The 2024 National Finals and FutureVerse took place between April 21st and April 24th in Ottawa, Ontario on the unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation.
Sunday, April 21
Students were greeted at the train station by the PIV team. Student chaperone, Maxime Desmeules (left) pictured with Malcolm Wernestrom, Leïla Malo, Juliette Comtois, and Daniela Damier Ducreux.
Creative Director, Sarah Tsiang and French Program Director, Ariane Tapp welcomed the students to Ottawa, kicking off the week with a Bad Poetry Writing Workshop.
The students are all smiles !
Sarah Tsiang pictured with finalists, Sara-Joelle Yao, Daniela Damier Ducreux, James Hoag, Bem Denga, and Emiliia Lebedeva.
Cree and Métis poet, Tyler Pennock leads a Creating Centos Workshop.
Students work together to create a Centos poem with verses from published Indigenous poetry.
Finalist Cynthia Li and FutureVerser Marie-Pauline Chaffanjon pictured laughing, as they string verses together.
Monday, April 22
The next morning, Ariane leads the walk to the SAW Centre.
FutureVersers convene in front of the SAW Centre, ready for the first full day of workshops. From left to right: Eunsae, Abby, Andrea, Caprice, Kyo, Malcolm, Juliette, Kayshini, Feather, Marie-Pauline, Richard, Tosia, Maria, Hannah, Khushi.
Poet Jamaal Amir Akbari leads a Justice and Equity workshop for English FutureVersers at the SAW Centre.
Poet, Marie-Célie Agnant leads the Justice and Equity workshop for French FutureVersers at the SAW Centre.
FutureVerse students are led by Jaime Morse on an Indigenous Walk throughout downtown Ottawa, learning about important Indigenous sites.
Meanwhile, our finalists visit the local schools and recite their poems…
English Stream Finalists James Hoag, Daniela Damier Decreux, and Emiliia Lebedeva visit Canterbury High School.
French Stream Finalists, Leïla Malo, Sara-Joelle Yao, and Cynthia Li visit École secondaire publique de La Salle. Cynthia is pictured doing a poetry exercise with La Salle teacher and students.
Bilingual Stream Finalists Chloe Simard, Maia Cassie, and Bem Denga visit Mont-Bleu High School.
Tyler Pennock leads a writing workshop for FutureVersers and Finalists at the SAW Centre.
Finalist Bem and FutureVersers, Abby, Juliette, and Khushi were fully engaged.
Students Caprice, Andrea, Kyo, and Emiliia share their reflections and insights with the group.
PIV founder Scott Griffin joins the group for a Parliamentary Tour.
The Honourable Mona Fortier grants the group exclusive access to The House of Commons.
FutureVersers, Caprice and Abby sat in the seat of Opposition.
Finalist, Maia Cassie admires the books on display in the House of Commons.
An empowering conversation with The Honourable Mona Fortier.
Students have a chance to ask important questions during the Q&A with Mona Fortier.
Finalist Bem Denga is in his element.
A group shot in front of parliamentary buildings before ending the night with a dinner at the Metropolitan Brasserie.
Tuesday, April 23
Day two begins with the Chasse-Galerie Poetry Hunt! Students embark on a morning of poetry-filled bilingual activities, with poetry ambassadors stationed across Ottawa and Gatineau.
All smiles with poetry hunt creator Nina Drystek and students at her station at the National Arts Centre.
Susan Musgrave reads FutureVerser Andrea Granata’s blackout poem at Major’s Hill Park.
Finalist Bem Denga works on his blackout poem.
Ellen Chang-Richardson leads students in an acrostic poem activity at the Canadian Museum of History.
Two teams crossing paths in Gatineau!
At the Chaudière Falls lookout, students share words with the river. From left to right, Hannah, Maia, Emiliia, Khushi, and Leïla take turns reciting a poem, line by line.
Poet Ambassadors, Manahil Bandukwala and Margo LaPierre welcome students to their next activity at Librairie du soleil bookstore.
Thomas, Eunsae, and James giggle while putting together centos, borrowing not from poets’ lines but from book titles.
Finalist Daniela finds a quiet spot to work on her centos poem.
Look who it is! Maia Cassie finds herself on a billboard in downtown Ottawa.
Panel discussion "Poetry During a Time of Eco-Crisis" with Susan Musgrave, Marie-Célie Agnant, Armand Garnet Ruffo, and Chloé-Savoie Bernard.
Armand shares wisdom.
As the crowd listens intently.
Students work with collage during the “Remapping Place” workshop at the Ottawa Art Gallery.
FutureVerser Thomas Li in deep concentration.
Sarah marvels as students Feather and Hannah dive deep into their work.
Ariane engaged with students' ideas and creations.
Chloé Savoie-Bernard introduces the Ekphrastic Writing Workshop to French students.
