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

Summer is here: it’s time to embrace the warmth and beauty of this enchanting season through the magic of words. Whether you’re an experienced poet or just beginning to explore the world of poetry, our Summer Lovin’ contests invite you to celebrate poetry and potentially win $500!

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!

Let the summer sun inspire you and don’t delay in submitting your poem to one (or both) of LCP’s Summer Lovin’ Contests today!

Jurors announcement forthcoming!

The 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• Please submit poetry that is unpublished.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.
• Enter the contest by clicking the button below or click here.

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The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto Foundation Annual 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 
• Enter the contest by clicking the button below or click here.