The Ralph and Betty Gustafson Trust was established at Vancouver Island University in 1998 from the estate of the late Ralph Gustafson (1909 – 1995), one of Canada’s pre-eminent poets.
With the support of his widow Betty Gustafson, the Trust endows an annual Chair of Poetry at Vancouver Island University, which is devoted to advancing Canadian poetry and supporting deserving poets.
1999 Inauguration participants - Kate Braid, Gary Geddes, Robert Kroetsch, David Manicom, Susan Musgrave, William New, Alfredo Rizzardi, Wendy Robbins, Kevin Roberts, Ron Smith, Sharon Thesen.
For further information contact Joy.Gugeler@viu.ca.
Incumbents
1999 Patricia Young
2000 Susan Musgrave
2001 Gary Geddes
2002 Patrick Lane
2003 Robert Bringhurst
2004 Liz Lochhead
2005 Don Domanski
2006 Dionne Brand
2007 Tom Wayman
2008 Daphne Marlatt
2009 Carol Ann Duffy
2010 Don McKay
2011 Jan Zwicky
2012 Dennis Lee
2013 Michael Crummey
2014 Katherena Vermette
2015 George Elliott Clarke
2016 Erin Mouré
2017 Fred Wah
2018 Lorner Crozier
2019 Gregory Scofield
2020 Lillian Allen
2021 A. F. Moritz
2022 NourbeSe Philip