Ten poems written by local Saskatoon talent are on display downtown as part of the City of Saskatoon’s Poetry Downtown Project.

Kathy Allen, the Arts and Grants Consultant with the City of Saskatoon, says this year, the project’s theme was Kindness-acts of.
After reading about 70 submissions from local Saskatoon poets, 10 were chosen to be displayed. Allen says the poems were selected based on their expression of the theme, as well as their ability to inspire the public.

They will be displayed on directory boards on Third Avenue between 19th and 23rd streets until May of next year. Some of the selected winners include ‘In a Garden’ by Danielle Richardson and Anthem by Robert Benz.

The project was prompted after the Parliamentary Poet Laureate of Canada encouraged all municipalities to get more poetry into the community. Following Louise Halfe’s call to action, the City of Saskatoon partnered with Downtown Saskatoon to create the project.

On Saturday, a free walking tour will be held for residents to explore the poems alongside their creators. Nine of the ten authors will be present to read their poems and answer any questions the public may have.