Poet Laureate

The Kingston Poet Laureate is a special position honouring the role of poetry and literature in Kingston. This program acknowledges Kingstonians who have accomplished great things in poetry and creates a voice for literature in our community. The Poet Laureate brings awareness to Kingston's strong writing traditions and encourages creativity in our city. 

The Kingston Poet Laureate takes part in local City-led and community events to support and draw people into the world of literature. This helps raise the profile of literature in Kingston and beyond. The Poet Laureate serves for four years, which matches the term of the City Council. 

2022 selected poet laureate: Sadiqa de Meijer 

Sadiqa de Meijer is the new Poet Laureate of Kingston. She has written poetry collections called "Leaving Howe Island" (2013) and "The Outer Wards" (2020). She has also written short stories and essays in various books and magazines. She won the Governor General's Award for her book "alfabet/alphabet: A Memoir of a first language" and received a 2022 Mayor’s Arts Award. 

Sadiqa is involved in Kingston's community, taking part in events, mentoring and working on numerous projects. She was born in Amsterdam to a Dutch-Kenyan-Pakistani-Afghani family and moved to Canada as a child. She brings a unique perspective to Kingston, especially for those new to the city or country. Her voice as a woman, mother and migrant adds diversity and inclusivity to the role of Poet Laureate. 

Sadiqa will be the Poet Laureate for four years and will receive an annual payment of $2,350. A group of writers, publishers, librarians, educators and people knowledgeable about Kingston's literary arts community nominated her. You can find out more about Sadiqa and her work at www.sadiqademeijer.com. 

2019-2022 past poet laureate: Jason Heroux 

Jason Heroux has authored four books of poetry and played a crucial role in fostering poetry in Kingston, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. He kept poetry at the forefront, engaged with local poets, offered mentorship, and supported the local literary community. He also represented Kingston at the provincial and national levels, helping raise the city's profile as a hub for poetry.