Poet Laureate seeks contributions to community poem honouring the LaSalle Causeway
April is National Poetry Month, and the City of Kingston’s Poet Laureate, Sadiqa de Meijer, has announced a new collaborative poetry project – a community poem honouring the LaSalle Causeway.
Community members are invited to submit a line of poetry or even just a few words that convey what the LaSalle Causeway meant to them. This can mean a favourite memory of the bridge, a particular experience or a reflection on its impact on the city.
“The causeway was part of the city's fabric, and most of us have memories of the bridge--of crossing it by car, bike, or on foot, of watching it go up, of being late because it was raised, of hearing its sound through the downtown and east side neighbourhoods,” said de Meijer. “I am looking for everyone's contribution: a bridge represents a means of connection, and this poem aims to bring these memories together.”
Contributions will be used as the basis for a new community poem assembled and shaped by de Meijer. The poem will be shared with residents on the City of Kingston website and will also be available in print at City Hall and at various arts spaces throughout the city. Individual names of contributors will not be shared publicly.
Make your submission online using your MyKingston account at CityofKingston.ca/Poem by the deadline of Friday, May 30 at 5 p.m. People of all ages are welcome to contribute.
About the LaSalle Causeway
Built as a penny bridge in 1829 and replaced by the Bascule Bridge in 1917, the federally-operated LaSalle Causeway is part of Highway 2 linking downtown Kingston to the east side of the Cataraqui River and beyond. Known for its distinct green colour and characteristic hum when vehicles drove over it, the Bascule Bridge became a beloved symbol of Kingston and a gateway to the entrance of the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The bridge was demolished in June 2024 due to damage sustained during construction and replaced with a temporary modular bridge.
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The City of Kingston acknowledges that we are on the traditional homeland of the Anishinabek, Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat, and thanks these nations for their care and stewardship over this shared land.
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