29 January 2008
Gaspereau Press Author Named Poet Laureate of PEI

Gaspereau Press is pleased to announce that author David Helwig has been named Poet Laureate of Prince Edward Island. The appointment was made official on Monday, 21 January 2008 by Hon. Carolyn Bertram, Minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour, who commented that Helwig "has a renowned national reputation and has made a major contribution to the literary culture of Prince Edward Island."

The Provincial Poet Laureate Program was established in 2002 to celebrate the Island and its people, to raise the profile of PEI poets and poetry in general, to promote literacy and to promote expression of culture and heritage through the literary arts. The position does not have official duties attached, though Helwig has said he would like to use his term to make the work being done by Island poets better known, and he is considering the creation of a website to serve this purpose. Helwig is taking over the position from Frank Ledwell who has just completed a three-year term.

David Helwig is the author of more than 20 books of fiction and poetry. Born in Toronto, he taught at Queens University and was literary manager for CBC-TV Drama. He has been a full-time writer and editor since 1980. Among his most recent titles is The Year One, published in 2004 by Gaspereau Press and winner of the Atlantic Poetry Award. Helwig has lived on PEI since 1996.

For more information contact
Beth Crosby at Gaspereau Press
47 Church Avenue, Kentville, NS, B4N 2M7
902-678-6002, info@gaspereau.com