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I had the privilege and honour to read a new poem at the Lieutenant-Govenor’s New Year’s Levee today. After a proclamation by Her Honour Jocelyn Roy-Vienneau to open the levee, I read my poem “New Year’s Day, Fredericton,” which was followed by Jennifer Houle’s reading of the French version, translated by Marie-Claude Hébert. It was quite moving to hear my poem in French; Marie-Claude did a wonderful job, and Jennifer read it superbly. It was first time to the levee, which was a very festive event: we walked around afterward to look through the galleries, and Wyatt collected all the brochures available.

January 1, 2017

There was a lot to mourn in 2016, but it was an incredible year for me in many ways, so I want to take a moment to reflect. In February I was appointed Cultural Laureate of Fredericton. In July, Sherry and I celebrated 10 years or marriage. I worked hard on editing a special retrospective section of The Fiddlehead summer poetry issue on the career of Les Murray, and in October I read by invitation in New York City at the Bowery Poetry Club. And those are just the highlights. I’m looking forward to 2017, and I wish all my friends and family a very happy year filled with health and all good things!

(The pic is of Sonnet L’Abbé and I at the Bowery Club, NYC)