On Friday, February 3, The Bryan Jones Theatre came alive with the sound of powerful poetry as we held the 4th Annual Seb Jones Slam Poetry event. Focussing on creativity and mental health, the night was dedicated to keeping the legacy of Seb Jones ’13 alive.
We were pleased to welcome Peterborough's Poet Laureate, Sarah Lewis as the special guest host for the second time this year. As the emcee, she set the tone for the evening with her moving performance as the sacrificial poet.
Our talented students brought their best to the stage, delivering spoken word poems filled with passion, emotion, and vulnerability. The audience was captivated by their performances, and the judges had a tough time choosing the winners.
Congratulations to Micaiah '25 for taking first place, and to Esme '23 for winning second place. The 4th Annual Seb Jones Slam Poetry event will be remembered as a night of artistic expression and celebration of mental health awareness.
We are grateful to the Jones family for their encouragement and support of this special event.
A Message from the Jones Family
“Thank you to all who attended, organized and participated in the Poetry Slam on Friday.
The Jones family is thrilled that the event is taking traction. Seb was a sensitive and creative soul and knew there was so much meaning in art and how a sentiment could be portrayed through painting, music and words. We were told how diverse the poems were; emotional, personal and humourous. Thank you to Sarah for encouraging the students and thank you to Kaneza ’23 for introducing the event. We also congratulate Esme ’23 and Micaiah ’25 and send a huge cheer to all who stood on the stage last Friday.
Thanks again and one February some or all of us will make a return trip back to Lakefield to enjoy another Seb Jones Poetry Slam!”
About Seb Jones '13
Seb Jones, Class of 2013, was a sporty outdoorsman, keen canoeist, an artist, and a friend to all who knew him. Sebastian was influential in ensuring everyone felt valued and included. Sadly in June of 2019, Sebastian died by suicide. As a tribute to Seb's spirit, his family and friends sponsor an annual poetry slam competition. In doing so, they hope to add some joy and lightness during the long dark days of winter.