Ken Babstock | The Walrus
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Ken Babstock

Ken Babstock's books have won The Griffin Prize, The Trillium Award, and The Latner Prize. His most recent poetry collection is Swivelmount.
Illustration of a kitchen on fire, with a man sitting at the kitchen table, holding a phone to his ear, with a laptop in front of him.
May 2021 / Memoir

When Death Is Preferable to Taxes

April 6, 2021October 19, 2021 - by Ken Babstock

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit helped me survive COVID-19’s first wave. Then the government tried to claw back the cash

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A black-and-white portrait of a man against a pink and purple background
Poetry

Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos

November 4, 2019 - by Ken Babstock

The sheep-horse has a feather in its cap, / a single hieroglyphic / eye

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June 2012 / Poetry

Hoffos at MOCCA, Hester at ACCA

June 12, 2012July 20, 2017 - by Ken Babstock

Subfusc, innerwhelmed, surfing some weightless valence of privilege and white glare on the esplanade at St Kilda. Sun batters a quincunx of big, deliquescent palms. The harbour’s all Piaget Chronograph. …

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April 2007 / Poetry

Caledonia

April 12, 2007July 5, 2017 - by Ken Babstock

Then we came out in numbers. As Canadians we came out in numbers with flags. With flags aloft and hooting we stepped out in anger and in numbers. In numbers …

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The Walrus is located within the bounds of Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit. This land is also the traditional territory of the Anishnabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.

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© 2025 The Walrus. All Rights Reserved. Charitable Registration Number: No. 861851624-RR0001
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© 2023 The Walrus. All Rights Reserved.
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​​The Walrus is located within the bounds of Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit. This land is also the traditional territory of the Anishnabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.

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As the executive director, I am frequently asked this question. These days, I reply: “The Walrus was made for this moment.” From on-again, off-again trade news and negotiations to a new prime minister, we are committed to Canada’s conversations. We launched six regional bureaus earlier this year to ensure comprehensive coverage across this great country of ours. But we can’t do this alone. As a non-profit newsroom, this work isn’t possible without our readers’ support. If you believe in Canada’s stories, support our paywall-free journalism with a donation today.

Our team is small, but our commitment is big; just like our country. Every story we publish is the result of writers, artists, and editors going the extra mile (well, kilometres) to bring Canada closer together through compelling, fact-checked, and regionally grounded reporting.

Thank you for your support.

Jennifer Hollett
Executive Director, The Walrus


How’s The Walrus?

As the executive director, I am frequently asked this question. These days, I reply: “The Walrus was made for this moment.” From on-again, off-again trade news and negotiations to a new prime minister, we are committed to Canada’s conversations. We launched six regional bureaus earlier this year to ensure comprehensive coverage across this great country of ours. But we can’t do this alone. As a non-profit newsroom, this work isn’t possible without our readers’ support. If you believe in Canada’s stories, support our paywall-free journalism with a donation today.

Our team is small, but our commitment is big; just like our country. Every story we publish is the result of writers, artists, and editors going the extra mile (well, kilometres) to bring Canada closer together through compelling, fact-checked, and regionally grounded reporting.

Thank you for your support.

Jennifer Hollett
Executive Director, The Walrus

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