The 2023 National Finals / FutureVerse were held between April 17 and 20 on Treaty 7 Land, also known as Moh'kinstsis, or Calgary, Alberta
FutureVerser Ella Bachrach and National Finalists Olivia Bridgman and Phillippe Morissette and their teacher Leslie Bonniveau are greeted at the Calgary International Airport by our staff.
FutureVerser Aquil Melchoir gives the thumbs up to the first meal together at the Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Downtown.
Decolonial Initiatives and Indigenous Programming Coordinator Cooper Skjeie meets Alberta Regional Coordinator Tyler Perry.
Creative Director Sarah Tsiang and Communications Director Liana Cusmano welcome the Finalists and FutureVersers.
Manouan Arabel Boissonnault Émond cracks up the crowd with his Bad Poem Writing Exercise.
National Finalist Hope Anaky shares a laugh at the Bad Poems Writing Exercise.
Sarah Tsiang wraps up the evening.
Tuesday's events move to the beautiful Calgary Public Library.
Workshops are held throughout the day with various poets, in French, in English, and bilingually.
Wakefield Brewster captures the students' attention with his workshop on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
FutureVerser Lang Yue takes notes during Rodney Saint-Éloi's workshop.
Richard Harrison traces moments poetry has changed the course of history.
Clémence Dumas-Côté's workshop encourages students to fully immerse themselves in a poem.
Clémence talks about poets who left a mark in French Canadian poetry.
Vivian Sun and Moineau Shin Binon share a laugh while Sophie Gareau-Brennan leads them in a poetry translation workshop.
National Finalist Aaronsaul Negre and FutureVerser Ella Bachrach reconstruct poems from pieces.
After dinner in Calgary's Chinatown, Bertrand Bickersteth takes the group on a tour of the Bow River and its confluence with the Elbow River.
Where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet is a place of confluence where the sharing of ideas and opportunities naturally come together. Indigenous peoples have their own names for this area that have been in use long before Scottish settlers named this place Calgary. The Métis call the Calgary area Otos-kwunee. In the Blackfoot language, they call this place, Moh-kins-tsis. The Stoney Nakoda Nation refer to the Calgary area as Wîchîspa Oyade and the people of the Tsuut’ina nation call this area Guts-ists-i.
Liana translates Bertrand's words into French.
The group stops briefly for a chilly photo break.
Bertrand tells the group of his experience growing up Black in Calgary, reflects on how much time has changed, and encourages students to imagine possibilities he couldn't as a child. "Yes, rivers are always falling, but rivers are always falling in love."
A long, intense, and rewarding first full day of FutureVerse comes to a close.
On Wednesday morning everyone heads out for the Fill Yer Boots! Poetry Hunt.
Poets were planted around the city to give the students various poetry-related challenges. Justine Rory Ramos and Maria Espindola recite a poem in canon.
Moineau Shin Binon, Vivian Sun, Obiajulu Udemgba, and Tyler-Rose Arden also had to recite a poem on the spot under Louise Bridge.
Arsène Guillemot, Angelina Yeung, Ella Bachrach, Sophie Cameron-King, and Philippe Morissette form a human pyramid.
Evelyne Gagnon and Tyler Perry give their instructions in the beautiful Pages on Kensington bookshop.
Students had to find poetry books hidden in the bookshop's shelves.
Tamara Cardinal serves the first traditional Indigenous stew to Elder Adrian Wolfleg.
French Program Coordinator Ariane Tapp translates for Kaitlyn Purcell and Tamara Cardinal at the afternoon's cut-up writing workshop and paper making activity.
Students cut poetry lines of their own to create a cut-up poem.
FutureVerser Tyler-Rose Arden works on making her paper.
Aqil Melchoir's paper and poetry are the perfect pairing!
Late that night, everyone gathered back at the hotel for a Poetry PJ Party & Judges Reading.
Clémence shares a poem aloud.
Judge Evelyne Gagnon reads from her recent book.
