Year One: Poetry, Power & Community Across Ontario

My first year as Ontario’s Poet Laureate has been nothing short of transformative. From classrooms to stages, library halls to festivals, intimate readings to city-wide celebrations, 2024–2025 has been a season of movement, language, and community. I’ve travelled across the province sharing poetry, building connections, and witnessing the powerful ways people show up for art, culture, and each other.

Looking back at the highlights of this first year, I’m filled with profound gratitude. I’m proud to know my name is written in history and I’m excited to continue this great work.

Queens Park – November 26, 2024

A milestone I’ll hold close for the rest of my life. Standing in Queen’s Park with my family, representing my passion for words, art, Hip Hop, and the communities that raised me, affirmed the purpose behind this work.

Speaking at Western University to celebrate the launch of its newly founded Black Studies Major was epic beyond words.

What an accomplishment for the school, for the community, and for the generations who have been pushing for this recognition. I’m blown away by the historical events I got to be a part of in my first year.

Things got beautifully surreal when Dwayne Morgan for “When Brothers Speak” put our faces on a billboard at Sankofa Square. Never in my life did I think I would experience all of these things.

Each gathering reminded me that poetry is still very much a living, breathing force. Talking about spoken word, purpose, healing, and community through these platforms helped expand the dialogue far beyond the stage. I’m grateful for the articles written about my work and this journey. This year brought deep and meaningful conversations that will live on through time.

If this first year has taught me anything, it’s that language whether spoken, written, or performed has the ability to shift a room, a person and a community. Every event, every occasion, every long drive across Ontario reaffirmed the truth I carry with me everywhere:

Everything is created in language. What we say shapes the world, you are what you say you are!

Thank you to everyone who opened their doors, shared their stories, invited me into their spaces, and reminded me that words are powerful because we the people are powerful.

With tremendous gratitude and love,

Matthew-Ray Jones

Ontario’s Poet Laureate

A Night to Remember: My First Major Event as Ontario’s Poet Laureate

On September 27, 2025 something powerful happened. I had the deep honour

of hosting my first major event as Poet Laureate of Ontario at the Living Arts

Centre in Mississauga, ON. The event was called: A Celebration of Hip Hop and

Poetry – Words. Power. Sound. This gathering wasn’t just a show it was a

movement, a living, breathing celebration of culture, community, and the

transformative power of language and rhythm.

From the very beginning, my vision for this event was clear: bring together a

lineup of artists I love, admire and respect! Voices that have shaped our cultural

landscape, pushed creative boundaries, and uplifted the communities around

them. What happened that night was more than I could have ever imagined.

We laughed. We cheered. We shouted and clapped. We listened. We felt deeply.

Most importantly, We shared space. There was something sacred about the

energy in that room. The stage transformed into more than a platform, it became

an altar. Each performer brought their full selves to the mic, offering pieces of

their heart, their story, their truth. There was a collective reverence in the air, we

all knew we were witnessing something special.

From the jump, DJ Straightgoods laid the foundation with sonic mastery. His

hands on the turntables built the atmosphere, pulling us into the groove, guiding

us through the night with rub-a-dub selection that resonated deep in the soul.

RaSoul, with his unmistakable energy and magnetic smile, kept the momentum

flowing. Whether on stage or among the crowd, he brought a sense of joy and

unity that reminded everyone of the beauty of shared celebration.

I even had a chance to connect with my biological brother PJ, on a piece where

spoken word met martial arts and showcased high level craftsmanship. We

resemble each other so we tried to throw the audience off with the change of

pace. We caught a couple people too! Lol

Britta B took the mic and the room stood still….then they rose to their feet. Her

presence, her brilliance, her command of the stage lit a fire in the audience that

only grew stronger as the night went on.

Then there was Randell, Ontario’s First Poet Laureate and an icon in his own

right. He and I sat down for a heartfelt conversation that touched on his journey,

his challenges, his victories, and the passing of the torch. It was a full-circle

moment for me, something I’ll carry with me forever.

