Mark Callanan named City of St. John’s Poet Laureate

The City of St. John’s has selected Mark Callanan as its newest Poet Laureate.

Callanan is the author of three full-length collections of poetry. Romantic, his most recent, was selected for the CBC’s “Best Canadian poetry of 2021” list and was one of twelve books shortlisted for the 2021 Derek Walcott Prize for Poetry.

He co-edited The Breakwater Book of Contemporary Newfoundland Poetry and was one of the founding editors of the St. John ’s-based literary journal Riddle Fence.

The City of St. John’s first Poet Laureate was named in 2006. The position of Poet Laureate is an honour bestowed by the City as a way of acknowledging and celebrating poets, literary arts, and their value and contribution to civic life.

The City of St. John’s Poet Laureate receives an honorarium of $5,000 per year and acts as an ambassador for literary arts and will integrate literary arts into a range of official and unofficial civic events.