The first major publications included Journeying & the returns (1967),[6] a purple box containing visual & lyrical poems and Konfessions of an Elizabethan Fan Dancer (1969)[7] a book of concrete poetry.

He won the 1970 Governor General's Award[8] for poetry with four publications: the prose booklet The True Eventual Story of Billy the Kid[9] a collection of lyrical poems, Beach Head,[10] the boxed concrete sequence, Still Water and The Cosmic Chef,[11] a boxed anthology of concrete and visual poetry.

The 'saints' are drawn from 'st' words (storm becomes St. Orm) and their spiritual quest provides a springboard from which linguistic issues of textuality, reading and writing are explored.

He collaborated with Steve McCaffery to form The Toronto Research Group (TRG),[15] with Barbara Caruso,[16][17] visual artist, with R. Murray Schafer,[18][19] Howard Gerhard[20] and John Beckwith,[21] composers.

Since his death, there has been an upsurge of interest in First Screenings,[30] Nichol's 1984 computer poem (updated by Jim Andrews and his team[31]) which has been part of electronic exhibitions from Mexico to Oakville.

[33] The bpNichol Chapbook Award,[34] a prize for poetry publications between 10 and 48 pages, was established in 1986 by Phoenix Community Works Foundation.