From left to right: Hugh MacDonald, the newly appointed Poet Laureate; Carolyn Bertram, Minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour; David Helwig, former Poet Laureate. (Dept. of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour)

Hugh MacDonald, a poet, editor and novelist from Brudenell, P.E.I., was announced as the new poet laureate for the province on Friday.

He has nine books to his credit as author or editor and has brought poetry to the streets and workplaces of P.E.I. through his Random Acts of Poetry.

"Mr. MacDonald is an excellent choice for the position," said Carolyn Bertram, the minister of communities, cultural affairs and labour. "He has a dedication and energy and an enthusiasm for poetry which will certainly contribute to the mission of the poet laureate to bring poetry into the lives of Islanders."

He replaces David Helwig, who has just completed a two-year term in the position.

MacDonald has served on the executive councils of both the Prince Edward Island Council of the Arts and the P.E.I. Writers' Guild, and has won prizes from the P.E.I. Literary Awards and the Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia. During the week of Random Acts of Poetry, poets read works at a variety of public places to promote poetry and the importance of literacy.

"I am delighted, in this poetry-blessed province, to be chosen as the next poet laureate," MacDonald said in a news release. "I will do my best to add a new voice to those of my extraordinary predecessors, Frank Ledwell, John Smith and David Helwig, and to do honour to my beloved Prince Edward Island."