Paige Pierce is Nanaimo’s new Youth Poet Laureate.

The Vancouver Island University education student will spend a two year term raising awareness of poetry and the impact that literary arts can have on community life.

Pierce, 21, has published 7 books of poetry, the first of those coming when she was 15.

CHLY reporter Mick Sweetman spoke with her in our studio.

We also follow up with Nanaimo's Poet Laureate Kamal Parmar, who reflects on her two years in the role so far.