St. Albert Poet Laureate
The 2024 St. Albert Poet Laureat | Arientte Zak
The City of St. Albert and St. Albert Public Library are pleased to introduce Arienette Zak as the city’s new Poet Laureate. Mayor Cathy Heron announced Zak’s appointment at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 16.
Zak will serve for a two-year term as St. Albert’s fourth Poet Laureate, representing the City during readings at civic functions and public poetry events. Zak grew up in St. Albert and was active in high school poetry scenes before joining STARK Poets, where she mentors young poets. She has performed at and hosted many high-profile regional poetry and arts events, including the Edmonton Poetry Festival, Edmonton Fringe, Amplify, Illuminate, Skirtsafire, and at the St. Albert Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts early in Mayor Heron’s first term. In 2020, Zak released a spoken word CD titled To Love and to be Loved, in collaboration with former Poet Laureate Julia Sorensen.
Poetry
one for me
Performed at City of Albert Council on April 16, 2024.
Past Poets Laureate
Lauren Seal
2022-2024
Lauren Seal is a poet, writer, and librarian. Her work has appeared in numerous literary magazines, anthologies, and once on a beer can. She mentors the teen and young adult poets of SWYC - the Spoken Word Youth Choir - and performs in the adult incarnation of the group.
To Create Joy – St. Albert Community Poem
by the People of St. Albert. Edited by Lauren Seal.
Julia Sorensen
2020-2022
Julia Sorensen is a published writer, musician, visual artist, event host and poet laureate from Treaty Six territory in Canada. She has performed spoken word and music at events such as Edmonton Poetry Festival, Push the Boat Out, Hidden Door Festival, SkirtsAFire, Seven Music Festival, and Berlin Spoken Word. She co-hosts Rock the Boat, one of Edinburgh’s monthly spoken word open mics. Her previous involvement with slam poetry informs her expressive performance style, and her work maintains a softness and ambiguity which leaves it to the audience to make meaning.
Zach Polis
2018-2020
Zach Polis is a screenwriter, playwright, and poet. He was St. Albert's first poet laureate. He has performed his poetry on CBC Radio, as well as across Canada
