HomePage / Your Government / News & Events / Nanaimo's Next Poet Laureates Have Been Chosen!

Nanaimo's Next Poet Laureates Have Been Chosen!

Tina Biello and Kailey DeFehr Chosen as Nanaimo's next poet Laureates.

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed January 19, 2017 2:30 PM

Summary

The City of Nanaimo is pleased to announce that Nanaimo's next Poet Laureate and the Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate have been chosen.

At their meeting held January 16, Council appointed Ms. Tina Biello as Nanaimo's next Poet Laureate and Ms. Kailey DeFehr as Nanaimo's Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate.

Ms. Biello was chosen for her past involvement in the poetry community, her impressive published work as well as her experience in other artistic disciplines. She is very keen to engage the mainstream community in poetry related initiatives. Ms. DeFehr was appointed Nanaimo's Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate due to her passion for poetry and experience in the literary arts. Ms. DeFehr has participated in many of Nanaimo's poetry initiatives such as the Nanaimo Poetry map and the Poetry in Transit program. She is looking forward to working with other young Nanaimo poets on many wonderful and creative initiatives.

Link to Strategic Plan: The Poet Laureate programs further the goals of the Cultural Vitality pillar of the City;s Strategic Plan by ensuring that Nanaimo has a strong, vibrant and collaborative culture leading to greater popularity as a place to visit, live, work and play.

Key Points

  • The purpose of the Poet Laureate program is to raise awareness of poetry, the literary arts and the positive impact literature and poetry can have on community life.
  • The addition of the Youth Poet Laureate will increase the impact Poetry and the Literary Arts has in the community.
  • Both Poets will be introduced to Council on February 6 with each poet reading a poem on their new appointments.

Quotes

"Drawing on the amazing success of the City's inaugural Poet Laureate, we are extremely pleased with the calibre of the newly appointed poets. There are so many skilled poets who have chosen Nanaimo as their home. Finding poets who displayed not only the skill but the passion to encourage and inspire others in our community was extremely important."

Chris Barfoot
Culture and Heritage Coordinator
City of Nanaimo

Quick Facts

  • Nanaimo's Poet Laureate program began in 2013 with the appointment of Naomi Beth Wakan as Nanaimo's Inaugural Poet Laureate.
-30-

Contact:

Chris Barfoot
Culture and Heritage Coordinator
City of Nanaimo
250-755-7522

Print News Release

Is there anything wrong with this page?

Help us improve our website

Don't include private or financial information in this form.
Collection and use of your personal information

Information collected on this form is done so under the general authority of the Community Charter and Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA), and is protected in accordance with FOIPPA. Questions about the collection of your personal information may be referred to the Legislative Services Department at 250-755-4405, or via email at foi@nanaimo.ca. Please also see our Privacy Policy.