Vancouver is searching for its next poet laureate.

The city's poet laureate is an honorary position for a flexible term of two to three years.

As part of City of Vancouver's role as a City of Reconciliation, the mandate of the forthcoming term (to start in 2018) will concentrate on raising the profile of Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh poetry. The selected poet laureate will do so by developing a literary project and through readings at civic functions, poetry events, and an inaugural event at the central branch of the Vancouver Public Library (VPL).

Nominations by others or self-nominations for the position are open to published or performance poets from the Musqueam, Squamish, or Tsleil-Waututh Nations whose work has received recognition for significant contributions to poetry and who has engaged with Vancouver's diverse cultural and literary communities.

The inaugural poet laureate was former UBC Creative Writing professor George McWhirter, who served in the position from 2007 to 2009 and edited the anthology A Verse Map of Vancouver.

Subsequent poet laureates have included Bran Cran, Evelyn Lau, and Rachel Rose.

The position, established in 2006, is a collaboration between the City of Vancouver, the VPL, and the Vancouver Writers Fest, with funding from Yosef Wosk, and includes a stipend of $5,000 per year.

The deadline for nominations is December 15 and further details are available at the VPL website.