April 25
Maxime Desmeules, a chaperone in Ottawa in 2024, returns to take on the role in her hometown. Caprice Strgar, a 2024 FutureVerse participant, is now the English Program Coordinator at Poetry in Voice. Both of them welcome this year's cohort at the Quebec City airport.
Tyler Perry, teacher and stage manager for National Finals, and Lauri Charbonneau, a chaperone, welcome the students arriving by train at the magnificent Gare du Palais.
English Program Director Amanda Merpaw and Co-Executive Director Ariane Tapp kick off the week at the Delta Hotel in Quebec.
To get everyone thinking, talking, and using their imagination, we start with a fun icebreaker: an “exquisite corpse” game that alternates between poetic verses and drawings. Laughter guaranteed!
Our close-knit team is always there to guide and support the participants.
Finalist Juliette Iezzoni proudly shows off her bilingual exquisite corpse.
April 26
After a good night's sleep, we start a busy Sunday with a sunny stroll along Quebec City’s famous fortifications.
The fortifications offer breathtaking views of several of the city's architectural gems, such as the Quebec Parliament.
Our two chaperones are easy to spot in their matching denim jackets!
Loyal supporter Johanne Blais, a member of the Poetry in Voice board of directors, lends a hand for the National Finals in Quebec City, her hometown.
After taking in a vast amount of information, the 25 students are invited to reflect on their own inner fortifications, walls, and gates, with the impressive Redoute Dauphine in the background.
Destination: the Monastère des Augustines, a historic building that has been converted into a museum, wellness center, and home to artist residencies and studios.
Stéphanie Fillion, a poet and collage artist, invites students (and team members! ) to delve deeper into the theme of foundations by creating a zine that combines collage and poetry.
Each result is more creative and inspiring than the last!
After lunch, it's time for the traditional poetry hunt! As they make their way through five stations, groups can take photos at iconic locations to earn bonus points!
Quebec City poets Loch Baillie and Carol-Ann Belzil-Normand host the station at the "Rêver le Nouveau Monde" (“Dreaming of the New World”) exhibition in the Gare du Palais park.
Performance judge Nora Atalla and accuracy judge Rae Marie Taylor, who are also poets in the capital, welcome the groups at Librairie Pantoute.
At the massive sculpture “Autoportrait” (“Self-Portrait”) situated in Parc de l'Amérique française, the groups are invited to reflect on the feeling of strangeness with the help of poets Lux and Mary Thaler.
Poet and jury member Jean Désy photographs the groups as they pass by his station at the Royal Battery, in the historic Petit-Champlain district.
After running through the city, the participants return to the Maison de la littérature. It’s time for a workshop on poetic career development for the FutureVerse participants...
... and a recitation performance in the spotlight for the Finalists.
After a day of walking and writing, everyone enjoys a delicious dinner at Bistro Le Sam in the world-famous Château Frontenac.
A group photo was a must!
The day concludes with an inspiring panel discussion featuring the six performance judges at the Maison de la littérature.
April 27
Poet and jury member Sue Goyette leads the workshop “Reactivating Your Imagination: Writing With Curiosity” for English-speaking FutureVerse participants.
On the French-speaking side, Michel Pleau, poet and editor of the 8th issue of VOICES/VOIX, shows young poets how to find their voice through words.
The work continues with a revision and editing workshop led by poet and jury member Jónína Kirton.
The same for poet and host of the National Finals, Vanessa Bell.
Meanwhile, the Finalists visit local schools to recite and discuss the poems they will perform at the National Finals.
In the afternoon, Wendat poet and artist Andrée Lévesque-Sioui shares Wendat history and her expertise in weaving.
The entire group gathers for an ecopoetic walk along the mighty St. Charles/Akiawenrahk River with Jean Désy and Andrée Lévesque-Sioui. Amanda provides simultaneous translation into English.
Andrée Lévesque-Sioui accompanies the walk with traditional Indigenous songs.
The walk ends with a writing exercise in this outdoor classroom.
After a dinner on their own, everyone gathers at the hotel for the now-famous judges’ pajama party and reading. Poets Nora Atalla and Carol-Ann Belzil-Normand joined in the fun.
The poet Kaie Kellough recites a poem with great ease.
In keeping with tradition, Scott Griffin, the founder of Poetry in Voice, recites a poem in front of the impressed students.
Next up is an open mic session, during which finalist Myriam Gagné gives a heartfelt reading of Carolanne Foucher’s collection Deux et demie.
Let the games begin!
April 28
It’s the big day! Ahead of the National Finals, FutureVerse participants get into the swing of things with a dance and poetry workshop led by contemporary dance artist Geneviève Duong at the Maison pour la danse.
This is followed by a panel discussion on poetry publishing in Canada featuring poets and publishers Loch Baillie, Willow Loveday Little, Anne Peyrouse, and Christian Girard.
Meanwhile, at the Diamant theatre, the Finalists are putting the final touches on their preparations before the show.
The finalists are enjoying a final moment of relaxation before heading backstage!
