Poetry In Voice/Les voix de la poésie
2-15 AV LAURIER E
MONTRÉAL, QC H2T 1E4
info@poetryinvoice.com
T: 514.668.0768 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
David J. Smith, Executive Director (il/he/him)
David at the Winnipeg Art Gallery with 2019 National Finalists (l to r) Berry Genge, Clara Sismondo, Aksa Caleb, Nawal Semir, and Alexander Morin
david@poetryinvoice.com
T: 514.668.0768
David has been with Poetry In Voice/Les voix de la poésie since 2011, first as Technical Director and then as Executive Director starting in 2014. With his background in theatre, filmmaking, photography, and engineering, David has developed our website, created our videos, and orchestrated our live and online contests.
His love of poetry and performance was sparked when he photographed the first team slam at the People’s Poetry Gathering in 1999. His ongoing interest in slam led to a wild year of filming high school students in Rochester, NY, as they formed a slam team for Brave New Voices in 2007. He is thrilled that it’s now his job to encourage students to read, recite, and write poetry.
Rachel Arsenault, Director of Communications (elle/she/her)
rachel@lesvoixdelapoesie.com
T: 438.820.2375
Rachel has worked for Poetry In Voice/Les voix de la poésie since 2017. She coordinated the Poets in School program for a while and now manages Poetry In Voice/Les voix de la poésie’s communications with the support of June Park. Rachel is also an editor and co-founder of Dent-de-lion, a feminist children’s publishing house.
A lover of literature and languages, she delights in proofing the new poems added to the anthology each year and is thrilled to make poetry more accessible for everyone.
Sarah Tsiang, Creative Director (elle/she/her)
T: 613.453.1484
Before joining Poetry In Voice/Les voix de la poésie in 2020, Sarah taught poetry and creative writing at UBC and Sheridan College. She is the author of 2 books of poetry and the editor of a poetry anthology. She also works as the Poetry Editor of Arc Poetry Magazine and loves nothing more than discovering and working with the rising stars of Can lit.
She’s thrilled to have the opportunity to be around both talented students from across the country as well as the supremely gifted poets who provide content for our website and anthologies.
Tessa Griffin, Program Coordinator (she/her/elle)
Tessa stage managing the 2017 Finals in Vancouver
tessa@poetryinvoice.com
T: 416.518.0064
Tessa Griffin creates connections: She unites poets and teachers for our Poet In Class program; she assembles students, teachers, and poets for our Team Regional events in Ontario; and she collaborates with literary-event and festival organizers to create opportunities for students to recite. She also plans and stage manages our National Finals events.
Before coming to Poetry In Voice/Les voix de la poésie in 2016, Tessa worked as a public school and Montessori educator and ran an organization that provided Toronto children with books and opportunities to meet authors. When she is not in front of her computer directing poetry traffic, she enjoys making art, triathlon sports, cross-country skiing, reading, and listening to music.
June Park, Development Manager (elle/she/her)
June is a writer, grant advisor, consultant, and cultural connector with over 20 years of experience working in the arts. She believes deeply in the impact of the arts on us as individuals and communities, and is committed to diversity and empowerment.
An avid devotee of poetry and its ability to engage, inspire and connect, June studied literature at U Toronto (MA) and U Calgary (BA). She is working on a manuscript, and recalibrates herself yearly by doing a solo wilderness adventure equipped with a pen, blank pages, and some poetry.
Website comments and questions: webmaster@poetryinvoice.com
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Photo credits:
David Smith by Daniel Crump
Rachel Arsenault by Lianne Finnie
Sarah Tsiang by David Drummond
Tessa Griffin by Joshua Dorsey