George Elliott Clarke, a Stellar Ambassador for Canadian Poetry

Very pleased to learn via CBC News that George Elliott Clarke—”a seventh-generation Canadian of African-American and Mi’kmaq heritage, whose work has explored the African experience in Canada”—has been named the new Parliamentary Poet Laureate of Canada. In 2006, I published the US edition of his amazing novel George & Rue. He is an immensely likable person with an ebullient, inclusive personality, and a hugely talented writer.
 
 
Video of Professor Clarke:

A Favorite Year-End Music List

The music blogger with the Twitter handle @PhillyPartTwo did a terrific year-end list, with 60 great songs. I tweeted about it earlier today, and am happy to share it here. He gives top billing to one of my most favorite bands, Rah Rah, who makes his two top faves songs from their 2015 album “Vessels.”