Mathurin is a Haitian-born spoken word artist and advocate. Her multilingual upbringing in French, Creole and English encouraged her to explore the magic of language and nurtured a deep love of poetry. Her works are driven by her personal experiences, reflecting life as an immigrant, a woman with chronic illness and a voice for marginalized communities.
“Twelve-year-old me, sitting in ESL classes, would’ve never believed she’d one day become the Edmonton Poet Laureate,” said Mathurin. “I came to Edmonton 19 years ago in search of my voice — and along the way, poetry found me. It showed me that I had a voice, and that it had power. I’m incredibly honoured to give back to the city that nurtured me and to share that gift forward.”
Mathurin’s work has been featured on CBC, Global TV, at SkirtsAfire Festival and at the Edmonton Poetry Festival. She received the 2023 Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund Award, is a two-time award recipient from the National Black Coalition of Canada, and the author of multilingual chapbook Waiting in the Land of the Living / Attendre dans le monde des vivants.
“For more than two decades, Edmonton’s Poet Laureate program has given voice to our collective experiences. As we look to the future, Medgine’s work reminds us that language is more than words. It’s culture, identity and a force for change,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.
The role of Edmonton’s Poet Laureate is to reflect the life of the city through readings and poetry. As an ambassador for the literary arts, the Poet Laureate brings poetry into a range of official and informal city events.
Mathurin will serve a two-year term as Edmonton’s 11th Poet Laureate beginning July 2. Stay connected with Mathurin’s work and events by following along on Instagram and on her website. 
