Former Canadian Poet Laureate the guest speaker at Burlington Library event

Award-winning writer George Elliott Clarke is the speaker at Burlington Public Library’s inaugural Lyrics & Poetry Festival.

Clarke is described as a peerless wordsmith, compelling orator, and witty storyteller and will be spinning some tales at the virtual event Thursday, Apr. 28, from 2 to 3 p.m.

During his long and storied career, Clarke has worn many hats, including poet, playwright, screenwriter, librettist, and novelist. He was Toronto’s fourth Poet Laureate in 2012 and Canada’s seventh Parliamentary Poet Laureate in 2016.

A seventh-generation African-Canadian, Clarke is a tireless champion of African-Canadian literature, writers, and poets. His recently published memoir, Where Beauty Survived, explores his early life in Africadia, the Black Canadian community centred in Halifax, NS.

For more information about the event, which is presented in partnership with A Different Drummer Books visit the City of Burlington website.