N.S. news: HRM names new poet laureate [Video]

The Halifax Regional Municipality named a new poet laureate Tuesday.

Anna Quon, a published author and documentarian, is the municipality’s ninth poet laureate.

According to a news release from the municipality, a poet laureate is a “resident poet, storyteller or spoken word artist who has achieved excellence among their peers and whose work demonstrates connection with and relevance to the municipality’s citizens.”

Halifax Mayor Mike Savage says the poet laureate makes a valuable contribution to the arts.

“Through the power of spoken word as an art form, their words connect us and inform us,” says Savage.

According to the release, Quon also facilitates a bi-weekly writers’ group for the Healthy Minds Cooperative and works part-time as a contract creativity facilitator for the Canadian Mental Health Association Halifax-Dartmouth Branch.

“I’m honoured and a little bowled over to have been chosen for this position,” says Quon.

“My hope is to take poetry …