Video summary
The video introduces Matthew Raymond Jones, known by his stage name Testament, who was recently installed as the second Poet Laureate of Ontario on November 26, 2024. This role, established in 2019 to honor the late musician and writer Gord Downie, is an independent officer position within the Legislative Assembly designed to represent the arts and culture across the province. Testament explains that being a poet laureate involves more than just writing; it is about raising the voices of individuals and ensuring that stories from every corner of Ontario, including its furthest northern regions, are recognized as valuable. He views words as a powerful tool comparable to a sword, capable of both causing harm and liberating people, with a primary mission to help others process trauma or joy through poetry so that their experiences remain alive as memories.
The position serves as a vital bridge connecting the diverse artistic landscape of Ontario to the public and the legislative body. Testament notes that he often has to explain the specific duties of the role, which include encouraging people to tell their stories and using poetry to unite Ontarians despite global divisions. He emphasizes the importance of shifting perspectives and helping individuals realize that they are not alone in their struggles, moving beyond a narrative of only "unicorns and rainbows" to acknowledge real challenges. The role is described as necessary for a province rich in history and varied experiences, allowing the laureate to elevate these narratives and foster a sense of community where people feel heard and understood.
Testament shares his personal journey with writer's block, describing how he once used blank notebooks as a refuge while struggling to find himself, a path inspired by his mother. His poetry often grapples with internal conflicts, such as the desire for peace versus the reality of fighting for one's own truth in an imperfect world. He urges listeners not to limit themselves and highlights the transformative power of self-affirmation, specifically focusing on the phrase "I am" to remind people that their identity is defined by what they say about themselves. His message encourages everyone to speak dreams into existence and to choose to be the change they wish to see, fostering a world united rather than divided.
As Testament's two-year tenure as Poet Laureate draws to a close, the video highlights the successful passing of the bill that created this unique office with unanimous consent in the legislature. The segment concludes by noting that the Legislative Assembly will soon begin searching for a successor to continue this important work, inviting potential candidates or those they know to consider applying. The presentation serves as both a tribute to Testament and Randell Adjei, the first Poet Laureate, and an invitation for future voices to step forward and represent the cultural heartbeat of Ontario.
Read the full video transcript
Put those snaps up like this. I don't
know how many of you have ever been to a
poetry event. We want to feel that
vibration.
>> This isn't just any poetry event. That's
the province's poet laureate at the
Archives of Ontario.
>> Yeah, we got a poetry crowd out here.
>> Most people don't even know what a poet
laureate is, right? So, I always tell
them that to be a poet laureate, first
of all, you got to love words. And words
is my realm, but part of the role is
we're meant to raise the voices of
individuals.
>> Matthew Raymond Jones, also known as
Testament, says he learned of the role
when a friend sent him a LinkedIn post
and said he'd be perfect for it. So, he
applied.
>> November 26th, 2024, I had the great
privilege of taking my four children and
my mother, we went down to Queen's Park,
and I got installed as Ontario's second
poet laureate. Yeah.
[applause and cheering]
>> What does poet laureate mean to you?
>> I love to compare words to a sword,
right? Cuz if you look at the word
words, w o r d s, take the s off of the
end, move it to the front, it spells
sword. And all of us can relate. We've
all been hurt by people's words. We've
all used words to hurt people. So, a
large part of our role is to talk about
the power of words. But it is also to
look at the idea that poetry and words
can actually liberate people. No matter
what you're going through, no matter
what traumatic situation or joyful
situation, the idea that our words can
bring it back to life and keep it as a
memory going on. This is really what it
is to be a poet laureate. And I get to
represent all of Ontario. Part of being
the poet laureate is how can I elevate
those stories? How can I let people know
that even living the furthest northern
part of our province, that their stories
matter.
>> And what's the response been, Matthew,
when you go to those places?
>> People give me so much love and
authentic connection. I feel so very
blessed. When I go to these communities,
people are like, "Thank you." They thank
me for sharing with them because it's
sort of gives them the idea that hey, I
could share aspects of myself too cuz
not everything is unicorn and rainbows.
There are challenges, there are
struggles.
