The City of Windsor has chosen the next poet laureate who will serve in the position until 2027.
Peter Hrastovec was born in Windsor. The son of immigrants, he describes himself as a proud Canadian. The practising lawyer is a published poet and performs in local theatre. His work, hobbies, and community outreach inspire his writing.
Hrastovec's poems are published in three volumes, "In Lieu of Flowers," "Sidelines," and "There Will Be Fish." Other work about the Windsor area is in the anthology "Because We Have All Lived Here" and the upcoming "In The Middle Space."
He works to organize and participate in community poetry readings, sometimes at local schools. During the pandemic, he was part of the organizing committee behind Windsor's Resilient Voices campaign placing poetry by local poets inside Windsor Transit buses and in vaccination clinics.
As the next Poet Laureate in the city's Poet and Storytellers program, Hrastovec said he looks forward to reaching out to novice and seasoned writers. He's focused on connecting them with musicians, performing artists, and visual artists to help tell the story of Windsor's history, social consciousness, work ethic, and landscapes. He wants to collaborate with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Art Windsor-Essex, Chimczuk Museum, the University of Windsor, St. Clair College, and local school boards.
"Peter Hrastovec has solid evidence of local outreach and event experience and has a proven track record as a supporter of the program," said selection committee members.
Hrastovec's application is supported by letters from the President of Rotary International, the Past Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Windsor, and Barrie's former Poet Laureate, Bruce Meyer.