Manahil Bandukwala

Writer, Visual Artist, and Editor; Managing Editor at Brick Books

BA Honours English with a Minor in Women’s and Gender Studies (�Ӱ�ԭ��, 2020); MA English (Waterloo, 2022)

I completed my B.A. in English from �Ӱ�ԭ�� in 2020, and have since gone on to complete my M.A. and publish two full-length poetry collections. My writing life is greatly informed by my time at �Ӱ�ԭ��, from the creative-writing courses to my involvement with the then-running student magazine In/Words. I developed community-building and writing skills through the English Literature Society’s weekly Writers’ Circle, and met and connected with poets from Ottawa’s literary scene through events like the Spring Extravaganza, some of whom are my close friends and writing champions today! The department’s prizes like the Lilian I. Found Award and George Johnston Poetry Prize were the first literary awards I ever won, and they helped boost my confidence as a writer.

My debut poetry collection, MONUMENT (Brick Books, 2022), was written during my time at �Ӱ�ԭ��, and has been influenced by the courses I was taking at the time. Additionally, my multidisciplinary project, , an exploration of Pakistani folklore, received a lot of support from professors at �Ӱ�ԭ�� and the earliest grants I secured for the project were thanks to this support. Years later, I completed an artist residency for the project and have a book of stories, visual art, and poems called (Mawenzi House, 2023).

I’m continuously working on projects, which you can follow on my .

How has your �Ӱ�ԭ�� English degree informed your professional and/or creative path?

My writing career has flourished thanks to my �Ӱ�ԭ�� degree and the connections I made on campus. I started out volunteering with In/Words Magazine, which opened an opportunity for me to work as Coordinating Editor for Arc Poetry Magazine. I’ve since completed an internship with the Canadian poetry press and now work there as its Managing Editor.

The connections I made at �Ӱ�ԭ�� also helped me understand the world of arts grants. I’ve successfully applied for numerous grants that have allowed me to work as a semi-professional writer.

Why �Ӱ�ԭ��? What specific experiences or opportunities did you benefit from while studying English at �Ӱ�ԭ��?

I was drawn to the English program at �Ӱ�ԭ�� because of its relatively small size, which gave me opportunities to connect with professors and students, and really learn about �Ӱ�ԭ��’s and Ottawa’s writing communities. The Co-Op Program was also a great place to try out different skills and types of jobs, and has continuously helped me in my professional life today.