Nate Nate Nainers (they/she) is a settler of Scottish and mixed European descent who grew up on the unceded territories of the Katzie and Kwantlen First Nations (Maple Ridge, BC), and currently lives on the unceded territories of Kwikwetlem and Sto:Lo First Nations (Port Coquitlam, BC).

Nainers’ full-length collection of poems, Smokin’ Holy Spirits (Galleon Books 2026), explores neurodivergence, queerness, and recovery from leaving the evangelical church. Inspired by the emotionally dynamic art of clown, this book is surreal, absurd, and psychedelic, oscillating between poignancy and befuddlement.

In 2025 they wrote and performed a 40 minute literary performance art show, Jerald the Space Bear. The act was showcased at North Vancouver’s Arts in the Garden that year. They were also a featured writer for SAD Magazine with their deep dive into the psychology of Cookie Monster vs Tony Robins.

In 2024 they mentored under award-winning poet, Kevin Spenst, for 12 months in thanks to a Canada Council for the Arts professional development grant. They also competed at the Vancouver Story Slam Championship at the Vogue Theatre in front of 832 voting audience members. They placed 3rd with their fan favourite story, Oath of the Lap Dog.

In 2022 their first book, “It’s Gonna Be Sick As Hell!” (Wharfinger Press) was a collection of fabulist short auto-fictions that explored healthy masculinities and mental health in general.

Since 2015, the vast majority of their work is created for and shared on stages across BC - including Galiano Literary Festival, Massy Art Gallery, Outsiders and Others Gallery, Parade of Lost Souls, Arts in the Garden, Mashed Poetics, Queer Cabaret, Smut Clown Cabaretta, among other events, studios, and gatherings.

Nainers engages their community by organizing festivals, initiatives, and events, past and present, such as: Parade of Lost Souls, Food Not Bombs YVR, Wizard Walks, Whoa Whoa Hey Now Cabaret, Myths and Such Storytelling Show, and the League of Fuddy Duddies with Silly Hats.

They studied literature and mythology at the University of British Columbia and the University of the Fraser Valley.