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Victoria Poet Laureate
VICTORIA, BC - Linda Rogers, a local award-winning poet and writer, was named the City of Victoria's new Poet Laureate at the City Council meeting last night. She will serve as the municipality's literary and cultural ambassador for a three-year term ending November 2011.
"We are thrilled to have Linda Rogers represent the City of Victoria as the second Poet Laureate in the city's history,"; said Mayor Dean Fortin. "Linda is an award-winning Canadian poet whose passion and talent for prose will help raise awareness of the literary arts and demonstrate the positive impact poetry can have on our
community. Our city would be cold without the rich contribution of the literary arts.";
Linda Rogers has spent her professional life teaching, reviewing, performing and writing prose, poetry and songs for adults and children. She earned her Master of Arts in Canadian Literature from the University of British Columbia and has taught at UBC, University of Victoria, Malaspina College, Camosun College, and
online for Writers in Electronic Residence.
Rogers has been awarded the Stephen Leacock Prize for poetry, the Reuben Rose Poetry Prize Israel, the Dorothy Livesay Award for best British Columbia book of poetry, the Hawthorne Poetry Prize, and the Saltwater Festival Prize. In 2000, she was Canada's People's Poet as the recipient of the People's Poetry Prize, established to honour the late Milton Acorn. Rogers has served on the boards of the Pacific Opera Victoria and the Read Society and is a past president of the League of Canadian Poets and the Federation of BC Writers. Linda Rogers plans to continue much of the valuable work initiated by Carla Funk, the City's first Poet Laureate, such as the popular community event, Love, Poetry and Chocolate, held close to Valentine's Day. Victoria's Poet Laureate is required to produce three original poems each year of the term, and present works of significance at City of Victoria events, including one presentation to City Council per year, a minimum of two official City functions or a City-sponsored event in the community per year, the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize Gala Awards, and a Greater Victoria Public Library event. Poet Laureates date back centuries when they first served the British Monarchy. Some of the earliest poetry is believed to have been orally recited or sung as a way of remembering history, stories and law. For information on Victoria's Poet Laureate, visit: www.victoria.ca and click on What's New?
"We are thrilled to have Linda Rogers represent the City of Victoria as the second Poet Laureate in the city's history,"; said Mayor Dean Fortin. "Linda is an award-winning Canadian poet whose passion and talent for prose will help raise awareness of the literary arts and demonstrate the positive impact poetry can have on our
community. Our city would be cold without the rich contribution of the literary arts.";
Linda Rogers has spent her professional life teaching, reviewing, performing and writing prose, poetry and songs for adults and children. She earned her Master of Arts in Canadian Literature from the University of British Columbia and has taught at UBC, University of Victoria, Malaspina College, Camosun College, and
online for Writers in Electronic Residence.
Rogers has been awarded the Stephen Leacock Prize for poetry, the Reuben Rose Poetry Prize Israel, the Dorothy Livesay Award for best British Columbia book of poetry, the Hawthorne Poetry Prize, and the Saltwater Festival Prize. In 2000, she was Canada's People's Poet as the recipient of the People's Poetry Prize, established to honour the late Milton Acorn. Rogers has served on the boards of the Pacific Opera Victoria and the Read Society and is a past president of the League of Canadian Poets and the Federation of BC Writers. Linda Rogers plans to continue much of the valuable work initiated by Carla Funk, the City's first Poet Laureate, such as the popular community event, Love, Poetry and Chocolate, held close to Valentine's Day. Victoria's Poet Laureate is required to produce three original poems each year of the term, and present works of significance at City of Victoria events, including one presentation to City Council per year, a minimum of two official City functions or a City-sponsored event in the community per year, the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize Gala Awards, and a Greater Victoria Public Library event. Poet Laureates date back centuries when they first served the British Monarchy. Some of the earliest poetry is believed to have been orally recited or sung as a way of remembering history, stories and law. For information on Victoria's Poet Laureate, visit: www.victoria.ca and click on What's New?
Submitted on December 25, 2008 in By David.
