Speaker of the Senate
Welcoming remarks on the occasion of the installation of the 8th Parliamentary Poet Laureate
Speaker Regan, fellow parliamentarians, Madame L’Heureux, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, as Speaker of the Senate, it is a real pleasure to welcome you today on this very special occasion.
Let me begin by congratulating our new Parliamentary Poet Laureate, Madame Georgette LeBlanc. I am certain you will serve Parliament well as our eighth Poet Laureate.
I also wish to thank Sonia L’Heureux and her team at the Library of Parliament for organizing this event, and for their stewardship of the office of Poet Laureate.
Since Confederation, our Parliament has been imbued with the arts.
Inside the Centre Block, as was the case in the original Parliament building, a collection of sculptures, paintings, and architecture narrate the story of Canada.
In 2001, former Senator Jerry Grafstein sought to add literature to this already rich tradition, when he introduced Bill S-10 in the Senate. His Senate public bill received unanimous support; it also provided the framework for the position of Parliamentary Poet Laureate.
Senator Grafstein believed that a poet laureate could serve as a “modest counterweight” in an increasingly digital world.
All of our poets have played a vital role in promoting literature, culture and languages in Canadian society. I know that the outgoing poet laureate, Mr. Clarke, is no exception to this rule. For his part, George Elliott Clarke has produced a wealth of valuable writing over the last two years—about Canada and its people.
A native of Nova Scotia, Mr. Clarke has been at the forefront of Canada’s literary scene for decades, as a poet, playwright and literary critic.
As Parliamentary Poet Laureate, he wrote about a number of different subjects, including the ongoing efforts towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada.
On behalf of the Senate, I wish to express my sincere thanks to Mr. Clarke for his contributions in furthering Canadian culture and poetry.
Indeed, the office of Poet Laureate is one that showcases the finest in Canadian literature, and inspires Canadians to think more about poetry, both written and spoken, and its role in our lives.
With this appointment, Ms. LeBlanc becomes an ambassador for the arts in Canada, and will serve as a role model for aspiring writers across the country.
I look forward to the dynamic approach she will bring not only to communicating the work of parliamentarians, but also enhancing the presence of poetry in Canada.
Thank you.
