Meet Rebecca Diem, Owen Sound's Poet Laureate for 2024-2025

Already a woman of many talents, she's just added mother and Poet Laureate to the list. Get to know Rebecca Diem in this interview with the Owen Sound Current.

Last week, the Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library (OSNGUPL) introduced poet, indie steampunk author, and arts organizer Rebecca Diem as Poet Laureate for 2024-2025.

The Poet Laureate program, established in 2007 by former Library CEO Judy Beth Armstrong, is a fully community-sponsored program of the OSNGUPL.

The poet laureate writes poetry about the area, composes poems for special events, participates in public performances, works with local poets and writers, and acts as a literary ambassador for the city and the region, according to the Library.

And, as the previous Poet Laureate, Richard-Yves Sitoski, explained to me as I sat at the Ginger Press long table to prepare this interview with Rebecca, each one makes a unique and lasting contribution to the community through their choice of legacy project.

Related:

Four Very Good Years: The Poet Laureateship in Retrospect

On that front, Rebecca says she’s working on a postpartum poetry collection inspired by the natural world and walks with a sleeping baby.

“My vision for the legacy project will be a performance celebrating community and collaboration bringing together poets, musicians, dancers, artists and more!

“But beyond the poetry collection or the performance, I hope my legacy will be the connections people make with each other while participating, whether it’s finding an editor or a new best friend to send memes to at 3am,” she explained.

In this interview with the Owen Sound Current, learn more about Rebecca and what she brings to the table.