Youth Lead Nova Scotia's World Poetry Day

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR--Youth Lead Nova Scotia's World Poetry Day Participation

Students and poets from across Nova Scotia have been invited to read and discuss their original work at Government House on World Poetry Day 2002. Lieutenant-Governor Myra Freeman today announced Canada's first official entry in the March 21 event sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The High School Writers' Circle, an organization of student writers from several schools, is organizing Nova Scotia's youth participation in World Poetry Day 2002. They will be joined by a number of well-known adult poets, whose participation is funded by the League of Canadian Poets.

The league has also invited the High School Writers Circle to provide a youth poet to read with them at the Nova Scotia legislature later that day. The national poetry group's own celebration consists of readings in all provincial legislatures.

"The Writers Circle's involvement in World Poetry Day gives Nova Scotia and possibly the world an opportunity to hear the unique viewpoint of young Nova Scotia writers and poets," said Lt.-Gov. Freeman. "It's a wonderful opportunity to share Nova Scotia culture."

The lieutenant-governor announced the readings during a luncheon to honour the High School Writers' Circle and its host school, Auburn High School, located in Cole Harbour, Halifax Regional Municipality. The school and the group have promoted local student writing regionally, nationally and internationally for four years.

Ray MacLeod is a teacher at Auburn High School who has guided the group in its planning for World Poetry Day.

"This event encourages young poets and writers in this province to pursue their aspirations," he said. "It gives them an opportunity to bring their words to Nova Scotians and increases the number of people who will work to bring Nova Scotian viewpoints into this country's literature."

World Poetry Day and Dialogue Through Poetry Week began in 2001 as part of the United Nations Year of Dialogue. The High School Writers Circle is the only youth group listed on UNESCO's World Poetry Day Web site. The United Nations Society of Writers and Dialogue Through Poetry, an umbrella group of some of the world's leading writers, asked the students to take part this year. The 2002 theme is building a culture of non-violence through poetry.

The theme of the readings at Government House is Dialogue through poetry/Dialogue between generations.

"Any attempt to build peace must involve understanding between generations," said Mr. MacLeod. "That is why we have chosen this theme."

The High School Writers Circle will be joined by student writers published last year in Kimberlins, the literary anthology of Nova Scotia's English teachers.

Original poems presented at Government House may be included on the Dialogue Through Poetry Web site. The site offers 60 pages of writing in several languages from last year's event. The Web site is at http://www.dialoguepoetry.org/ .