April is National Poetry Month and Courtenay鈥檚 award-winning Poetry Walk is back for a third year, offering a sparkling selection of poems inspired by this year鈥檚 theme: 鈥渇amily.鈥�
Twenty-five local poets, ranging in age from 12 to over 80, have written poems for 25 businesses located throughout 4th, 5th and 6th Streets, as well as Cliffe and Duncan Avenues.
The poems will be hand-painted on shop windows by artist Kelly Everill for people to enjoy while strolling downtown throughout the month of April. Recordings of the poems, read by their authors, will also be available to listen to on the Downtown Courtenay BIA website.
This year, the Poetry Walk has also expanded to include two free, family-friendly events, with opportunities to meet some poets and experience poetry live.
Poem-Palooza, on Saturday, April 5, consists of an interactive poetry booth, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., where you chat with a poet who then writes you a brand new poem to take home, followed by a showcase reading by Poetry Walk poets from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., both at the Courtenay Library.
Pop-Up Poetry Boot is a second opportunity to meet and talk with poets and get a brand new poem written just for you, this time at Gladstone Brewing Company on Saturday, April 12 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Poetry Walk, an initiative of the Downtown Courtenay BIA, won the 2024 鈥淏est in the West鈥� Award from the Business Improvement Areas of B.C., in recognition of the event鈥檚 inventiveness, ease of repeatability, community engagement and relationship-building between business and the arts.
