Cassandra Blanchard is a Canadian poet.Emma Cooper, "‘Fresh Pack of Smokes’ Is Straight-Up Powerful Poetry" . The Tyee, June 4, 2019. Her debut collection, Fresh Pack of Smokes, was the 2020 winner of the ReLit Awards for poetry.Ryan Porter, "ReLit concludes month-long awards celebration by announcing 2020 winners" . Quill & Quire, April 30, 2021.
A member of the Selkirk First Nation originally from Whitehorse, Yukon, she is currently based in Duncan, British Columbia, following a number of years living in Vancouver.Rob Taylor, "Therapy for me and an education for others: An interview with Cassandra Blanchard" . Read Local BC, April 23, 2019. Fresh Pack of Smokes is written as prose poetry, forming what has been described as a poetic memoir of her past experiences with drug addiction, sex work and coming out as queer."Cassandra Blanchard: On Her “Love” Poems and Writing Her First Poetry Collection" . Room, Spring 2020.
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