Rarely do the inspiring words of our youth meet an audience, however Victoria’s Youth Poet Laureate, Morgan Purvis, hopes to change that.

Having won her first writing competition in grade three, she later participated in high school poetry slams and now creates original art installations combining words with mixed mediums. Morgan believes poetry allows us to speak about the most controversial subjects in a “beautiful way, so that people can acutely hear what we have to say.” For Morgan topics percolate in her head for months. Eventually, they spill out in a quiet moment of writing covering such topics as living in today’s innate world of relationships as a young woman, mental health and her love of food. Morgan was only one out of thirty applicants competing for the city title, which is an independently sponsored program this year by Reliance Properties. Through Morgan’s year-long reign, under mentorship with Jeremy Loveday and some official duties, it’s clear to her these valuable programs for youth should receive greater awareness and funding by the city’s local government.