It’s a full house for the National Finals at Le Diamant theatre in Quebec City! More than 500 students from across the province and their teachers turned out in full force!
The Wendake band Anyma'Ora set the stage on fire with their opening performance!
Poet Vanessa Bell hosts the show with natural grace and charm.
French stream Finalist Kristy Murangwa, from École Alexandre-Taché, St. Albert, Alberta.
English stream Finalist Melody Ovuakporoyecha, from St. Malachy’s Memorial High School, Saint John, New Brunswick.
French stream Finalist Myriam Desgagnés, from Cégep du Vieux-Montréal, Montreal, Quebec.
Judges Carol-Ann Belzil-Normand, Nora Atalla, and Sue Goyette listen attentively to the recitations.
English stream Finalist Frederick Chan, from Vancouver Christian School, Vancouver, British Columbia.
French stream Finalist Juliette Iezzoni, from Collège Mont-Saint-Louis, Montreal, Quebec.
English stream Finalist Amelia King, from Little Flower Academy, Vancouver, British Columbia.
The audience hangs on their every word.
Bilingual stream Finalist Catherine Ji, from University of Toronto Schools, Toronto, Ontario.
Bilingual stream Finalist Cianna Rukundo, from École secondaire Étienne-Brûlé, North York, Ontario.
Bilingual stream Finalist Aïta Diop, from Collège de Lévis, Lévis, Quebec.
Performance judges Kaie Kellough and Jónína Kirton are clearly enjoying the show.
The 16 FutureVerse participants were also invited to come on stage before the winners were announced.
The organization’s founders, Scott and Krystyne Griffin, thank the public and our generous presenting supporter, The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation.
The incredible French stream champions, Juliette Iezzoni (1st place), Myriam Desgagnés (2nd place), and Kristy Murangwa (3rd place).
The proud Bilingual stream winners, Cianna Rukundo (1st place), Aïta Diop (2nd place), and Catherine Ji (3rd place).
The outstanding recipients in the English stream, Amelia King (1st place), Frederick Chan (2nd place), and Melody Ovuakporoyecha (3rd place).
The nine Finalists and all the members of the jury gather on stage after a great achievement!
Local, provincial, and national media were on site to interview the finalists, alongside a very proud Co-Executive Director.
The day isn’t over yet for the FutureVerse participants, who have one last workshop to prepare for their public reading this evening. The French-speaking participants are working on their pronunciation and delivery with poet and Co-Executive Director Ariane Tapp.
The English speakers explore various ways to interpret a poem with poet and performer Kaie Kellough.
On the final evening, everyone gathers in the Diamant reception area to enjoy a cocktail party featuring northern flavours. Pierre Nepveu, poet, editor of the Poetry in Voice anthology, and member of the board of directors, is deep in conversation with David Smith, Co-Executive Director and producer of the National Finals.
The poems by the 16 FutureVerse participants are proudly displayed throughout the space.
The participants take the opportunity to relax... and write some more!
The Shirley Temples and Wagyu beef mini-burgers are very popular.
Students have their writing journals signed by their peers, poets, and members of the Poetry in Voice team.
Coordinator Caprice Strgar, our jack-of-all-trades during the event, is also enjoying the evening.
The programming directors kick off the FutureVerse reading event.
Finn Ye, Richmond Secondary School, Richmond, British Columbia
Kupakwashe Mambudzi, Cobequid Educational Centre, Truro, Nova Scotia
Camille Audette, Cégep de L’Outaouais – Campus Gabrielle-Roy, Gatineau, Quebec
Nadine Telesford, Martingrove Collegiate Institute, Etobicoke, Ontario
Kaniq Allerton, École Secondaire Kelvin High School, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Hortense Léon, Collège Jésus-Marie de Sillery, Quebec, Quebec
Madelyn Hook, Loyalist Collegiate & Vocational Institute, Kingston, Ontario
Rose Haberer, Central Toronto Academy, Toronto, Ontario
Eloise Gibbens, École Secondaire Sentinel Secondary School, West Vancouver, British Columbia
Japleen Joshi, Aurora Academic Charter High School, Edmonton, Alberta
Archie Shah, Woburn Collegiate Institute, Scarborough, Ontario
Naré Armenian, Collège Sainte-Marcelline, Montreal, Quebec
Poppy Walsh, Sacred Heart School of Halifax, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Emma Rose Hawkins, Bellerose Composite High School, St. Albert, Alberta
Evans N’Goran, École Maurice-Lavallée, Edmonton, Alberta
Mythili Garikiparthi, École Riverside Secondary School, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
Barbara Lepeltier, French Program Coordinator and Social Media Manager, is gathering feedback from the Finalists and FutureVerse participants. Tessa Griffin, former Poetry in Voice Events Coordinator, board member, and assistant stage manager for the National Finals, listens with interest.
Myriam Desgagnés demonstrates a few steps of traditional Quebec dance while Kaniq Allerton lets loose!
April 29
Off to grab some local ice cream before checking out!
