In February 2015, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi challenged mayors across Canada to kick off a council meeting in March or April with a reading from a local poet.
This year, over 70 Canadian cities are participating in the challenge, which was first launched in 2012 by former Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco to commemorate both UNESCO’s World Poetry Day on March 21 and National Poetry Month.
For three years running, the City of Fernie has accepted Mayor Nenshi’s challenge with the help of Councillor Ange Qualizza who has volunteered to coordinate the event.
Every local school nominated a poet to present to council. The City of Fernie took no part in the selection process. Qualizza said she is always on the hunt for adult poets that want to read for council.
In previous years they’ve had several at a time but this year the only adult to take up the challenge was community librarian Anie Hepher.
“I love this event because we bring the arts into city hall,” said Qualizza. “I hope that by doing that we can encourage people who wouldn’t normally come into city hall to start doing so more often. I know our council thoroughly enjoys the event and it has becomes something we look forward to every year.”
At a meeting on April 24, Luke Larsen, a Grade 6 student from Isabella Dicken Elementary School, Adele Stahl, a Grade 4 student from Ecole Sophie Morigeau, Rachael Braden, a Grade 6 student from The Fernie Academy, Catrin Merrit, a Grade 9 student from The Fernie Academy, Kasha Bell, a Grade 10 student Fernie Secondary School, and Hepher recited poetry for Fernie council.
Larsen’s poem described the power of books.
“I seem calm,
But I’m much more than you think,
Inspiring,
Converting,
I transform you to think differently,
I’m not always true,
But I take your mind to another world,
I’m used for many things
I make you happy, sad, angry and sometimes leave you on a hook,
I leave you wondering: what will happen next?
It’s always tempting to read the end before the start,
What am I?” he said.
Stahl’s was an acrostic about donuts.
“Don’t eat too much,
Oh so fantastic,
Nutty, sometimes,
United with fresh buttery dough,
Toppings are colourful,
Super sugary too,” she said.
Braden’s described the desperation of a lonely castaway.
“Sweat flooding down his sunburnt face,
Only water and sky in sight,
All silent,
All calm,
All alone,
The orange lifeboat bobbing on an endless blue world,
His dangling hand leaving a trail of bubbles,
Desperate for food,
Desperate for water,
Desperate for the tiniest hint of land,
Desperate,” she said.
Hepher’s poem called Bowen Island Waltz explored the memories of her elderly friend.
“Small boat rowed to the hall as sassy skirts sway and all shoes fall on the gravel lot,
You and I are pressed, ironed, combed, buttoned, buckled and all eyes surprised,
Look at Bobby with grit washed away,
Doors open,
Lighted squares of windows patchwork sunset on a darkening shore,
The fiddles are poised,
We are lean on the wainscoting,
We are ready to exhale,” she said.