Foster Gareau is a friend and a poet who moved to Montreal and immediately started doing the most (in the best way). In the span of about a year, he has managed to embed himself fully in the city’s literary scene. He’s known for showing up on stages, at open mics, in journals, often all at once. He has worked incredibly hard, coming out of a very difficult period of his life and keeps surprising me with his growth both as a person and a writer. His chapbook Folded Oceans was shortlisted for the 2025 Vallum Chapbook Award and is coming out with a local press in late 2026. Mostly though, he’s that friend you keep seeing on your feed and thinking, “Wait, another one?”
***
Which ’hood are you in?
St. Henri
What do you do?
I write poetry every day and perform when I am invited, or when there is an open mic. I study Creative Writing at Concordia and take workshops outside of class. I meet, learn from and connect with other writers as often as possible.
What are you currently working on?
I am working on my second collection of poems (tentatively thought of as a chapbook) about how ideas of capitalism have infiltrated the experience of modern dating, focusing on intimacy, the queer experience, and a reconciliation of shame with humour.
Where can we find your work?
In 2025, my work appeared in several poetry journals, including the International Human Rights Art Movement, PRISM international, Frozen Sea, Periodicities, carte blanche, Yolk Literary, & Change and others. I highlight my work and the work of my peers on my Instagram.
