The province has named activist Randall Adjei its first Poet Laureate.
The role was established in memory of late Tragically Hip singer Gord Downie, who was widely celebrated for his poetic lyrics.
Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Percy Hatfield had the honour of announcing Adjei's appointment this morning.
"I welcome Randell Adjei as Ontario’s first Poet Laureate. As Gord Downie wrote, ‘it’s been a long time running, it’s a long time in coming, it’s well worth the wait. Randell Adjei is a great communicator and will excite and motivate audiences in all corners of the province with his enthusiasm for the written and spoken word."
Adjei is a spoken word poet, motivational speaker and executive and creative director at RISE Edutainment, a youth-oriented arts organization.
He has also worked with school boards in Toronto in order to weave arts into class curriculums.
The private member's bill was put forth by Hatfield in December 2019 as a way to honour Downie for his contribution to Canadian music.
"The Poet Laureate Bill is a means of paying tribute to and keeping alive the memory of Gord Downie for his major contribution to the arts scene in Canada and beyond."
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