Greater Sudbury Public Library Announces Review of Poet Laureate Program

The Greater Sudbury Public Library (GSPL), in partnership with the Office of Mayor Paul Lefebvre, announced Friday that it will launch a comprehensive review of the City’s Poet Laureate program. GSPL has supported the coordination of the program since its inception in 2010. As part of this process, the term of the current Poet Laureate, Alex Tétreault, will be extended by one year.

Greater Sudbury’s Poet Laureate program has long celebrated literary excellence and creative expression within the community. Community feedback has highlighted the need for an improved recruitment process and the importance of broadening the program to include a wider range of artistic voices — particularly creators whose work in storytelling, spoken word, and other expressive forms may fall outside conventional definitions of poetry. A formal review of the program will facilitate this improvement.

“Our Poet Laureate program has played an important role in celebrating the incredible range of creative talent that exists in Greater Sudbury,” said Mayor Lefebvre. “This review will help ensure the program continues to evolve to reflect the diverse voices and forms of expression in our community. Thank you to Alex Tétreault for his continued contributions during this review.”

Extending the term of the current Poet Laureate will allow GSPL to establish a review committee this spring, rather than seeking applications for a new Poet Laureate. GSPL’s review committee will be made up of community members, arts and culture representatives, and City partners. The committee will evaluate the program’s goals, structure, selection process and overall scope, and will provide recommendations for a future model that meets community expectations and is sustainable for both GPSL and the City of Greater Sudbury.

“We are committed to ensuring this program remains meaningful, inclusive, and responsive to the community we serve,” said Brian Harding, CEO and Chief Librarian. “We are grateful to Alex Tétreault for his ongoing contributions and for supporting this important transition year,”

Information on the current Poet Laureate program can be found on GSPL’s website at https://www.sudburylibraries.ca/en/books-and-much-more/poet-laureate.aspx.

Further updates on the review process and future application opportunities will be shared with the public as they become available.