nuit Blanche de Montreal en lumiere). Grande Bibliotheque (library), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• 2011 Haiku Inspirations. Federation of Canadian Artists gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• 2011 Centre du Jardin Deux-Montagnes (garden), Deux-Montagnes, Quebec, Canada
• 2009 Vancouver transit (buses and skytrains), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
• 2008 Festival francophone du haiku (sidewalk), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• 2008 VanDusen Botanical Garden (garden), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• 2007 Et si j'étais poète. Métro de Montréal (metro stations and trains), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• 2006 Sous vos pas, des poemes: parcours poetique au fil des trottoirs. Marché francophone de la Poésie (sidewalk) Montreal, Quebec, Canada

 

Public Speaking - Haiku

• 2017 “Haijins and Haiku in French Canada: beginnings and trends. ” Haiku North America, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Presentation.
• 2015 Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, Kerrisdale Community Centre, Vancouver. Haiku workshop.
• 2013 “The French (Haiku) Revolution.” Seabeck Haiku Retreat, Seabeck, Washington. Presentation.
• 2012 “Under the cherry tree.” Chapters bookstore, Vancouver, British Columbia. Reading.
• 2011 "Canadian Haiku." Haiku North America, Seattle, Washington. Panelist.
• 2008 “Haiku through the Eyes of a Child.” Haiku Quebec, Quebec city, Quebec. Presentation.
• 2006 “Selected Haiku.” Marché francophone de la poésie, Montréal, Quebec. Reading
• 2005 Salon du Livre de l'Outaouais, Palaid des congres de Gatineau, Author presence.
• 2004 SoLoVoX, Cafe l'Utopik, Montreal, Quebec. Reading.
• 2004 Marche francophone de la poesie, Montreal, Quebec. Reading.
• 2004 Salon du Livre de Montreal, Place Bonaventure, Montreal, Quebec. Author presence.
• 2004 Salon international du livre de Quebec, Centre des Congres de Quebec,Quebec. Author presence.
• 2003 Salon du Livre de Montreal, Place Bonaventure, Montreal, Quebec. Author presence.

 

Interview

• Entretien Jessica Tremblay, par Jean Antonini, Gong: revue francophone de haiku, No. 19 ,Avril 2008
• Meet the prompters: Jessica Tremblay

Professional Activities
 
2007-2009       Secretary, Association Francophone de haiku, Lyon, France (online).
2007-2009       Coordinator of the magazine Gong, Association Francophone de haiku, Lyon, France (online).   
2007-2008       Member of the Board, Association Francophone de haiku, Lyon, France (online)..

 

Grants

• Canada Council for the Arts, Professional Development for Artists, 2017
• British Columbia Arts Council, Project Assistance for Creative Writers, 2015
• British Columbia Arts Council, Professional Development Project Assistance, 2015
• Canada Council for the Arts, Grant for Professional Writers, Exploratory Writing, 2014

 

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Photos

 

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