UBC alumnus appointed Canada’s new Parliamentary Poet Laureate

UBC alumnus Fred Wah has been appointed Canada’s new Parliamentary Poet Laureate. Wah graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Arts in 1962.

He studied music and English at UBC and went on to complete a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Literature at the State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo in 1967. He has taught at Selkirk College, David Thompson University Centre and the University of Calgary; he retired from teaching in 2003.

Wah began publishing in the 1960s as part of an international avant-garde movement in Vancouver. He is the author of a long list of publications including five limited-edition chapbooks and 18 books. The UBC alumnus has received major literary awards including the Governor General’s award for Waiting for Saskatchewan.

Wah is the fifth poet to hold this office. The two-year post involves composing poetry, sponsoring poetry readings, advising the Parliamentary Librarian on the Library’s collection and acquisitions, and other related duties.

For more information, visit: http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/Parliament/Poet/index.asp?language=E&param=2