2026 Knowlton Literary Festival
Svens Telemaque
Empowering others to face, embrace, and overcome adversity with hope
Pen of a Ready Writer is the byproduct of experiences, maturity, and enlightenment. This book starts off with my self-evaluation and segues into an ink well of blood, sweat and tears. Tethered together are poems that I did not choose to write; rather, these poems chose to write me.
Svens Telemaque will be speaking with secondary school students at Massey-Vanier High School, as part of the Knowlton Literary Association’s initiative to bring the joy of reading and literature to students of all ages in our community.
Svens Telemaque is an award-winning poet, author, spoken-word artist, and social entrepreneur whose work celebrates storytelling, authentic expression, and the transformative power of words.
Since relocating to Montreal in 2007, he has co-founded L’art Selah, a poetry collective dedicated to cultivating writers, inspiring audiences, and creating spaces for connection, reflection, and growth.
His debut collection, Pen of a Ready Writer Vol. 1 (2014), explores faith, identity, resilience, and the human experience through thought-provoking verse. In 2025, Svens received the Quebec Writers’ Federation (QWF) Ian Ferrier Spoken Word Award, recognizing his excellence and contribution to spoken-word artistry.
As a workshop facilitator, Svens works with youth, community groups, and incarcerated men and women in federal correctional institutions, using poetry and storytelling to encourage self-expression, healing, confidence, and personal transformation. Through his artistic and community work, he empowers participants to discover their voice, write with purpose, and embrace the power of their stories.
You can follow Svens at:
Website: (svenstelemaque.com) / Facebook: (svens.telemaque)
