Update: We’re delighted to share that Francis Arevalo will join this event, with Lucia Misch as the host! Johnny MacRae and Jillian Christmas are unfortunately no longer able to join us.
Our Spoken Word event series, curated and hosted by award-winning poet and spoken word artist Jillian Christmas, is a highlight of our youth programming every year—and so popular that we offer two chances to hear it, both of which sell out long before Festival Week. This Word! features three exceptional performers: rapper, spoken word poet, and mental health advocate Francis Arevalo; Emilee Nimetz, who is known as both a poet and actor for their vulnerability, authenticity, and magnetic presence; and Anjalica Solomon, who blends their Desi roots and Pacific Northwest upbringing in art forms such as singing, songwriting, loop pending, poetry, and the spoken word. Grades 8–12.
Themes: Poetry, spoken word, performance, storytelling
Curriculum Connections: English Language Arts 8–9, Spoken Language 10–12
More information about the Festival:
Box Office | Accessibility | Venue Map
Event Participants:
FRANCIS AREVALO is an East Vancouver-born-and-based rapper and spoken word poet who is equal parts hype and heart. From the intersection of his Filipino heritage, knack for language, and lifelong love for hip-hop, he creates music to explore self, connect, share love, cultivate growth, light up darkness, and question the worlds around us. He hopes each song can be both fuel and fire to keep you going and keep you company, day in and day out. Through each performance, he strives to energize, empower, gather, and inspire his community. He recently released a 3-song EP with Toronto-based producer TLO, and announced his next project is the “Home, Grown” album, years in the making, releasing 2026. He is also a passionate mental health advocate living with Bipolar Type 1 Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, whose journey telling his story through music was the subject of an award-winning documentary "The Lion".
JILLIAN CHRISTMAS is an artist, creative facilitator, curator, consultant, and arts advocate. She is the long-time spoken word curator of the Vancouver Writers Fest, and former artistic director of Verses Festival of Words. She is the author of The Gospel of Breaking, The Magic Shell, and My Sweet Baby Book.
EM NIMETZ (they/them) drifts fluidly between the stage, page, and screen, as a poet, playwright, actor, dancer, and filmmaker. They are a UBCP/ACTRA award nominated actor and a Van Slam Champion, with five poetry collections. This is their third time at Vancouver Writers Fest, arriving, as always, where the theatre and words holds their quiet, impossible magic.
ANJALICA SOLOMON is a genderfluid Desi poet, singer, songwriter, spoken word artist, organiser and multi-disciplinary performer. They blend their Desi roots and Pacific NorthWest up-bringing in art forms such as singing, songwriting, loop pending, poetry, and the spoken word. Anjalica is currently exploring new genres such as screenwriting, non-fic and playwriting as an MFA student in The School of Creative Writing at UBC.
