Arts and Culture > Poet Laureate > Inaugural Poet Laureate

Inaugural Poet Laureate – Carla Funk

Local poet, Carla Funk, was honoured to serve a two-and-a-half-year term as the City of Victoria's first Poet Laureate from June 2006 to November 30, 2008.

During Carla Funk's term she accomplished the following:

• Represented the City of Victoria honourably, using the title of Poet Laureate and poetry to bring members of the community together
• Participated in annual City of Victoria events and promoted poetry to Victoria neighbourhoods, schools and gathering places
• Acknowledged the incredibly talented poets who make Victoria their home
• Challenged false assumptions about poetry – that it is a high-brow art form for only the well-educated
• Developed ideas to demonstrate that poetry is a primal, natural act - that it can heal, be funny, warm and moving, and accessible to the listener

Poems written by Carla Funk during her term as City of Victoria Poet Laureate:

2008

• At the End of the Day [PDF 45KB]
• I Want To Say a Thing Important and Alive [PDF 43KB]
• In Fall [PDF 29KB]
• Cellar Door [PDF 38KB]
• (To be presented at the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize Gala Awards)

2007

• Walking up Government Street [PDF 30KB]
• Invitation - Beacon Hill Water Park [PDF 24KB]
• Driving Past the Juvey [PDF 27KB]
• The Fuel [PDF 35KB]

2006

• Come Winter [PDF 46KB]
• Fumbling Toward the Star [PDF 34KB]
• The New Continent [PDF 45KB]
• Raising The Glass [PDF 35KB]

Capital Verse

Capital Verse was a "virtual" initiative of the City's Inaugural Poet Laureate, Carla Funk, (2006 – 2008), together with the City of Victoria and the Greater Victoria Public Library. Each month, Carla Funk introduced a Victoria area poet, featured links to their books, and shared some of their thoughts about poetry on the Greater Victoria Public Library website. Some of the poets profiled include Wendy Morton, Linda Rogers, Lorna Crozier, Steven Price and John Barton. For more information, click here.

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