ABOUT FRANK LEDWELL
PEI's POET LAUREATE, 2004-2007
Author of The Taste of
Water, Island Sketchbook (stories),
The North Shore of Home (poetry and
fiction), and Dip & Veer (poetry)
Frank Ledwell is PEI's poet laureate, and his term
has just been extended to three years
to include 2007. Frank is a popular storyteller and Professor Emeritus
of the English Department of the University of Prince Edward Island,
where he taught English and creative writing for many years.
His books with Acorn Press are The
Taste of Water, a collection of poems, Island
Sketchbook, which combines fiction and memoir
to reflect the life of Prince Edward Island in the mid-twentieth
century; The North Shore of
Home, fiction and poetry that evoke Ledwell's
home community of St. Peter's Bay during the Depression and the
Second World War; and Dip &
Veer, poetry inspired by the visual art of Canadian
painter Alex Colville. He is also author of the poetry collection
Crowbush and has produced a CD of poetry in performance,
Being Islanders, with fiddler Roy Johnstone.
Frank Ledwell was the first recipient of the PEI
Council of the Arts' prestigious Award for Distinguished Contribution
to the Literary Arts in PEI, in 1985. He received the Wendell Boyle
Memorial Award for Creative Writing in 2003, the Charlottetown Royalty
Rotary’s Mentorship Award in 2004, and the Order of Prince
Edward Island in 2006. He became the Island's second Poet Laureate
in January 2005.
He is the parent of six adult children and has one
grandchild. He lives on a small farm on the Loyalist Road with his
wife, Carolyn.
ABOUT PEI'S POET LAUREATE PROGRAMME
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, December
13, 2006 - Hon. Elmer MacFadyen, Minister of Community
and Cultural Affairs today announced that the term of Poet Laureate
for Prince Edward Island will be extended to three years.
Minister MacFadyen said this decision followed discussions
with both the current Poet Laureate, Frank Ledwell, and the past
Poet Laureate, John Smith, and with members of the panel responsible
for appointing the Poet Laureate.
"We heard that the two-year
term was
not adequate time for all of the work the Poet Laureates wanted
to do," said the Minister. "A three-year term will allow
appointees more time to set up and complete projects, to work with
writing and literacy groups and, above all, to write."
The
Minister also announced that current Poet Laureate, Frank Ledwell,
has agreed to serve for a third year in the role.
"His energy, enthusiasm and leadership have been an
inspiration to the writers of the province, both young and old,
and
we
look forward to having him continue in this role for another year,"
said Minister MacFadyen.
To mark his term as Poet Laureate,
Professor Ledwell has published a new collection of work titled
"The
Taste
of Water".
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BACKGROUNDER
The Poet Laureate Program was established in 2002 to honour
individuals
who have made a major contribution to the literary life of the province.
Prince Edward Island's first Poet Laureate, John Smith, was appointed
in
December 2002. Frank Ledwell was appointed to the post in December
2004.
Objectives of the P.E.I. Poet Laureate Program:
- To celebrate Prince Edward Island and its people;
- To raise the profile of Prince Edward Island poets;
- To promote a higher standard of literacy;
- To raise public awareness of poetry and of the spoken word;
- To create a spokesperson for literature in general and poetry
in
particular; and
- To provide a focal point for the expression of
Prince
Edward Island culture and heritage through the literary arts.
Duties of the Poet Laureate:
- The Poet Laureate shall undertake such activities to promote the
objectives of the office as may be appropriate, including, but not
limited
to, composing poetry related to legislative or state occasions and
events
of significance, visiting schools, presenting or arranging poetry
readings
and assisting with writing workshops or other activities.
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