English Program Coordinator Tessa Griffin joins the students in the audience.
Everyone shows their appreciation for the evening!
Wakefield Brewster encourages Aqil in reciting his poem.
Pronunciation training during Ariane Tapp's recitation workshop.
FutureVerser Mikella Boulanger impressed everyone with her final recitation.
Lang Yue at the FutureVerse reading event at Calgary Central Library.
All the FutureVersers have the opportunity to present the poems they have crafted over the week. Sophie Lafrenière reads her poem.
The crowd listening and enjoying their lunch.
Obii shares her poetry.
Judge Micheline Maylor answers a question during a panel hosted by Sarah Tsiang on publishing and professionalizing.
FutureVersers and chaperones listen to Rodney Saint-Éloi's take on publication.
Rita Wong talks about some of the cultural history of Calgary around the subject of Ecopoetics.
Ariane Tapp shares a translation of Rita's poem "declaration of intent".
People start arriving for the National Finals show!
Sarah Tsiang and Star Ezeana welcome the public with their most beautiful smiles at the Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall.
Batool Ali has a laugh before the show.
Ella Bachrach proudly standing beside the poster featuring the poem that allowed her a spot in the FutureVerse program.
Backstage, the finalists don't seem nervous.
The Mt. Stellar Trio entertains the audience during the judging periods.
The judges are ready to mark the recitations.
Director of Communications Liana Cusmano hosts the event in both French and English.
The judges actively listening.
Indigenous poet Kaitlyn Purcell reads a poem during the National Finals.
The FutureVersers take the stage and greet the audience at National Finals. An enthusiastic Jamie He waves back to the crowd.
Justine Rory Ramos proudly gives the thumbs up as she's introduced.
Maia Cassie provides a beautiful recitation of “the ghosts of women once girls” by Aja Monet.
Olivia Bridgman recites “How to Triumph Like a Girl” by Ada Limón.
Maria Espindola recites a complex tongue twister, “Paper People” by Harry Baker
Hope Anaky stuns the crowd with her recitation of « Ma mère me jongle... » by Patrice Desbiens.
Arsène Guillemot recites « Maintenant nous sommes assis » by Marie Uguay.
Chloé Simard takes home 2nd place with her incredible performance, here « Page d’écriture » by Jacques Prévert.
Judge Richard Harrison concentrates on the difficult task of judging.
Aaronsaul Negre infuses his recitation of « Ô jeunes gens... » by Victor Hugo with emotion.
Maïté Turgeon proves equally talented in two languages, here reciting “Skeena Crossing” by Sarah de Leeuw.
Philippe Morissette throws himself into a moving recitation of “I Am the People, the Mob” by Carl Sandburg.
2022 English Champion Stephanie Omorotionmwan reads a poem in recognition of all the missed opportunities for students during the pandemic with a recitation of El Jones' "Glass Hands: A Eulogy on the Anniversary of the Pandemic".
Aaronsaul Negre is congratulated by Johanne Blais on his 1st prize placing in the Bilingual Category.
Hope Anaky takes home first place in the French Category.
Maia Cassie beams as the first place winner in the English category.
All the Finalists with their prizes!
Poetry in Voice founders Scott and Krystyne Griffin share some words of wisdom.
Everyone celebrating their success.
Ariane Tapp and Sarah Tsiang host the after-show cabaret open-mic.
The Poetry Hunt winning team!
Gray Mike reads their poem "I am Inuk".
Batool Ali singing for us!
Aqil Mechoir reads one of his poems for the crowd.
Lang Yue shares a new poem with the audience.
Maia Cassie is not only a recitation champion but writes her own poetry too!
Finalists and FutureVersers let loose and dance after a full week packed with activities.
Founder Scott Griffin shows the students how it's done with Tessa Griffin.
Liana Cusmano and Batool Ali share a dance.
The evening, and the 2023 edition of National Finals and FutureVerse, come to a close.