The City of Nanaimo has appointed a new poet laureate. Neil Surkan will be the literary ambassador for the city for the next two years, starting on Dec. 1.
"I am so honoured to take up this role. My hope is that my time as laureate will offer spaces for creation and reflection to our community," said Surkan in a news release. "Poetry to me is best reckoned with, and savoured, together. It can be the language we share."
Surkan is a professor in the department of English at Vancouver Island University and an author of two poetry collections as well as three chapbooks. Since moving to Nanaimo in 2001, he has hosted poetry readings, workshops and retreats, collaborated with the national Poetry in Voice Program and joined VIU’s Gustafson Committee in welcoming a distinguished poet to the university each year.
"His poetry explores the search for connection and community, queer parenthood and themes of isolation, anxiety and hope,” noted the news release.
The city’s poet laureate presents original work to city council and the community at events, sharing poems relating to life in Nanaimo. He and the city’s youth poet laureate will read original works at a free holiday event at Harbourfront Library on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m.
Mayor Leonard Krog said in the news release that he is delighted that Surkan will be the next poet laureate for our city.
"The extraordinary passion, talent and experience our newest poet laureate brings to this role is sure to inspire. We look forward to all the ways Mr. Surkan will engage the community, sharing the power of words through poetry and further enriching our thriving cultural lives," said Krog.
