Victoria Ashleigh Rose, a poet, artist, author, and English major at Brock University, has lived in St. Catharines Ontario for most of her life. She has been actively involved in the Niagara art poetry scene since 2015, presently serving as an Organizer for the St. Catharines Poetry Slam. She held the role of Community Outreach Coordinator for Brock's Creative Writing Club with a few personal works published in collected anthologies. Victoria has recently self-published her debut poetry book, A Philosophy of Clichés, which dives inter her childhood as a queer neurodivergent teenager navigating love and independence with a complicated upbringing. Her poetry delves into the internal conflict between the heart and the mind, addressing personal battles and triumphs with shadow work, self-love, disability, anxiety, and healing her inner child. Through her art, she explores themes of naivety, reminiscence, youthful thinking, and the complexities of the ego, offering a profound reflection on self-identity and the human condition.

Niagara UNITY Awards (Nominated): 2026
Niagara Region

• Nominated for BestPerformanceoftheYear and the JohnathonCrawfordAward, recognizing excellence and community impact in 2SLGBTQ+ performing arts across the Niagara Region

Pride Poet, City of St. Catharines: 2025

Call to Artists: “Pride in Every Step“

• Selected as the featured poet for Pride Month in recognition of contributions to LGBTQIA2S+ representation through poetry and public engagement.

• Invited to perform original poetry at City Hall during public Pride celebrations with my poem displayed on the steps

• Featured in a full interview by The Standard, the largest local news outlet

• Participated in radio interviews discussing poetry, community work, and LGBTQ+ advocacy.

League of Canadian Poets: 2025

Featured Work

• Disability awareness poem “Lazy” selected for national feature through the League of Canadian Poets.

Brock Student Justice Changemaker: 2025

Brock University

• Recognized for outstanding commitment to social equity and justice-based community initiatives on campus

• Received direct acknowledgement & congratulations from Brock’s President and Vice Chancellor, Lesley Rigg.

• A Philosophy of Clichés — Poetry Collection, Self-Published (2025)

• Garden Mandalas and Patterns — Colouring Book, Self-Published (2025)

• Academic Aesthetics — Student Planner & Colouring Book, Self-Published (2025)

• Shards of the Crown — Collective Fantasy Anthology, Cover Artist & Contributor (2022)

• 24 Hour Poetry — Collective Poetry Anthology, Cover Artist & Contributor (2021)

• Songs of the Phoenix — Creative Writing Anthology, Contributor (2021)

My work is rooted in community involvement, equity, accountability, and accessibility, with a strong commitment to supporting queer, disabled, and otherwise marginalized people within the arts and beyond. As a queer disabled creative individual, I understand how often talent is overlooked when systems are not designed for everyone to participate fully. I am dedicated to creating safer, more inclusive community spaces that value lived experience, mutual care, and meaningful collaboration, while also building sustainable career opportunities for like-minded artists, writers, and cultural workers. Through this work, I aim to contribute to a Niagara arts scene that is vibrant, ethical, and expansive, where people are supported, fairly compensated, and empowered to thrive together.