Pierre DesRuisseaux, poet, editor, translator and authority on Quebec popular culture, has been named the new parliamentary poet laureate and took office this week. In the tradition of bilingualism, the poet laureate for this 2 year term is French. He has 14 books of poetry since his first in ’79. Hopefully as Poet Laureate, DesRuisseaux will make his time in office, an active one.
The post was created by Parliament in 2001 to promote literature, culture and language. The position includes composing poetry, especially for state occasions, sponsoring poetry readings and advising the parliamentary librarian on acquisitions.
[The news came to me via Patrick Miekle’s writers’ news list]
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