UWindsor alumnus Peter Hrastovec (BA 1979, LLB 1982) plans to focus on the beauty of Windsor’s diversity as the city’s poet laureate. The city announced his appointment Thursday through approximately 2027.
“The many voices of our people from all over this planet can be heard as if in a chorus,” Hrastovec says. “In this role, I want to be a touchstone to the city’s soul, to help guide and educate our citizenry as well as elevate and promote all the elements that inspire our daily lives.
“Here, we nurture and support talent and revel in an international border – a ribbon of friendship – that is an unparalleled wonder that opens opportunity for all of us.”
A published poet and performing artist in local theatre, Hrastovec is also a practising lawyer and has served as a sessional instructor in the UWindsor Faculty of Law.
His poems have appeared in three solo volumes of work: In Lieu of Flowers (2012), Sidelines (2015), and There Will Be Fish (2022), all published by Black Moss Press.
Mayor Drew Dilkens welcomed Hrastovec to this position: “I trust that he will help this program continue to thrive and have a positive impact here in our community and beyond our borders.”
Creators appointed to posts in the City of Windsor’s Poet Laureate & Storytellers Program share stories through poetry, literature, spoken word and oral history. In addition to Hrastovec, the program includes poet laureate emeritus and UWindsor resident writing professional Marty Gervais, Indigenous storyteller Theresa Sims, and multicultural community storyteller Teajai Travis.