Correction
This story originally said Hope Anaky won $1,000 for her school to spend on poetry books. This was based on information from teacher Marie-Christine Bérubé-Lajoie, which was incorrect. Poetry in Voice spokesperson Liana Cusmano says there were no school prizes for poetry books this year in the contest. The Gazette apologizes for the confusion.
A St. Albert student has won thousands of dollars for her performance at a national poetry contest held last week in Calgary.
École Alexandre-Taché Grade 11 student Hope Anaky took first place in the French section of the 2023 Poetry in Voice National Finals held at the Calgary Central Public Library on April 20.
Poetry in Voice is a non-profit group which runs a national poetry recital contest to promote poetry in Canadian schools.
Anaky, who described herself as a newcomer to poetry, was one of about 20,000 students who competed in this year’s contest. By memorizing and reciting multiple poems at school and regional contests, she became one of nine students picked to go to this year’s nationals in Calgary. She and the other finalists took part in several days of poetry workshops and a historic tour of the Bow River prior to last week's finals.
Anaky said she picked three poems to recite at the finals: Patrice Desbien’s Ma mère me jongle (about the poet’s struggles to deal with the loss of their mother), Jacques Prévert’s Page d’écriture (about a strict teacher and a daydreaming student), and Ko Un’s Vivre (about those who don’t have anything in society). She said she picked these poems because they told interesting stories.
Anaky said she and the two other French competitors were super-stressed as they waited for their turn on stage. She was the last to go on, but when stepped into the spotlight in front of 300-some people in the audience, she was ready.
“I remember when I first came to the stage, the moment I said my poem ... it was like my moment,” she said.
“I don’t even remember how I did it.”
Anaky said she was very happy when she learned she had taken first place in her category, which earned her $3,000 and a crystal trophy.
Alexandre-Taché teacher Marie-Christine Bérubé-Lajoie, who ran the school’s qualifiers for the poetry contest, said Anaky’s win could encourage more students to enter next year’s contest.
“We were ecstatic and so proud of her,” Bérubé-Lajoie said.
Anaky encouraged others to take an interest in poetry.
“It’s about your journey and finding a poem that touches you and talks to your heart.”
Video of the national finals has been posted to poetryinvoice.ca.
