Appointment of the 11th Parliamentary Poet Laureate
Photo credit: © Ebunoluwa Akinbo
Ottawa - The Speaker of the Senate, the Honourable Raymonde Gagné, and the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Honourable Greg Fergus, announced today the appointment of Chimwemwe Undi as the 11th Parliamentary Poet Laureate for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2025.
Chimwemwe Undi is a poet, editor and lawyer based on Treaty 1 territory in Winnipeg, Manitoba. From 2023 through 2024 she served as Winnipeg’s third Poet Laureate, and her debut full-length collection of poems, Scientific Marvel, won the 2024 Governor General’s Literary Award in Poetry. Having been part of Manitoba’s poetry community for more than ten years, Ms. Undi is the recipient of a CBC Manitoba Future 40 award and a Winnipeg 150 Medal, among other awards. Her poetry explores themes from gender and belonging, to racism, language and immigration.
The Parliamentary Poet Laureate position helps expand the understanding of and appreciation for poetry in Canada. As outlined in the Parliament of Canada Act, Poets Laureate may:
- write poetry, especially for use in Parliament;
- sponsor poetry readings;
- give advice to the Parliamentary Librarian on the Library of Parliament’s collections and acquisitions to enrich its cultural holdings; and
- perform other related duties at the request of the Speaker of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Commons or the Parliamentary Librarian.
Quotes
“Ms. Undi’s work extends beyond her writing through her dedication to creating and sustaining spaces where youth and all Canadians can appreciate poetry. With numerous achievements, she is a poet of remarkable talent and influence.”
– The Honourable Raymonde Gagné, Speaker of the Senate
“Through her powerful poetry, Ms. Undi addresses complex issues with eloquence. Often exploring themes of social justice, identity and community, her work resonates deeply with diverse audiences.”
– The Honourable Greg Fergus, Speaker of the House of Commons
“I am honoured and excited to serve as the 11th Parliamentary Poet Laureate. Poetry has comforted me, challenged me, and helped me to make sense and to make new meaning. During my term, I hope to encourage people to invite poetry into their lives, for the first time and again, as I am confident that it will enrich their world as it has enriched mine.”
– Chimwemwe Undi, 11th Parliamentary Poet Laureate
Quick facts
- The Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons selected Ms. Undi as the 11th Parliamentary Poet Laureate following an open nomination process.
- The Library of Parliament is the steward of the Parliamentary Poet Laureate program.
- To ensure that Canada’s official languages are equitably represented, appointments to the position of Parliamentary Poet Laureate alternate between a poet who works primarily in English and a poet who works primarily in French. The 11th Parliamentary Poet Laureate will work primarily in English.
- The position of Parliamentary Poet Laureate was created in 2001.
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Inquiries
Meredith Savka
Senior Director, Communications
Meredith.Savka@parl.gc.ca
343-571-9330