>> you to know that every time I write, I
write for you.
>> The role is a relatively new one,
established in 2019 as an office of the
Legislative Assembly of Ontario in honor
of musician and writer Gord
>> [music]
known for his charisma and
poetic lyrics as the late frontman of
The Tragically Hip, was called the Poet
Laureate of Canadian rock music.
>> Order M6, third reading of Bill 6 and
act to establish a Poet Laureate of
Ontario in memory of Gord
>> And it was an extremely rare instance in
the legislature that there was unanimous
consent to pass former Windsor-Tecumseh
MPP Percy Hatfield's private members'
bill that created the role of Ontario's
Poet Laureate in Downie's memory.
Randell Adjei was the province's first
in the role.
>> The spoken word is a gift.
And you can emanate life or death by the
mere intention coming out of your lips.
We can speak dreams into existence,
creating a world united or divided. So
you can choose to be the change.
>> And do you miss it?
>> I do.
>> Did you have to go around and explain
what a Poet Laureate was for your entire
tenure?
>> I often was asked, "What's a Poet
Laureate? What does it mean? What does
it What's the role?"
>> What did you say?
>> I mean, it's an independent officer of
the Legislative Assembly. It's a
representative who goes and spreads the
message of arts and culture, who
encourages people to tell their story,
and uses poetry as a means to bring
Ontarians together.
>> What does that mean to you?
>> It's a very beautiful role and necessary
role for a number of reasons. You have
someone who represents arts and culture
around a province that is full of
culture, full of history, full of so
many different experiences from all over
the world. Think about the Legislative
Assembly of Ontario, the role kind of
plays the role as a bridge from an
artistic standpoint to connect people to
the to the assembly.
>> You ever had writer's block before?
Uh this poem is kind of uh, you know,
dealing with writer's block, all right?
My pen feels like
it's on strike.
Paper staring back at me like,
>> [snorts]
>> "What you going to write tonight?"
But the words don't come, they crawl,
they stumble like I'm trying to catch
butterflies in the thunderstorm.
The beat inside my chest is still
knocking, but my mind it's buffering,
cursor blinking like a flatline marking
the pulse I can't find. I used to spill
galaxies on pages.
Paint pain into praises, make metaphors
manifest from mistakes, but lately it's
like my truth is too shy to show up to
the page.
They want proverbial poems about peace,
while I'm still fighting for mine.
They want verses about beauty, but I'm
still trying to find it in the ugliness
of this world and every
>> I'm just looking to inspire people to
tell their stories. Being able to talk
about where you're from and who you are
and where you're then from inherently.
With all the division that's happening
in the world, I just have another poem
about perspective and it's to encourage
people to open their perspectives and
not be so caught up with what they
believe.
>> One more time for Randell, please. Give
it up, y'all.
>> You know.
>> We switch up.
>> up. Pass
>> We pass the torch. We pass the torch.
>> I love stories. The idea that I can be
and say and do anything
without boundaries.
And all of that spark came down to my
mother. She'd buy me little notebooks
like this with some like dolphins on it
and stuff. You know, as a young man, I
was really struggling to find myself and
those blank pages became my refuge.
>> My name is Testament and I represent
peace. Everywhere I go, I want to see
peace increase and
even though it seems like the wars will
never cease, I'm going to do this till
the day that I'm gone and I'm deceased.
All I would really want to say to people
is don't limit yourself, right? We talk
about the power of words and the idea of
the words that I say to you and the
words that you say to me. But people
don't often reflect on the words that
they say to themselves. And for me, two
of the most powerful words in the
English language are I am. I am
powerful. I am beautiful. I am whatever
you fill in the blank with. You are what
you say you are.
>> Testament's tenure as Poet Laureate is
coming to a close. The term of office is
2 years or until a successor is
appointed. Soon, the Legislative
Assembly is going to be looking for our
next Poet Laureate and that could be you
or someone you know. For more
information about that, visit
ontariopoet.org.
It has been a pleasure to present this
story about the role of Poet Laureate in
Ontario and an honor to spend time with
Testament and with Randell.
For the Legislative Assembly of Ontario,
I'm Stephanie Matteis.