Canada's most generous poetry award, founded by businessman and philanthropist Scott Griffin.
Title: Aspiring Canadian Poets Contest submission deadline
Date: June 1, 2017
Location: Canada
Description: The Aspiring Canadian Poets Contest provides an opportunity to shine a spotlight on unpublished Canadian poets. Launched by Heidi M. Stock in April (National Poetry Month) 2012, this contest invites the participation of Canadian poets who have not published any of their original creative writing (poems or prose). The 2017 judge and mentor is Judith Krause.
Title: Nguyen, Chatterjee, Dickinson, Keteku and Hernandez at Brockton Writers Series
Date: May 10, 2017
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Description: The Brockton Writers Series (BWS) is a bi-monthly literary reading series founded in November, 2009. The series’ vision is to host writers who reflect Canadian literature and Canadian diversity, defining diversity to include: established and emerging writers, writers of colour, queer writers, younger and older writers, aboriginal writers and other writers who might not always have the platform to showcase their work.
This evening features guest speaker Hoa Nguyen talking about “From Tarot to Creativity”, followed by readings/performances by Ayesha Chatterjee, Mary Lou Dickinson, Ian Keteku and Catherine Hernandez.
Title: Poetry Reading: Sarah Pinder and Laurie D. Graham
Date: May 10, 2017
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Description: Open Sesame is thrilled to host an evening with Toronto-based writer Sarah Pinder, who will read from her new book Common Place (Coach House, 2017), and Laurie D. Graham (now based in Kitchener!), who will also present recent poetry.
Title: Arc Poetry Magazine Poem of the Year Readers’ Choice Award voting closes
Date: May 10, 2017
Description: From the Arc Poetry Magazine Poem of the Year shortlist of 10, Arc asks you, the readers, to pick your favourite and vote for one poem to be the Readers’ Choice Award winner. The poem with the most votes will receive the $250 Readers’ Choice Award.
Title: 1000 Islands Writers Festival
Start Date: May 5, 2017
End Date: May 7, 2017
Location: Gananoque, Ontario, Canada
Description: The 1000 Islands Writers Festival brings together leading Canadian writers and their audiences in picturesque riverside settings to explore and be inspired by the literary world. Originally founded as the Gananoque Literary Festival in 2015, the festival was renamed in the fall of 2016 to reflect its relationship with communities throughout the 1000 Islands region.
Title: Trillium Book Award 30th Anniversary Reading
Date: May 3, 2017
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Description: To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Trillium Book Award, the Ontario Media Development Corporation is hosting a series of author readings by several previous winners and last year’s finalists. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and Readings will begin at 7:00 p.m. These readings are free and open to the public but attendees are asked to register in advance.
The Ottawa event features: Phil Hall, Brecken Hancock, Maureen Scott Harris, David Ménard, Souvankham Thamavongsa and many more.
Title: RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers – winner announced
Date: May 30, 2017
Location: Canada
Description: Established in memory of poet Bronwen Wallace, this award alternates each year between short fiction and poetry. The 2017 prize will be given for an outstanding work of poetry. As Ms. Wallace’s first book was not published until she was 35, this annual award is given to a writer below the age of 35 who has yet to be published in book form, but whose literary work has appeared in at least one independently edited magazine or anthology.
The grand prize winner will receive $10,000 on May 30th and two honourable mentions will each receive $2,500.
Title: RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers – finalists announced
Date: May 2, 2017
Location: Canada
Description: Established in memory of poet Bronwen Wallace, this award alternates each year between short fiction and poetry. The 2017 prize will be given for an outstanding work of poetry. As Ms. Wallace’s first book was not published until she was 35, this annual award is given to a writer below the age of 35 who has yet to be published in book form, but whose literary work has appeared in at least one independently edited magazine or anthology.
The grand prize winner will receive $10,000 on May 30th and two honourable mentions will each receive $2,500.
Title: The BOAAT Chapbook Prize submission deadline
Date: May 31, 2017
Description: The BOAAT Chapbook Prize is awarded annually to a single poet, at any point in their literary career. The guest judge for 2017 is Natalie Diaz.
Based in Virginia, BOAAT publishes poetry collections, chapbook and an online journal of poetry.
Title: Spenst, de Leeuw and Colman at the Art Bar Poetry Series
Date: May 30, 2017
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Description: The Art Bar is recognized as Canada’s longest running poetry-only, weekly reading series. Since 1991, it has featured both emerging and established poets from across Canada and occasionally from abroad. It has become a hub for the poetry community, and entry point for new voices, a place for people to enjoy one of the oldest arts.
This week’s offering features Kevin Spenst, Sarah de Leeuw and Robert Colman.