Port Moody young people who want to add their own creative spin to the city's centennial celebrations have just a couple of weeks left to enter the Youth Poet Laureate contest.
Whether using edgy slam poetry, a catchy limerick or a sweeping ballad, the Centennial Youth Poet Laureate will be able to inspire and galvanize the entire community to join in the 100th birthday festivities and celebrate PoMo's unique heritage. The winner will take part in poetry readings and public appearances, and read at various arts events.
"We feel it really will help the new writers, the young writers who are getting started," said Vicki Donoghue, acting head of youth services at Port Moody Public Library. "And with this being the City of the Arts, maybe these young people will go into performing and creating as a career."
Donoghue said the city is looking for any type of poetry, with the only requirement being that it has to focus on the theme of Moody's history - however youth want to interpret it.
"It can be what it's like to move here as an immigrant, Port Moody's history from 100 years ago, whatever history means to them," Donoghue said.
Teens must submit two original poems. If they're shortlisted, the writers will get to perform them as well "because part of being a poet laureate is representing the city and speaking at city events," Donoghue said.
She added that reports from teachers at Port Moody and Heritage Woods secondary schools indicate several young people are already "working passionately on their poems."
Youth eligible for the contest are PoMo residents aged 13 to 18 years old. Applications are available at library.portmoody.ca/youthpoet and must be submitted by Jan. 31.
The winning poet laureate will win a $500 prize and their poem will be included in the centennial time capsule. One runner-up will win $250 and all contest entries will have their poems published in the School District 43 District Journal of Writing.
For more information, contact Donoghue at [email protected] or 604-469-4635.
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