St. John's may soon have a new poet laureate.

A jury of provincial writers, librarians and tourism officials has made a unanimous recommendation to city council.

They propose that Newfoundland and Labrador writer Tom Dawe be offered the position.

Dawe, 69, is the author of several collections of poetry and a co-founder of the literary journal TickleAce.

The poet laureate works closely with the provincial Tourism Department in promoting the city.

They also act as the city's ambassador for poetry and the arts, and receive a $5,000 annual salary.

Agnes Walsh was named the city's inaugural poet laureate in 2006 for a four-year term.

Canada has a parliamentary poet laureate, Pierre DesRuisseaux, and several provinces and cities — including Saskatchewan, P.E.I., Halifax, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver — have their own versions of the post.