St. Albert poet laureate inspires community with creative leadership

Arienette Zak’s journey to becoming a prominent voice in St. Albert’s poetry community began over a decade ago at a local open mic event, where her spontaneous creativity took centre stage.

Karen May Healey, who was hosting the event, remembers offering free hot chocolate to anyone willing to perform a poem. “So, she came up and made up a poem on the spot at the mic and killed it.”

Though she wasn’t even a fan of hot chocolate, Zak’s spontaneous performance left a lasting impression.

Over the years, Zak continued writing poetry, and on April 16, 2024, St. Albert announced her as the city’s fourth poet laureate.

“It’s been six years in the making,” Healey said, referencing Zak’s work as a coach for STARK Poets, a local youth poetry club Zak joined six years ago. Under her mentorship, the group achieved a third place win at Edmonton’s Poetry in Voice competition, which led them to Oshawa.

“It’s a very rewarding group for everyone involved,” Zak said. “It’s been a really positive experience for everyone.” She believes there are more opportunities on the horizon for the club.

“I’ve always considered us to be a very ambitious bunch. We have a lot of drive to do things that you wouldn’t expect out of a library program,” she said.

Zak also contributes to St. Albert’s artisan community by hosting several open mic events for the general public at Gracie Jane’s Bar in St. Albert. Her next event is set for Dec. 17.

As poet laureate, Zak has taken on a public role, speaking at multiple city events as a representative of St. Albert’s literary community. While the role has its challenges, she finds it rewarding.

“Sometimes you feel like you’re in over your head, but other times it feels natural,” Zak said. “It feels like a recognition of work you’ve been putting in for a long time.”

In September, Zak released a poetry anthology, Dousing Cinders, which she describes as a “teaser” of a larger collection she plans to release. The anthology is an experimental exploration that delves into the complexities of human emotions.

“The concept is trying to balance the intensity of the emotional spectrum. That’s the fire. The cinders and the dousing are the deluge of sadness that can come with it,” Zak said.

Zak has continued to inspire those around her since she first stepped up to the microphone 11 years ago, leaving a tangible impact on the community. Her colleagues see a bright future for the young poet.

“She’s really evolved as a writer,” said Healey. “She speaks as a much older and much more experienced writer, and she’s still so young. She’s grown so much, and I’m so excited to see how much she grows from here.”