Ty the Poetess is looking to end her first official year as Barrie’s official poet laureate with a bang.
Tyneisha Thomas, who was announced as Barrie’s new poet laureate for the 2022-26 term of city council at the Barrie Arts Awards in November 2022, is hosting a “poetic celebration” on Saturday, Nov. 25 at the MacLaren Art Centre.
The event will feature spoken word performances from Victoria Butler, Emcee Testament, Randell Adeji and other special guests.
“It’s basically an anniversary celebration as the first year of my poet laureateship comes to an end," Thomas said. "I wanted to do something to celebrate my crowning, because I never really did. I just hopped into rapid poetry and highlighted local artists.
“Seeing as I am the first minority, I feel like it’s really important for us to all celebrate this together.”
Looking back on her first year in the role, Thomas says so far it’s been pretty amazing.
“I feel like I was the first poet laureate to do a lot of things. I got to participate in some flag-raisings, I got to read for Margaret Atwood recently, I got to participate as keynote speaker for New Path at their AGM, play baseball with local celebrities … and I have been travelling across Ontario. I have been hosting monthly open mics and I am always mentoring and supporting local artists as well as promoting my own new project," she said.
Thomas has also been awarded several grants during her tenure and will soon have the opportunity for some professional mentorship from Canadian artist Dwayne Morgan, who she called the “Godfather of Canadian spoken word.”
She is also in the process of writing a poetry book about mental health, thanks to funding from the Ontario Arts Council.
“This year has been one of the best years of my life. It’s been super busy, filled with blessings, and I am super grateful," Thomas added .
She has spent the last year hosting other community-based events in her efforts to support other local artists as well as to help the community gain a deeper understanding of spoken word and poetry in order to realize how important it is for everyone in their personal development and growth, as well as a healthy way for people to express themselves.
“I have also realized that not everyone knows what a poet laureate is, so I have had the pleasure of educating everybody," Thomas said.
Tickets can be purchased here or by scanning the QR code located on her Curbex sign located in downtown Barrie.
