Mona Fertig

Mona Fertig is a Canadian poet, publisher, editor, and book artist. She is the founder of The Literary Storefront, Canada's first literary centre (1978-1985), and Mother Tongue Publishing. Fertig grew up in Vancouver and attended the Vancouver School of Art. She has been writing poetry since her teenage years and has given numerous readings across Canada and in New York City and San Francisco. She has published several poetry chapbooks and books, including "Mouth for Music" (1979), "4722 Rue Berri" (1986), "Sex, Death & Travel" (1998), "The Unsettled" (2010), and "The Life and Art of George Fertig" (2010). Fertig has also edited numerous anthologies, such as "Love of the Salish Sea Islands," "The Summer Book," and "111 West Coast Literary Portraits." She was a founding member of several literary organizations, including the Feminist Caucus of the League of Canadian Poets, The Federation of BC Writers, and the BC Book Prizes. In 2016, the Vancouver Public Library designated her a Literary Landmark. She has lived on Salt Spring Island for over 30 years with her husband, Peter Haase. Fertig retired from publishing in 2021, and her new poetry collection, "Islander," was released in 2024.