Quebec's Pierre DesRuisseaux named parliamentary poet laureate
Last Updated: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 | 3:48 PM ET
CBC News
Quebec poet, editor and translator Pierre DesRuisseaux has been appointed Canada's fourth parliamentary poet laureate.
DesRuisseaux, 63, is the author of numerous volumes of poetry, as well as fiction and non-fiction works. His poetry collection, Monème, won the Governor General's Literary Award in 1989.
His bilingual anthology of 25 English-Canadian poets, Contre-taille, was nominated for a Governor General's Award in 1996.
DesRuisseaux has also written on popular culture in Quebec, including the Livre des proverbes québécois and Dictionnaire des expressions québécoises. The latter was chosen by the Quebec Association for Intercultural Education as one of 21 works that are representative of Quebec's collective identity.
"His career-long fascination with Canada's literary traditions and history make him an excellent choice to engage us, as Canadians, in dialogue about the importance of verse in our national culture," Speaker of the Senate Noel Kinsella said in a release Tuesday announcing DesRuisseaux's appointment.
The parliamentary poet laureate writes poetry for use in Parliament on important occasions, sponsors poetry readings and advises the parliamentary librarian about the library's collection and acquisitions.
The two-year post includes an annual stipend of $20,000, up to $13,000 a year in travel expenses, and a programming and administration budget.
The position was created in 2001 to draw Canadians' attention to poetry, both written and spoken, and its importance in their lives.
George Bowering held it from 2002-2004, followed by Pauline Michel from 2004-2006 and John Steffler from 2006-2008.
