Paige Pierce named Nanaimo’s Youth Poet Laureate

Paige Pierce, Nanaimo’s new Youth Poet Laureate, is looking forward to helping young people develop their poetry skills and contribute to a growing poetry community in the city. Photo: Mick Sweetman / CHLY 101.7FM.

Paige Pierce, 21, is Nanaimo’s new Youth Poet Laureate after being appointed to the position by Nanaimo city council for a two-year term.

An education student at Vancouver Island University, Pierce is working towards being a high school teacher.

Pierce says she plans to facilitate poetry workshops for youth in the city, host poetry cafes and poetry slams.

“The main goal is going to be just to start a bit of a community and do some outreach of young writers and young poets and introduce poetry to Nanaimo in a way that feels accessible.”

Pierce says she would like to tell young people in the city to express themselves.

“Your feelings and the words that you have floating around your head are valid and more people are going to be experiencing them than you could ever imagine,” she said. “So write everything down and don't be afraid of your own words.”

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.