James Summer has been named the City of Victoria’s new youth poet laureate, a one-year honorary position that will see the Vic High grad engage with youth through written and spoken word.
“Poetry has helped me cope with feelings of loneliness and memories of a bittersweet childhood,” Summer said in a statement. “As a transgender individual and as youth poet laureate, I hope that I can bring awareness about the topic of being transgender and to have important conversations about stigma and labels.”
The position is open to capital region poets between the ages of 14 and 24. Summer was chosen by a peer committee of representatives from the city’s writing community, and will remain in the position until Dec. 31.
Summer receives a $1,750 honorarium and $2,000 of project funding from the city and the Greater Victoria Public Library.
