Ken Blacklock - Cowboy Poet

Ken Blacklock - Cowboy Poet
Ken Blacklock hails from Wabamun and Glenevis, Alberta. He is a very prolific poet who composes hundreds of poems every year. He will write a poem at the drop of a hat, so don’t drop your hat or anything else when he is around. New friends are warned about his magic pen.

Retired from the Air Force and mining, has worked at accounting, truck-driving, Search and Rescue, guiding, teaching night school, bartending and fireboss. This varied background has given him lots of material for his writing. His favorite subjects are people, politicians, weather and history. His spiritual or Gospel poetry is often used in Scout's Own or Cowboy Church services.

A dedicated traveler, his road rhymes form an atlas of his wanderings. Wherever he goes he looks for opportunities to share in the music and songs of the district. In 2002 he won a writing contest sponsored by the Dawson City and Yukon Tourist Bureaus with a poem about the “Spirit Of The Northland”. He has performed in most provinces and territories of Canada, every state in Australia, as well as Alaska, California, and Montana, at Gatherings, folkfests and community events.

He attends Community Jamborees or “Oprys” several times a week in season, where he has introduced many to an appreciation of Cowboy Poetry. Many of his personality poems are treasured mementos on the walls of homes and businesses.

Ken is active in the construction, direction, organization and production of the Harvest Moon Corn Fest at Rimbey, The Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Stony Plain Poetry Gathering, as well as a volunteer performer at the Bar U National Historic site.