James Summer has been named the City of Victoria鈥檚 new youth poet laureate, a one-year honorary position that will see the Vic High grad engage with youth through written and spoken word.
鈥淧oetry has helped me cope with feelings of loneliness and memories of a bittersweet childhood,鈥� Summer said in a statement. 鈥淎s a transgender individual and as youth poet laureate, I hope that I can bring awareness about the topic of being transgender and to have important conversations about stigma and labels.鈥�
The position is open to capital region poets between the ages of 14 and 24. Summer was chosen by a peer committee of representatives from the city鈥檚 writing community, and will remain in the position until Dec. 31.
Summer receives a $1,750 honorarium and $2,000 of project funding from the city and the Greater Victoria Public Library.
