MISSISSAUGA: The City of Mississauga – through its Culture division – has announced that Qurat Dar will be its third Youth Poet Laureate for 2021-2023.
Qurat Dar will serve as a literary ambassador for youth in the city, as well as help elevate the status of poetry, literary arts and young writers through community poetry events and projects.
This honorary position recognizes a young poet who writes excellent poetry or spoken word and has written on themes that are relevant to the citizens of Mississauga.
Qurat Dar is a spoken word artist, organizer, multi-genre writer and the 2020 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam (CIPS) National Champion. She was also a 2019 recipient of the Ron Lenyk Inspiring Youth Arts Award and a 2018 Best of the Net finalist.
Her work has appeared in Canthius, Augur Magazine, Art Gallery of Mississauga and other places. She also has a poetry chapbook (a short collection of poems) in the works with Coven Editions. When not dabbling in poetry, Qurat is busy studying environmental engineering at the University of Guelph. She is deeply interested in the intersections between the sciences and the arts, especially in the context of the climate crisis.
Poetry Month
Mississauga is also celebrating National Poetry Month in April with a series of virtual events. If you love rhymes and poetry, check out this list of remaining events including the City’s Second Annual Poetry Slam.
The Second Annual Mississauga Poetry Slam on April 29 went virtual this year. Some of Mississauga’s best poets told their stories and spoke their truths in this online event hosted by Mississauga Poet Laureate, Paul Edward Costa, with guest judges scoring each performance.
• The Library’s Online Teen Poetry Club (Ages 13-19) are held on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. until May 12 Register online.