“Monica read everything she could, often gravitating to female authors whose voices, like hers, spoke with strength and integrity.” – Ken Regan
On October 8, 2025, people gathered to celebrate a special evening honouring CKUA host Monica Miller (1955 – 2019) with a lecture by the renowned poet Lorna Crozier at Allard Hall, Edmonton. CKUA is proud to partner with MacEwan University’s Department of English to share the lecture on a special episode of Twilight with Amy van Keeken.
In the words of Alice Major, Lorna Crozier has been “an inspiration to Canadian writers and readers.” Titled “Seven Poeticisms,” Crozier’s lecture is tender, vulnerable, and deeply funny. This lecture was filmed with the support of the MacEwan Media Production, part of the Department of Communication at MacEwan University, and will be made available on YouTube.
Crozier’s address is the fourth one delivered as The Monica Miller Memorial Lecture. The series was launched in 2022 to draw attention to women’s voices in literature. Each annual lecture features a prominent Canadian woman writer. Previous lectures were delivered by Jane Urquhart, Suzette Mayr, and Alissa York.
Ken Regan, Monica’s husband, says that a scholarship was established at MacEwan University when Monica passed away in 2019. He hoped that the project would expand to include more than just the scholarship, because “I didn’t want her name to be lost or forgotten.”
Regan reached out to the English Department at MacEwan to float the idea of launching an annual lecture by a Canadian author. Their response was swift and enthusiastic. “They were fantastic,” says Regan. “They said right away, ‘We can do this, and we will do this.’”
The visiting author also offers a masterclass to Creative Writing students at MacEwan. Regan says, “It’s wonderful that young writers can work with the author.”
Regan notes that the lecture has grown to draw attention from writers and publishers. It has become a popular public event, and every year attendance increases. “I would love for this to go on forever. Whether it will or not, I don’t know. But it’s my hope that it just keeps growing, and continues to engage the community.”
Host Amy van Keeken shared an extemely special episode of Twilight on February 24, 2026. She says, “I am extremely honoured to have Twilight be the space on the CKUA airwaves for this lecture to be shared.” Van Keeken also chose special music to support the lecture, airing beautiful songs between lecture clips.
Watch Lorna Crozier’s full lecture below:
