The Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild is delighted to announce Aya Skouta as the 7th Youth Poet Laureate of Saskatchewan from August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027 and Lynda Monahan as the 12th Poet Laureate of Saskatchewan with a term of August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2028.
The Saskatchewan Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate celebrates Saskatchewan—its people, spirit, land—through the literary arts, and act as an ambassador and champion of poetry and writing. The Poets’ commitment to writing, passion for poetry, and community engagement through their positions will raise awareness of the power of poetry and engage all residents, including youth, in the written and spoken word.
Youth Poet Laureate Aya Skouta (she/her) is a Canadian-Moroccan poet, writer, and student at the University of Saskatchewan. As a youth voice, Aya uses poetry and spoken word to navigate the complexities of identity, philosophy, and curiosity about the world. She has published and shared her work across Canada and the Prairies, moving audiences at the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam 2026 in Vancouver, and capturing the title of Saskatchewan poetry slam champion in 2025 and 2026 with SKribe. Throughout her growing artistic journey, Aya remains grounded in the belief that curiosity is the heart of poetry, and she is committed to fueling that spark of curiosity within young writers.
Saskatchewan Poet Laureate Lynda Monahan is author of five poetry collections, A Slow Dance in the Flames (Coteau Books, 1998), What My Body Knows (Coteau Books, 2003), Verge (Guernica Editions, 2015), a cowritten collection, A Beautiful Stone: poems and ululations (Radiant Press 2019), The Door at the End of Everything (Shadowpaw Press, 2024) and a chapbook titled The Book of Bill. She has been writer-in-residence at St. Peter’s College facilitated retreat, Balfour Collegiate in Regina, the Prince Albert Public Library, and writer-on-the-wards at Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert. She recently completed a year as lead artist for an Artists in Communities project through SK Arts, mentoring local artists to develop long-term community arts programming.
To learn more about Lynda and her work, watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tTMCiMtSxc
Commencing in 2000, the Saskatchewan Poet Laureate Program was the first provincial program of its kind in Canada. The Youth Poet Laureate position was created in 2019. The Poets Laureate are under the patronage of the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, Her Honour the Honourable Bernadette McIntyre.
For additional Poet Laureate program information or to request a reading or talk by our Youth Poet Laureate or Poet Laureate, visit: https://skwriter.com/programs-and-services/poet-laureate-program
Media interviews and inquiries can be forwarded to the SWG’s Program Director Yolanda Hansen at 306-791-7743 or programs@skwriter.com.