Jason Heroux (born 1971) is a Canadian

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral or writte ...

. He is the third

poet laureate A poet laureate (plural: poets laureate) is a poet officially appointed by a government or conferring institution, typically expected to compose poems for special events and occasions. Albertino Mussato of Padua and Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) ...

of the city of

Kingston, Ontario Kingston is a city in Ontario, Canada. It is located on the north-eastern end of Lake Ontario, at the beginning of the St. Lawrence River and at the mouth of the Cataraqui River (south end of the Rideau Canal). The city is midway between Toro ...

, Canada, a position to which he was appointed in 2018. He is the author of four books of poetry and three novels; his works have been translated into French, Italian, and Arabic. He was born in

Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...

, and has lived in Kingston since 1990. He has described his writing as "the surrealism of the everyday", a characterization elaborated on by Christopher Doda, who writes that Heroux's poems "contain a keen sense of the uncanny, the moment where the commonplace becomes unsettling, when one's comfortable surroundings become a landscape of disquietude." Poems of his were selected for ''Best Canadian Poetry in English'' in 2008, 2011, and 2016. His first poetry collection, ''Memoirs of an Alias'', was called "an amazing debut" by a reviewer in

Books in Canada ''Books in Canada'' was a monthly magazine that reviewed Canadian literature, published in print form between 1971 and 2008. In its heyday it was the most influential literary magazine in Canada. Foundation One of the co-founders of ''Books in Ca ...

; his 2012 collection ''Natural Capital'' was described as "a helluva good read" by a review in

Arc Poetry Magazine ''Arc Poetry Magazine'' is a triannual literary magazine established in 1978, publishing poetry and prose about poetry. History ''Arc'' was started in 1978 by Carleton University professors Christopher Levenson, Michael Gnarowski and Tom Henigh ...

, which concluded, "I'd give it several major prizes all at once." Heroux's novel ''Good Evening, Central Laundromat'' was shortlisted for the 2011

ReLit Awards The ReLit Awards are Canadian literary prizes awarded annually to book-length works in the novel, short-story and poetry categories."Three indie writers honoured by ReLit Awards". ''The Globe and Mail'', July 19, 2007. Founded in 2000 by Newfoundla ...

, and his poetry collection ''Natural Capital'' was shortlisted for the 2013 ReLit Awards.

References

1971 births Living people Canadian male poets 21st-century Canadian poets Poets Laureate of places in Canada {{Canada-poet-stub