Liz Zetlin jokes she was telling herself she would go on sabbatical – but it may have to wait for next year.
Zetlin served as Owen Sound’s first Poet Laureate when the library created the position as a gift for the city’s 150th anniversary in 2007.
Her term was only meant to be one year, but she felt she still had more to do and the library asked her back.
Zetlin says her goal as Poet Laureate was to make poetry as valued and out there in the community as music and theatre.
While Zetlin says there’s always more you can do, she is very pleased with her Poet Laureate Map of Canada project and the Poet of the Month series.
Some of her favourite memories include the way business sponsors and the community came together to support the projects and having the opportunity to explore and showcase local talent.
After two years, Zetlin’s term as Poet Laureate came to an end on December 31st, 2008.
However, she remains dedicated to keeping poetry an important part of our communities.
Zetlin is now working on an educational DVD and study guide on contemporary Canadian poetry to be used at the senior high school level.
She is also the co-director and producer of a feature documentary on the Words Aloud Festival.
Applications for the next Poet Laureate of Owen Sound closed this week and a successor is expected to be named soon.