Susan Musgrave introduces the Ekphrastic Writing Workshop to English students.
Students tour the Ottawa Art Gallery as a part of the Ekphrastic Writing Workshop.
Sarah and Ariane kick off the PJ party and introduce the judges' readings!
Natasha Kanapé Fontaine offers a powerful recitation of her poetry.
Armand Garnet Ruffo reads a poem from his collection, Treaty # (2019)
Students are fully immersed.
Marie-Célie Agnant reads from her poetry collection, Femmes des terres brûlées (2016)
Michael Crummey speaks candidly to the students before reading one of his poems.
Chloé Savoie-Bernard reads from her poetry collection, Sainte-Chloé de l'amour (2021)
Founder Scott Griffin recites “Little Bateese” by William Henry Drummond.
Students begin the open mic, and FutureVerser Eunsae Lee reads an original poem.
Finalist Chloé Simard reads a poem.The students take turns reading and reciting poetry in their pajamas, late into the night.
Wednesday, April 24
The next morning, Jamaal Amir Akbari leads a performance reading workshop for English students in preparation for the FutureVerse readings.
Ariane Tapp leads the performance reading workshop for French FutureVerse students.
FutureVersers Marie-Pauline, and Abby, doing tongue-twisters.
Malcolm Wernestrom on stage at the FutureVerse readings.
Khushi Sidhu reads her original poem at the FutureVerse readings.
Caprice Strgar shares a poem written over the last few days of workshops.
Ariane and Sarah lead a panel discussion on Publishing and Professionalizing for FutureVerse students at the National Arts Centre.
Poet and publisher Nduka Otiono shares his knowledge in the panel discussion.
Poet and publisher Brenda Leifso shares her professional experiences with students, seated between Chloé Savoie-Bernard and Ariane Tapp.
Students discover the backstage piano and have a pre-show sing-along…
While Executive Director David Smith, and English Judge Susan Musgrave talk business.
FutureVersers’ poems on display front-of-house.
Kyo stands with the poem that got her accepted for FutureVerse 2024.
Stacks of programs to be handed out.
The audience arrives in good spirits for the pre-show reception.
Meanwhile, backstage the finalists are hyping each other up!
Finalist James Hoag looks pensive.
The house is filling up fast! It’s almost showtime!
The judges are seated, eager to mark their scores…
Stage Manager, Tyler Perry is ready!
Tech team ready!
The finalists are ready! It’s showtime!
Hosts Johanne Blais and Evan Solomon begin the night with opening remarks.
Kyrstin Dumont reads a poem by her grandfather and Indigenous poet, Albert Dumont.
Daniela Damier Ducreux (English Stream) from Collège Jean-Eudes, Montreal, QC
Sara-Joelle Yao (French Stream) from École Alexandre-Taché, St. Albert, AB
James Hoag (English Stream) from Prince of Wales Secondary School, Vancouver, BC
Leïla Malo (French Stream) from Collège Jean-Eudes, Montreal, QC
Emiliia Lebedeva (English Stream) from Webber Academy, Calgary, AB
Cynthia Li (French Stream) from Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, Montreal, QC
Maia Cassie (Bilingual Stream) from Queen Margaret's School, Duncan, BC
Bem Denga (Bilingual Stream) from Webber Academy, Calgary, AB
Chloe Simard (Bilingual Stream) from Champlain Regional College – Saint-Lambert, Saint-Lambert, QC
FutureVerser Marie-Pauline Chaffanjon selected as the French student to read an original poem.
FutureVerser Feather Mason-Delorme selected as the English student to recite an original poem.
Winners were announced and awards presented!
Scott Griffin presents first place in the French Stream to Leïla Malo.
Executive Director David watches proudly as students receive their awards.
Scott and Krystyne share some words with the students and the audience.
English Stream Winners! Emiliia Lebedeva (center) in first place, James Hoag (left) in second place, and Daniela Damier Ducreux (right) in third place.
French Stream Winners! Leïla Malo (center) in first place, Cynthia Li (left) in second place, and Sara-Joelle Yao (right) in third place.
Bilingual Stream Winners! Chloé Simard (center) in first place, Bem Denga (left) in second place, and Maia Cassie (right) in third place.
Everyone in! What an incredible evening of poetry and powerful recitations!
At the Cabaret, poets Natasha Kanapé Fontaine and Chloé Savoie-Bernard join the students for dancing and celebration!
FutureVerse student, Kyo Lee performs a reading at the Cabaret.
FutureVerse student, Juliette Comtois also does a reading.
Finalist Daniela performs an original song in acapella.
FutureVerser Abby Zhang charms the crowd with a reading of Maia Mayor’s poem “I Want to Be.”
Finalists and FutureVersers dance into the night!