Gavin Barrett

Gavin Barrett is a poet and creative entrepreneur, and the author of Understan, a new collection of poems published by Mawenzi House in June 2020. Understan is a CBC Books recommendation.

Born in Bombay (now Mumbai), of Anglo-Indian and Goan East African parentage, Barrett has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from St. Xavier’s College, Bombay and an M.A. in English Literature from Bombay University. After leaving Bombay, he lived in Hong Kong for several years before immigrating to Canada.

In addition to Understan, his poetry has been published in Ranjit Hoskote’s anthology of 14 contemporary Indian poets, Reasons for Belonging (Viking Penguin, India); the journal of Pen India; The Folio; The Independent; The Toronto Review of Contemporary Writing Abroad; and Poeisis – the journal of the Bombay Poetry Circle — he was a member from its very first meeting.

He is the founder, host and series co-curator of the Tartan Turban Secret Readings, a Toronto reading series that focuses on giving IBPOC writers a stage. He is a member of The League of Canadian Poets and the Canadian Authors Association and sits on its Toronto branch Advisory Board.

(photo by Richard Picton)