14-The Canadian Champion, Friday, February 27, 2004 ntertciitu-tieiii iNew poetry book targeted at business people By STEPHANIE THIESSEN The Champion Three years ago area resi- dent and businesswomnan Tracy Repchuk found herseif trapped in a passionless existence. On the outside, she seemed to have il ail. But as the saying goes, looks can be deceiving. GEOGEOW f CINEMAS II\ 23 GUELPH STREET 873-1999 050 FIRST DATES Day 6:45 p.m &9:00pl.m. Sat. & Sun. 2:00p.m. GTWISTED Day 6:45& 9:00p.m Sat &Sa 20Cp Violence -Coarse nug OMoosEPoRT F Dasl 6:45 im. &9:00 p.m. Sa!. & Sun. 2:00p.m. Theatre Pae*iog Avallable et Rear 1I realized that t wasn't satisfied," said the Kilbride resident. t was bored with e- mails and computers. I thought, 'l have 10 find out what my passion is' As the creator of Bravo Software Group. which develops software applications and distributes them world-wide, Ms Repchuk's life was certainly more than "e- mails and computers". She travelled around the world and interacted with important business people, handling large accounts. But she was bored. Three years later, Ms Repchuk is riding bigh afler having re-discovered a passion for poelry that fulfilîrd her longing. A book she had published last September -the Poetry of Business - is the tangible result of ber search for fulfilîment. With a book tour at Indigo/Chapters stores across Ontario and the continuation of Bravo Software, Ms Repchuk is now busier than ever and loving every minute of il. "1 had to go back 10 grade I toi find my truc passion for writing. From that moment on, evrrything changcd. Within thrre weeks, I was elecîed national co-ordinator of the Canadian Poetry Association." She also founded the Canadian Federation of Poets. of whicb she's presi- dent. 'Me Poetry of Business isn't your aver- age poetry book. As ils name suggests. the book of 65 poems is targeted at business people. BE à%-, Poems in the book aIl have someîbing to do witb life in the business world, Ms Repcbuk said. lbs humorous, yet thoughl- provoking. Tilles include tl Think the Corporate Ladder is Broken' and 'Marketing Mantra'.- 'Me book has a multi-pronged purpose - 10 help her readers appreciate poetry,_ find their passions and lead satisfying lives, be il in the business world or elsewhere. Ms Repchuk said she tbinks each reader will fend one poem that speaks 10 bim or ber in a special way. 'Me Poelry of Business is, iln many ways. a self-belp book: But Ms Repchuk said she thinks readers will remember the book's content more than if il were wrinten in the typical self belp style. 'Poemns stick more than 'The Seven Sleps of ..."' Ms Repcbuk said, adding il was important that ber mes- sage n01 come across as being "preacby." As a ressît of reading ber book, somne people will realize they don't want 10 stay in the business world. Others will realize tbey're wberr tbey want to be but need to re-discover the passion tbey once frît. Ms Repcbuk said she purposrly decided to aim ber first poelry book -she plans 10 write more -ai wbaî she saw as the.most cballenging crowd. Afler aIl, she said, busi- ness people aren't known 10 be particularly mbt poetty. Altbougb Ms Repcbuk targetrd the busi- ness world partly as a challenge for berself, she said she also saw poetry as baving the abilily 10 strongly impact that crowd. Poelry activates the rigbt side of the brain, associatrd wilh the arts. Since most business people deal with logic and num- bers aIl day working the left sidesý of their brains -poetry can help them sec life in a wbole new lighl, Ms Repchuk said. "Il exercises a portion of the brain that probably hasn't had mucb attention lalelït." Deemed Canada's ambassador of poetry, AIl1 Leather and Shearl ing Coats on Sale! Buy 1 Get the 2nd* 5OFF Sale ends February 29th, 2004 Downtown Acton Junction e7 & #25 Toi Free: 1-866-571-6028 I11111111111111111111 I Ms Repcbuk satd sine bopes 10 make port- ry appeal Io the masses. 