Awards & Contests

Submissions for the League's Book Awards are now open, until November 20, 2023.

Book Awards

celebrating poetry

Gerald Lampert Memorial Award

for a debut book of poetry

The Gerald Lampert Memorial Award is given in the memory of Gerald Lampert, an arts administrator who organized authors’ tours and took a particular interest in the work of new writers. The award recognizes a first book of poetry published by a Canadian. The award carries a $2,000 prize and is awarded annually in May.

Pat Lowther Memorial Award

for a book of poetry by a woman

The Pat Lowther Memorial Award is awarded memory of the late Pat Lowther, whose career was cut short by her untimely death in 1975.  This award is inclusive of trans women and non-binary individuals who feel comfortable being recognized by a women’s prize. The Pat Lowther Memorial Award carries a $2000 prize and is awarded annually in May.

Raymond Souster Award

for a book of poetry by a League member

The Raymond Souster Award honours Raymond Souster, an early founder of the League of Canadian Poets, and carries a $2000 prize, awarded annually in May.

Eligibility Guidelines for Book Awards

Authors must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents
Submitted titles must have one author. Translators are not eligible as authors
Titles must be at least 48 pages in length, excluding front and back material
If a title is “selected” or “collected” work, it must contain at least 50% new material, measured in pages of text. This percentage must be identified with the submission.
Chapbooks and self-published books are not eligible.
Submissions are welcome in any language, but submissions in a language other than English must be accompanied by a translation (the original language text must have been published in 2022)
Titles may be submitted by a publisher, author, or other nominator.
Please submit only one (1) book per form
Books published in December 2023 will be eligible for our 2024 awards
Submissions will include three (3) copies of each title submitted, per award, and one (1) additional copy of each book, as well as a $25.00 submission fee per title and per award. Fee reductions are available for books authored by BIPOC and/or LGBTQI2S writers. Books must be submitted as hard copies, with PDFs accepted only for exceptional circumstances. Please contact [email protected] to inquire.

Submission Guidelines for Book Awards

1. Complete this online form to indicate which books you will be submitting, and to which awards.

2. Await e-mail from the League office that will include:

a) How many copies of each title to send and a mailing address (please do NOT send books before you have received this email)

b) An invoice for applicable submission fees

3. Send books and submit payment for submission fees online via credit card, or include a cheque with the parcel of books for consideration

Submissions will include three (3) copies of each title submitted, per award, and one (1) additional copy of each book, as well as a $25.00 submission fee per title and per award.

Deadline: November 20, 2023

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
• There is a $25 submission fee per title, per award; fee reductions available for books authored by BIPOC and/or LGBTQI2S writers

• Books must be submitted as hard copies, with three copies submitted per award, plus one additional copy per title. PDFs will only be accepted for exceptional circumstances; please contact [email protected] to inquire.

Submit your 2023 title to LCP Book Awards

Jessamy Stursberg Poetry Prize for Canadian Youth

The  Jessamy Stursberg Poetry Prize for Canadian Youth was established to foster a lifelong relationship between Canadian youth and the literary arts, specifically poetry. The prize is supported through a generous donation from the Stursberg family and other donors in honour of Jessamy Stursberg.

The prize accepts submissions from young poets all across Canada, with three prizes awarded in both the Junior (grades 7 to 9) and Senior (grades 10 to 12) categories:

Winner: $400
Second Place: $350
Third Place: $300

Submissions and Eligibility

Contests

Where poetry wins big!

Cold Moon Contests

Run annually November 15 – January 20. Winners announced on March 21 (World Poetry Day).

Very Small Verse Contest

The Very Small Verse Contest invites and challenges poets to submit a poem at least six (6) words in length but no more than two hundred (200) characters.

The winner will receive $300, publication in the 2023 Poem In Your Pocket Day Booklet, as well as have their poem professionally designed and printed on a T-Shirt or tote bag.

Submissions guidelines

Poems must be previously unpublished and at least 6 words in length to a maximum of 200 characters
You may submit one poem per submission/submission fee.
Fees are $2.50 for League members and $5 for non-members.
You may submit multiple times, but please note the submission fee applies to each submission
Eligible to Canadian poets and poets living and working in Canada

Broadsheet Contest

What is a broadsheet? By definition, a broadsheet is a large piece of paper printed with information on one side only. In the world of poetry, a broadsheet is a great format in which to share or showcase one stand-out poem – winning this contest will surely do both!

The winner of the Broadsheet contest will receive $300, publication in the 2023 Poem In Your Pocket Day Booklet, and a special broadsheet of their poem handcrafted by artist Briar Craig.

Submission Guidelines:

Poems must be previously unpublished (in print OR online) and no longer than 40 lines.   
You may submit one (1) poem per entry fee.  
Fees are $5 for League members and $10 for non-members.
You may submit multiple times, but please note the submission fee applies to each submission.
Eligible to Canadian poets and poets living and working in Canada

How to Submit

Summer Lovin Contests

Run annually, June 1 – August 10. Winners announced September 20.

Our jurors will evaluate each entry based on its originality, creativity, emotional impact, and mastery of language. The winners and honourable mentions will receive recognition on poets.ca, and one outstanding poem from each contest will receive $500 and appear in Poetry Pause!

Lesley Strutt Poetry Contest

The Lesley Strutt Poetry Contest is an award that provides a prize for the single best poem submitted to our judges. This contest is open to all poets (professional, emerging, and first-time) in Canada, and is run each summer in memory of poet and friend Lesley Strutt.

Submissions Guidelines

This contest accepts poems in English, French and Innu-Aimun
Open to all poets (professional, emerging, first-time, etc.)
Submit one (1) poem per submission.
Please submit poetry that is unpublished. Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please let us know if your work is accepted elsewhere.
This annual contest has an entry fee of $5 per submission. If you are unable to pay the contest fee, please send email to [email protected]
Multiple submissions are accepted, but the entry fee of $5 applies to each individual submission.
Eligible to Canadian poets, poets living and working in Canada, as well as Indigenous, Inuit and Métis poets who may not identify as Canadian but live in the region known colonially as Canada.

Toronto Arts and Letters Club of Toronto Poetry Award

The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto Foundation 2nd Annual Poetry Award A $500 prize, sponsored by the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto Foundation, to the best single poem by a poet in the early stages of their career.

“To advance education by providing scholarships, bursaries and awards to Canadian residents for demonstrated excellence in the arts.”

Submission Guidelines

This contest accepts poems in English only
Submit one (1) poem per submission. 
This annual contest has an entry fee of $5 per submission. If you are unable to pay the contest fee, please send an email to [email protected] 
Please submit poetry that is unpublished. Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please let us know if your work is accepted elsewhere.
Multiple submissions are accepted, but the entry fee of $5 applies to each individual submission. 
Membership in the League of Canadian Poets is not required.
Eligible to all emerging Canadian poets in the early stages of their career, defined as no more than two traditionally published chapbooks and/or one traditionally published book of poetry
We encourage submissions from LGTBQ2S+, BIPOC, and equity-deserving groups.
Open to all emerging Canadian poets in the early stages of their career
- defined as no more than two traditionally published chapbooks and/or one traditionally published book of poetry