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NATIONAL
POETRY MONTH
Mayor
Nenshi, on behalf of Members of Council and the citizens of Calgary, proclaimed
April as National Poetry Month. The Mayor announced that he has issued
a challenge for the second year in a row to Canadian Mayors, to participate
in the Mayor’s Poetry City Challenge, by making a similar Proclamation, and
by inviting a local poet to read a poem at the start of an April Council
Meeting. Mayor Nenshi recognized that, in addition to celebrating poets,
National Poetry Month recognizes the contributions that poets, reading, and
writing make to the cultural life of communities. He recognized that 31 of
Canada’s Mayors have proclaimed April National Poetry Month and 54 have
invited a local poet to read a poem at the start of an April Council
Meeting.
Mayor
Nenshi introduced Derek Beaulieu, outgoing Poet Laureate for Calgary.
Derek Beaulieu stated it was an honor and privilege to represent The City of
Calgary across Canada and globally. Mr. Beaulieu distributed two leaflets
to Members of Council containing the poetry of others, as follows:
- “The
University of Timbuctu: Prospectus (1327)”, by George Eliott Clarke and
- “en
vers un beau lieu: beaulieu inverse, a portrait of the poet as laureate”,
by Damain Lopes.
Mr.
Beaulieu then recited a third poem entitled “The Blue”, from Rocky
Mountain Foot, by George Bowering.
Derek
Beaulieu introduced The City of Calgary’s third Poet Laureate, Ms. Micheline
Maylor, who came forward to read for this year’s Mayor’s Poetry City
Challenge. Ms. Maylor thanked Members of Council, the Calgary Arts
Development Authority, Derek Beaulieu and the citizens of Calgary for
recognizing the importance of the arts and poetry. Ms. Maylor
recited a poem entitled “The Narrative”.
Mayor
Nenshi, on behalf of Members of Councillor, thanked former Poet Laureate, Mr.
Derek Beaulieu, and offered congratulations to the new Poet Lauraite Ms. Micheline
Maylor.
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