Who is he?
David O’Meara is an acclaimed Ottawa and Canadian poet who has published multiple award-winning collections. He is Ottawa’s newest English-language Poet Laureate, chosen by VERSe Ottawa, a non-profit organization that focuses on supporting the poetry community in the city. (Véronique Sylvain is the French poet laureate).
What’s his background?
Originally from Pembroke, Ont., O’Meara moved to Ottawa to attend Carleton University, where he completed an Honours BA in English literature. Since high school, he has been passionate about writing.
“I think what made me want to pursue the degree was because … I wanted to be a writer, and I recognized that the best way to do that would be to, you know, sort of do a deep dive into literature and have a sense of the tradition and the various … genres that are available, and just use it as a vehicle,” O’Meara told Capital Current.
What is he known for?
Alongside his writing, he has organized and supported local literary events. O’Meara is the artistic director for VERSeFest, Canada’s International Poetry Festival. He is the author of numerous books such as Masses on Radar, which took home the Archibald Lampman Prize for Poetry; a play titled disaster, which took home four Rideau awards (honouring professional theatre in the Ottawa/Gatineau area). And in late September he released his most recent title, Chandelier, a novel that tackles the modern dysfunctional family. In his role as poet laureate, he’s expected to promote poetry’s role in public life and connect with diverse audiences.
Notably, Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip made a direct reference to his poem The War Against Television in song Leave on in Violet Light, the Hip’s 2001 album. “I really appreciated Gord’s spirit, and also his, his really interesting lyrics, which are not the usual standard, kind of boring lyrics,” O’Meara told Capital Current.
What do people say about him?
When Masses on Radar took home the Archibald Lampman Award issued by Arc Poetry in 2022, the judges called his work “high-voltage poetry, gorgeously written, edited and arranged, as well as reflective and tender.”
What’s a fun fact about him?
Although O’Meara is a well-known in Ottawa’s literary scene, he still enjoys spending some of his time tending bar at the Manx Pub on Elgin Street. He has worked there for more than 20 years, and says the people he works with are like family to him.
