delivering more than inspiration
The Poet Laureate of Edmonton
For centuries, in cities across the world, poets laureate have been chosen to share and reflect everyday life and grand moments alike – both elevating and celebrating culture through the literary arts.
Today, Edmonton’s Poet Laureate composes and reads poetry as part of special ceremonies and occasions, reflecting Edmonton’s cultural landscape back to their audience, Edmontonians.
By incorporating poetry into a range of activities throughout the year – sparking inspiration and conversation – Edmonton’s Poet Laurate is an ambassador of the arts for every Edmontonian.
Who is Edmonton's Poet Laureate?
Medgine Mathurin
Medgine Mathurin is a multilingual spoken word poet whose artistic practice is a celebration of linguistic diversity and cultural harmony. Through her poetry, she fuses French, English and Haitian Creole with themes of healing, lessons of courage and intergenerational stories.
Medgine is motivated by the belief that language embodies culture and identity. Her poems reflect her journey towards self-love, her life as an immigrant, and her lived experience navigating the world with an ‘invisible’ chronic illness.
Medgine’s work has been featured on CBC, Global TV, at SkirtsAfire Festival and at the Edmonton Poetry Festival. She received the 2023 Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund Award, is a two-time award recipient from the National Black Coalition of Canada, and the author of multilingual chapbook Waiting in the Land of the Living / Attendre dans le monde des vivants.
Medgine will serve a two-year term as Edmonton’s Poet Laureate beginning July 1, 2025. Keep informed about Medgine’s work and events by following @medginespeaks on Instagram and Facebook and by visiting her website www.medgine.ca.
Past Poets Laureate
Since the position was created in 2005, each Poet Laureate has vividly captured Edmonton’s spirit, history and events in their own unique voice.
- Shima Robinson 2023 – 2025
- Titilope Sonuga 2021 – 2023
- Nisha Patel 2019 – 2021
- Ahmed “Knowmadic” Ali 2017 – 2019
- Pierrette Requier 2015 — 2017
- Mary Pinkoski 2013 – 2015
- Anna Marie Sewell 2011 – 2013
- Roland Pemberton (Cadence Weapon) 2009 – 2011
- Ted Blodgett 2007 – 2009
- Alice Major 2005 – 2007