The Friends of the Bata Library are hosting a fund-raising dinner on Thursday May 9, 2002 featuring award-winning writer George Elliott Clarke. The dinner is being held in the dining hall at Catharine Parr Traill College, Trent University and begins at 6:45 p.m.

An acclaimed Nova-Scotia-born poet, George Elliott Clarke is this year's Governor General Award winner for his collection of poems, "Execution Songs." His other books include Whylah Falls, a bracing collection of poems about his home territory in Nova Scotia; the libretto for the opera Beatrice Chancy (music by James Rolfe); as well as a recent anthology of Black Maritime writing. A brilliant raconteur and public speaker, as heard on the CBC, he is currently teaching at the University of Toronto.

A limited number of tickets are still available. Tickets are $50 each and include dinner and a tax receipt for $25. Funds raised go toward special purchases for the Bata Library.

Tickets will be available by calling Janice (748-1011 ex. 1326).