OTTAWA â Canadaâs new parliamentary poet laureate wouldnât consider herself a political nerd but is already finding inspiration in the "system" of Parliament, and has ambitions to make poetry "relevant" to a new generation.
Tuesday, Nova Scotian Georgette LeBlanc is being installed as the eighth Canadian poet to hold the title since the position was created in 2001.
The Quebec-born poet lives in Baie Sainte-Marie, the largest Acadian region in Nova Scotia. She has a doctorate in francophone studies from the University of Louisiana and was nominated for the Governor Generalâs Literary Award in 2014.
The poet has been writing her whole life, a practice she says she keeps up daily.
LeBlanc describes her work as storytelling, with a narrative and plot, all in her "mother tongue" -- Acadian French.
She was appointed by the House of Commons and Senate speakers after being nominated by a selection committee for the two-year term.
Unlike past poets who have held the post, she plans to spend most of her time back home, where she has three children aged 12, nine, and six. She said she hopes to find ways in her new position to bring people to her "beautiful" home province.
The role of the parliamentary poet laureate is to write poetry for parliamentarians or for special occasions, to hold poetry readings, and to help curate the Library of Parliamentâs poetry collection.
The position comes with a $20,000 stipend, $13,000 for travel expenses, and a budget for planning programming and translation services.
In a sit-down chat inside the Library of Parliament on Monday, LeBlanc told ŰÎŰ´ŤĂ˝.ca that she had forgotten she had even submitted her name for the position. When she got a call just before Christmas letting her know she had been selected, it came as a âcomplete surprise.â
It being her first week on the job, sheâs yet to see what a day in the life of a poet laureate entails, but she was quickly inspired by the beauty of Parliament. She said sheâs already thinking about finding a way to host poetry events on the Hill.
"Parties, letâs have parties! Itâs such a beautiful building⌠invite everyone in Nova Scotia, bring a little bit of Nova Scotia here, that would be fun," she said.
Here are some highlights from the conversation, from her views on the "system" of politics, and the relevance of poetry in a social-media era.
ŰÎŰ´ŤĂ˝.ca: What do you plan to bring to this new role? Will Parliament become your new muse?
Georgette LeBlanc: "Yeah it sort of is. I really donât have a clear set answer. Nothingâs really been decided, but definitely muse, yes. The system, which, is it a system? All of that.â
Do you follow politics closely?
I live in Canada so I donât follow politics as you would⌠but Iâm affected by politics. I live in Canada so everyday Iâm living in politics in that respectâŚI come from a family [who were] very involved in politics, so for a large chunk of my life I was kind-off hearing uncles, my parents, working in and out and all kinds of aspects. I find it important, I find it interesting, it is its own world, but thatâs just it -- itâs its own world and that I know, and completely respect. But politics is people and politics is the everyday of whatâs happening, also how people are living.
Some people would say, it is 2018, why do we need a parliamentary poet laureate?
Because poetry is soul, poetry is imagination, is the creative spark. Itâs the idea. Actually, this is an idea [gesturing to the room], Canada is an idea, Canada is an imagined community, Canada is a concept in some way. So poetry is the freest expression, itâs the most natural thing. I think to have a position here in government that sort of pays homage or respect, or holds that as a sacred thing, is a beautiful thing. I think itâs right, itâs righteous, itâs what should be.
Will all your work be done in Acadian French?
Yeah, in my French, in my language. And I say itâs my language, but itâs before even the Acadian language, itâs my poetic voice. I can write also in English and in other languages, but this Acadian French is really my mother tongue, is what Iâve been speaking, what Iâve been loving, living, do everything in all these years so itâs definitely going to be my language of choice.
What if an MP would like a poem in English, will it be translated?
Yeah I can write it in my mother tongue in French, and then have it translated. Itâs great, itâs beautiful, I donât even have to do the translating.
Your predecessor George Elliott Clarke spoke out saying that no one had asked him to write anything, are you worried at all about that?
Iâm not concerned. Iâve never been bored, ever.
What should Canadians expect to see from you over the next two years? Any themes or topics you specifically want to explore?
I canât say at this point⌠Itâs really a matter of what the actual members of parliament want. In that respect George Elliott Clarke was right, was correct in saying, âIf youâre interested, then solicit, or ask or whatever.â Thereâs so many aspects that I find interesting and Iâm quite passionate about, like cultural memory I find factually quite important. Memory, we are sort of in this zone now where with social media and everythingâs so quick. We tend to lose history. Historyâs meaning is changing, and so that I find really interesting.
What about the next generation, and reaching those who are constantly on social media and may be wondering, 'What's a poet laureate?'
Thatâs it, thatâs what I mean. It would be nice to get there too. Trying to make it relevant there too, because it is, itâs just how?