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RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL POETRY MONTH
Acting Mayor, S. Morales announced that last week Mayor Lehman had proclaimed the month of April as National Poetry Month. Acting Mayor Morales commented that National Poetry Month celebrates poetry, writing and the contributions of poets and all writers to the identity and quality of life of our communities. He noted that that this initiative also celebrates libraries and the work of municipal leaders to promote literacy, reading, culture and the arts. Acting Mayor, Morales remarked that poetry reaffirms our common humanity by revealing to us that individuals everywhere share the same questions and feelings and that poetry is a mainstay of oral tradition and, over centuries, can communicate the innermost values of diverse culture. Acting Mayor Morales outlined that thousands of organizations participate in National Poetry Month through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops and other events.
Acting Mayor Morales invited Mr. Damien Lopes, Barrie’s Poet Laureate to recite one of his poems in honour of National Poetry Month. Mr. Lopes commented that the Mayor’s City Poetry Challenge has been rebranded and now titled as the Poetry City Challenge. Mr. Lopes highlighted that the poem he was presenting entitled “we are all treaty people” is the second in a series that he undertook to pledge to read the Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner of Canada’s report on Residential Schools.
Mr. Lopes recited a the poem entitled “we are all treaty people”. (Attached as Appendix “A” to the minutes).
Acting Mayor Morales thanked Mr. Lopes for providing a poem on such an important topic.