The City of Nanaimo says they have appointed a student from Vancouver Island University to the position of youth poet laureate for her ability to engage and inspire the community.
Councillor Tyler Brown says Paige Pierce was appointed to the position on Dec. 18 on a two-year term to help shape and highlight the contributions of youth in the community.
“She shows a passion and a talent for poetry,” Brown says. “The issues her poetry touches on makes us very happy to have her as poet laureate.”
Brown says there is no specific criteria for the position, only that Pierce fits the billet nicely.
Pierce is studying to obtain her Bachelor of Education degree at VIU and she says she is excited to get underway because she has big plans.
“I am planning to develop some workshops with the city,” she says. “It is going to be a giant youth outreach program with a focus around poetry and literary arts.”
Pierce says poetry has been a passion for her since she was in high school during her creative writing classes.
She published her first book at the age of 15 and according to Pierce, continues to write and has published seven poetry books, including several Amazon best-sellers.
