The City of Nanaimo has a new poet laureate.
On Aug. 5 the city announced in a press release that Nanaimo poet Kamal Parmar has been selected to serve as poet laureate for the next two years.
Parmar is a writer of poetry and creative non-fiction and has published multiple books in North America, India and the United Kingdom, with topics including childhood memories of India, her impressions of Canada and her experience caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s disease, the release said.
The release notes that Parmar’s goal as poet laureate is to raise the profile of poetry in Nanaimo and use poetry as a tool for healing and connection.
“Each of us has some subtle form of poetry in us, which needs to be explored,” she said in the release.
Parmar is active in local arts and culture, having served on the City of Nanaimo’s culture committee in the past and the Nanaimo Arts Council in the present. She’s also involved in poetry at the provincial and national level as a member of the League of Canadian Poets, the Federation of B.C. Writers, Haiku Canada, the Writers Union of Canada and the Canadian Authors Association.
“I’m delighted to welcome Kamal Parmar as the city’s poet laureate for the next two years,” Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog said in the release. ” Poetry can inspire anyone to learn and grow, and to observe the world around us with new eyes. With her focus on healing, Ms. Parmar will be a welcome voice in the community over the coming seasons.”
Parmar is the city’s third poet laureate, succeeding Tina Biello and Naomi Beth Wakan.
RELATED: Nanaimo poet reflects on mother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease in new book
RELATED: City of Nanaimo seeks applications for next poet laureate
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter