On Jan. 5, University of Toronto (U of T) professor and well-known Canadian poet George Elliot Clarke was appointed as Canada’s Parliamentary poet laureate.
The celebrated poet has been the first for many things: the first African-Canadian parliamentary poet, first local laureate to become a national laureate, and the first professor at U of T to hold the position of Pratt Professor of Canadian Literature. The Charlatan spoke to him about what his new role entails, on being the first Black poet laureate for Canada, and celebrating Black History Month.
The Charlatan (TC): How does it feel to be Canada’s poet laureate?
George Elliot Clarke (GEL): It is a great honour—it’s very prestigious, and I hope I can add lustre to an already illustrious position.
TC: What exactly does this position entail?
GEL: Writing poetry for special state occasions upon request of the Speaker of the House of Commons or the Speaker of the Senate. If they ask me to compose a poem for a visiting dignitary or for some other occasion of governance, I will do so. The last thing I am expected to do is to advise the librarian of Parliament on the collection that parliament has of Canadians’ and others’ works.
TC: Do you have any ideas of what collections you might want to add there?
GEL: I’d have to find out if they have many recordings of spoken word artists. If they don’t, I will be suggesting that they look for spoken word recordings and make sure that they become part of the collection.
TC: What significance does this position hold to you specifically?
GEL: Very simply, the position by its very existence is that parliamentarians care about more than just economics, more than just foreign affairs, conduct of wars or negotiation of peace. So to have interest in poetry is transcendent—it’s above all that. It’s light that shines upon even the dingy and grimy affairs of state.
TC: What do you plan to do differently than the past six poet laureates?
GEL: The previous poet laureates I know worked hard to try to raise the profile of poetry in Canada and I believe I have the same task. I’m the first national poet laureate to enter the position after having been a local poet laureate and that adds a little bit more weight to the title.
TC: When you were the Toronto Poet Laureate, was it the same job, just on a smaller scale?
GEL: Yeah, the other big difference however on the federal scene is that I’m also expected—and I want to—interact as much as I can in French. I also need to be aware of French language poetry in Canada. That adds another level of interest and communication.
TC: Does the fact that you are the first African-Canadian poet laureate add an extra element?
GEL: I am the first African-Canadian poet to be in this position and I think my appointment helps to represent the fact that Canada is diverse, that African-Canadians are part of the whole and that we have significant talent and ability and should be given our place which is a place of leadership.
TC: Do you feel like Canadians as a whole do a good job in celebrating Black History Month?
GEL: I think it all depends where you are. Even though parliament recognized Black History Month officially in the 1990s, I believe, education is provincial and so usually the activities are going to be run municipally and provincially. Depending on the province, they’re gonna have different emphasis. Really it is up to individuals and groups to organize themselves and to ask the appropriate authorities to mark the occasion appropriately.
TC: You have created the term ‘Africadian’ which is a major theme in your work. Who exactly is an Africadian?
GEL: An Africadian is someone who is related to a history of slavery and anti-slavery that brought African people to Nova Scotia. African Nova Scotian’s have been around for 270 years. Not only have we been around that long, we’ve also formed real communities. African Nova Scotians created a culture. They’ve got roots. We’re a distinct group of Black people in the North Atlantic and so we ought to have a distinct name.
TC: What are some of the plans you have as parliamentary poet?
GEL: I want to try to work with some other national agencies like the Canada Council for the Arts, the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and if I can convince them, I would like to do a project with the Royal Canadian Mint where they might put some poetry on the back of the nickel, the dime. I think that would be really fun.
This interview has been condensed and edited.
