An Orillia poet is providing an online forum to help people share their words during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Josh Poitras used to attend open mic readings in town, but that changed when the pandemic hit. So, he started streaming his own readings.
Now he is opening the floor for others to join in.
Once a month, he hosts an open mic using the Google Meet app.
“Orillia had a really strong poetry community and it seemed like it had kind of stopped when the virus hit. This was a way to keep that community together,” he said.
It has reached more than local residents, as the online platform has led to people from across Canada taking part.
“The turnout’s been a lot better than expected,” he said. “There’s not really a lot to do right now, and we need that connection with people.”
He’s hoping more people will take part. They are welcome to read their poetry or other kinds of work.
Poitras knows it can be daunting for some people to share their writing, but he encourages them to give it a try.
“I was the same way when I started sharing my work, but the community is really supportive,” he said. “You get a wide variety of voices, so it’s always interesting.”
Poitras previously had hoped to become a novelist, but he turned his attention to poetry. He has published one book of his own poetry, called My Worthless Heart. He also edited, compiled and contributed to Blossom In Winter, of which all proceeds were donated to the Canadian Mental Health Association.
The open mic happens every month and always on a Saturday, though not necessarily the same time each month. Those who are interested can check out Poitras’s Facebook page for more information.