1 want 10 make poetry mainstream -so il's not just abour siîîing in coffre bouses." she said, adding many people are tururd off of poetry in their bigh sebool years after traumatie experiences wilb Shakespeare. As far as touring, Ms Repcbuk said she couldn't ask for anything more. 'Touring is a dream come truc," she said. "',an author on tour. I'm genting rvrry- thing 1 asked for." Since sbe's used 10 public speaking from ber days in the business world, Ms Repchuk satd she loves speaktng 10 the crowds that galber for ber book signmngs - which arr actually more like mini-seminars on realizing dreamo. Always a fan of humour, Ms Rrpchuk said she tells people she meets 10 read ber book Whrrever and whenever they bave a moment 10 tbrmselves. "t'm tellmng people 10 take Ibis book witb thrmn 10 the toilet. Afler ail, wbere's the best place in the world to tbink?" Srephanie Thiessen can be reached at sthiessen@miltoncanadianchampion.com. Klibride author Tr a cy Repchuk shows off h orI rec.ntly- publlshed book of poes, whlch le almed at business people. Ihe bock la now avla"ble a8 t Chapters Photo by GRAHAM PAINE 7MM TO N Arts Milton presents... HOW DO YOU SPELI ENTERTAI NMENT? www.artsmilton.com Visit our events calendar for ful details of this year's performances, and our monthly Spotlight feature. Fri. Fe5 27, TUESOAY ARTISTS Seit, FaS 28, Art Show and Sale 10am-Spm Sun, Feb 29 Upstairs an Loblaws, Milton Son, F05 29, 4:GOpm HALTON YOUTH SYMPHON, Concert Nelson High ScSnnl, Burlingtn Tue, Mar 2, & Wert, Mar 3 HALTON REGtON MUSEUM item & 12:lSpm Thte Spirit of Harriet Tuttman. Thons, Mer 4, item Ttringa my Fore-Siaters Site -John 11h01 iTheatre, Georgetown, 905-875-2200 (21) Fr!, Mer 5 tttrough HARROP HOUSE GALLERY Wâd, Mar 31 The Teste et Tusceny Exhubit 345 Steeles t., Milton 905-878-811 Fni, Mar 5, 8:DOpm MILTONI CONCERT PRESENTATtONS Gershwein and Friends St. Pasi's United Church, 123 Main St, Milton, 905-878-4732 Son, Mari7, 8:U0pm Fr. MARK CURTIS, Concert St. James Anglican Church Guelph, 905-822-1061 Fni, Mer 26, B:00pm GEORGETOWN BACH CHORALE Set. Mar 27, 8:GO0em Spring Festival - Piano trio 157 Main Sn. S., Georgetown, Resersatians: 905-877-6569 on 905-877-2711 Set, Mer 27, 7:N0pm IITERACY NORTH HALTON Tedt Outerbridge - Illusionisl Georgetown Little Theatre, 905-873-2200 Ser, Mer 27, i:30pm NATHANIEL DETT CHORALE Sn. Paul's United Churc5. 123 Main St, Miltan, 905-878-6807 or 8895 Tuen, Mer 30, 1:OOpm KERRY STRATTON'S msis appreciation series tirroogi tu May 4 A Little Niglît Music (6 weeks) St. Pasi's United Church, 123 Main St, Milton, 905-886-2185 Important Estate Auction Sale For The Late Max and Mary Storev of Rockwood. ON. Saturday, March 6th, at 10:0Oam SHARP ln the Agricultural Hall on Robert St., Milton Fairgrounds, Milton This sale consists of over 500 lots of antiques collected throughout Max's long auctioning career From early Canadiatta fumniture to Victorian; rare oil lamps, glass & china 10 include Cranberry, Camnival, Mary Gregory, R.S.Prussia & Etc., figurai napkin rings, canes, local crocks & stoneware, gingerbeer botîles, R.D.Figurines. primitives, etc., etc. For a more complete listing visit www.auctionsfind.com/doncolling Previewing on Fri Match 5, 3pm 10o 6pm and again starting at 8:30 am Sat. March 6 day of sale 'til sale time. Terrus are cash or cheque with proper ID only. A $2.00 registration fee. but no buyers premium. Auctioneer Don Collhng (905) 877-0117 4 ý 1