Lockerby Composite School student participates in Poetry Recitation Contest

Grade 10 student Spencer Slaney has won the privilege of representing Lockerby Composite School at the first provincial Poetry Recitation Contest taking place at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto on April 12, 2011.  Slaney captured top honours at an in-school poetry competition held in March. He will recite three poems – “Spleen” by Charles Baudelaire, “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe, and “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll.

Lockerby Composite School is among 12 schools in Ontario piloting the Poetry Recitation Contest being presented by the Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry. Chairman Scott Griffin established the Trust in April 2000 along with Trustees Margaret Atwood, Carolyn Forché, Robert Hass, Michael Ondaatje, Robin Robertson and David Young. Lockerby Composite School is the only English-language school in Northern Ontario participating in this pilot project.

“On behalf of Rainbow District School Board, I would like to congratulate Spencer Slaney for his outstanding achievement,” said Chair Tyler Campbell. “We wish Spencer continued success as he competes in this innovative event at the provincial level.”

Poetry In Voice/Les voix de la poésie is a national bilingual poetry recitation contest combining the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word and theatre with the study of great literature in the high school classroom. A total of $10,000 in awards and school stipends will be presented in 2011.

Poetry In Voice/Les voix de la poésie is expected to expand in 2012 to include all of Ontario and Québec, and branch out to schools across the country in 2013.

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Media Contact:

Heather Gaffney, Principal, Lockerby Composite School,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-522-1750.