The eastern anchor of the Poets’ Pathway is at Beechwood Cemetery, where many of Canada’s literary luminaries are buried.
At the invitation and with the generous support of Beechwood Cemetery management, a Poet’s Hill Committee was formed in the spring of 2005. Here is the original project description. Landscape architect and Poets’ Pathway volunteer Ryan James designed the site (436 KB pdf).
The inauguration of the site took place on September 13, 2006. Here is the programme, including the poem read by Pauline Michel.
Here is Steve Artelle’s report of the event:
“Poets, politicians and literary patrons braved the rain on Wednesday, September 13, to celebrate the dedication of Poet’s Hill at historic Beechwood Cemetery.
With a misty view of Parliament Hill in the distance, we were treated to a spirited reading by the Parliamentary Poet Laureate, Pauline Michel. Flowerbeds on Poet’s Hill were dedicated to William Pittman Lett (1819-1892), Archibald Lampman (1861-1899), Arthur Bourinot (1893-1969), and John Newlove (1938-2003), with dedicatory readings by Chris Roberts, Andree Christensen, Allan Meltzer, and Colin Morton.
City Councillor Jacques Legendre (Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward) and Member of Parliament Royal Galipeau (Ottawa-Orleans) joined representatives of the Beechwood Cemetery Foundation and the Poet’s Hill Committee to unveil a monument marking this site for literary commemoration, education and inspiration. Poet’s Hill also features a podium where visitors are encouraged to reflect, to read, and to write. For more information about the site, or about the many historic features of Beechwood Cemetery, please contact info@beechwoodcemetery.com.
Poet’s Hill is the first site on an extended network of literary heritage sites planned by the project committee. If you would like to participate in the Poet’s Hill Committee, or if you would like to donate funds toward the establishment of other literary heritage sites, please write to ottawaliterary@yahoo.ca.”
Much of the site remains to be completed. The Beechwood Cemetery Foundation will issue tax receipts for donations in support of the Poet’s Hill site.
