About Us
The Association of Writers and Poets "Desanka Maksimovic" was founded in 1978, in Toronto when its namesake, the famous Serbian poetess Desanka Maksimovic, made a visit to Canada. Desanka. Maksimovic is known for inspiring and encouraging the writers in Diaspora to preserve their national and cultural heritage by writing in their mother tongue.
Due to the ongoing war in former Yugoslavia, many members, the most of them non-Serbs, have left the Association, feeling apprehensive about belonging to an organization associated with Serbia. But many others have remained - dedicated writers and literature lovers who believed that the Association's activities made a difference. Over the years the Association has published two anthologies of Serbian Canadian poets, "I say, I'm Going to Tell You My Secrets", in 1999 and "From Hearts to the Homeland", in 1989. Both are available in bilingual, English/Serbian versions.
Other activities of the Association include poetry readings, book presentations of ??? writers who live here in Canada, as well as guest writers from Serbia, and evenings in memory of celebrated Serbian writers.
The members of the Association of Writers and Poets "Desanka Maksimovic" publish their poetry and fiction in many literary magazines, collections and anthologies, mostly in Serbia. Also, the books of many members have been translated in English, and some of the poets write in both languages, English and Serbian.
In 2008, the Association will celebrate its anniversary - 30 years of existence and activities in promoting Serbian language and literature in Canada, as well as giving support to Serbian Canadians and their children to cherish their language and tradition in their new homeland.