JO Mairs came through and absolutely melted the stage with a performance full

of bars, flow, and swagger that left jaws dropped. And Killabeatz? His vocal

percussion had the crowd shaking their heads in awe. After all the years of

performing with him, how one voice can produce that kind of sound still had me

shook.

If I had to choose a single moment that hit deepest, it would be the final act. It

was when the P.E.A.C.E. team came together, it was myself, RaSoul, and the

queen of P.E.A.C.E. herself, Nilla. The energy was electric. The crowd had their

hands up, shouting and dancing along with purpose and love. Everyone was

fully embracing all the positive vibrations. We didn’t just perform. We connected.

We built something together and it was on full display all night.

For me, this event wasn’t just about showcasing talent. It was about honouring

legacy, celebrating culture, and reminding ourselves and the world, that Poetry

and Hip Hop are not just art forms, they are vessels of truth, healing, and

change.

To my family, my community, and every person who showed up and showed

love, thank you and I appreciate you. To everyone reading this, Make sure not to

miss Volume 2 next year in 2026! We just getting started.

Words. Power. Sound.

Matthew-Ray aka Testament

Carrying the Torch: A Season of Poetry, Power & Hip Hop Across Ontario

The journey continues.

After an unforgettable National Poetry Month I’ve been busy. I closed out the school year strong performing at BBQs and a variety of different school events. June is also National Volunteer Month and I had the opportunity to perform at a ‘battle of the chefs’ fundraiser for Food For Kids Halton a local charity I’ve been volunteering with for the past three years. I also created a custom poetry piece for an organization called Applaud, they used it as a part of their appreciation certificates that went out to the community to celebrate their efforts.

After taking some time to reset at the gorgeous Valleyview retreat space, some time with family and friends to enjoy the Summer, I’m hitting the road again—this time bringing the energy, the rhythm, and the truth of Hip Hop and poetry to communities all across Ontario.

It all kicks off August 11 in Malton, ON where we’ll be celebrating Hip Hop’s 52 Birthday at the Jonathan Davies Youth Centre. This will be a vibrant community gathering with Graf writers, Breakers, Mc’s, Dj’s and more. Join in as we take time to commemorate the global phenomenon that is Hip Hop culture.

From there, I take the torch North.

August 12–14, I’ll be in Thunder Bay ON, connecting with artists, students, and community builders. I’m looking forward to the land, the stories, and the people. Northern Ontario holds a unique rhythm, and I’m honoured to support the work of Applaud during the workshops I will be hosting while in town at Lakehead University.

August 20 I make a stop in Mississauga, ON as host for Amphitheatre Unplugged. A night featuring 7 local talents including musicians, singers, dancers, poets and comedians.

As summer turns to fall, the tour continues:

• September 12– Waterloo, ON (League of Poets Reading and Talk)

• September 17–19 – Ottawa, ON (Cranium Festival)

• October 21–23 – Kingston, ON (Applaud workshop series)

• November 13 – Kitchener, ON (Applaud workshop series)

• November 17–19 – London, ON (Western University workshop, Antler River poetry reading)

Each stop is more than a performance—it’s a dialogue. A chance to gather in schools, libraries, community centres, and auditoriums to explore language as a force for transformation.

But there’s one night I want to highlight, a true moment for the city and the culture.

On September 27 @ 8PM, join me in Mississauga, ON at the Living Arts Centre for ‘A Celebration of Hip Hop and Poetry: Words. Power. Sound.’ This event is going to be electric. Expect lyricism, storytelling, exciting surprises, giveaways and more. It's more than a show—it’s a movement.

As Ontario’s Poet Laureate, I’m here to remind people of these simple truths: Everything is created in language and what we say shapes the world in which we ALL live.

I can’t wait to build, to share space, and to witness what happens when communities come together in the name of Words, Power, and Sound.

With gratitude,

Matthew-Ray Jones

Ontario’s Poet Laureate