Two new poets take lead in “sparkling creativity and meaningful conversation” as literary ambassadors this year and next for the City of Victoria.
Kyeren Regehr is the new poet laureate and Shauntelle Dick-Charleson is the youth laureate, the city announced in a March 6 news release.
“I’m honoured to serve as Victoria’s seventh poet laureate on lək̓ʷəŋən homelands and look forward to deepening our connection to poetry and one another,” Regehr said.
An award-winning poet and writer, Regehr is the author of Cult Life, a finalist for the national ReLit Awards and the city’s Butler Book Prize and Disassembling A Dancer, winner of the inaugural Raven Chapbooks contest. Her poetry has appeared in top literary journals and anthologies across Canada, Australia and the U.S. and she has won or been shortlisted for more than two dozen literary contests.
“Beyond the page, Regehr’s background in professional dance and theatre gives her poetry an unmistakable rhythm,” the release reads. “She once found herself in the finals of the Victoria Poetry Slam completely by accident after encouraging her students to perform. Now, as artistic director of Planet Earth Poetry, she continues to champion the literary arts.”
A rising star in the spoken word community, Dick-Charleson is a poet from the Hesquiaht and Songhees nations. Her work shines a light on Indigenous resilience, intergenerational trauma and the experiences of Indigenous women. She began writing in Grade 10 and quickly found her voice on stage. In 2019, she competed with the Vic Slam Team at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, where they placed eighth. Her poetry has been featured in In Our Own Aboriginal Voice 2, and she dreams of publishing her own book one day.
“We’re delighted to have the talents of Kyeren and Shauntelle representing the city as poet laureates,” said Mayor Marianne Alto. “I look forward to seeing their work inspire and connect residents of all ages through the power of poetry.”
As part of their two-year terms, both poets will create new work, engage the community and organize public poetry events, starting with their first official readings at council on April 10 at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
