NATIONAL POETRY MONTH 2013

Celebrate 15 years of National Poetry Month in Canada!

We are now accepting National Poetry Month applications for funding for events that will celebrate the 15^th anniversary of National Poetry Month across Canada. For further details and application forms please visit the Reading Progams Page.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL POETRY MONTH
Established in Canada in April 1999 by the League, National Poetry Month brings together schools, publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, and poets across the country to celebrate poetry and its vital place in Canada’s culture. Communities and businesses participate through readings, festivals, book displays, and other events.

The goal of National Poetry Month is to expand and educate poetry audiences, especially young audiences, and to increase the profile of poetry and poets, while boosting sales of Canadian poetry books. National Poetry Month has inspired an increase in reading, writing and teaching of Canadian poetry. National, provincial and regional media report on many National Poetry Month events, review poetry books and interview poets.

To ensure that word of National Poetry Month is heard coast to coast, the LCP distributes posters to libraries, schools, universities, bookstores, festivals, literary organizations and League of Canadian Poets sponsored readings and performances across the country, and many more. 4,000 copies of the NPM poster are printed and distributed across the country.

Young Poets Week
Young Poets Week runs April 8 – 14, 2013. Teachers can check the teachers’ forum each day to read about the new and exciting activities during YP week. Youngpoets.ca is an excellent source of inspiration for this year’s entrants as well as a valuable educational resource, featuring lesson plans, reading lists, a digital history of Canadian poetry and an on-line discussion group. Young writers are encouraged to browse articles or join a chat-room discussion with peers and published poets.

Jessamy Stursberg Poetry Contest for Youth
This year’s Jessamy Stursberg Poetry Contest for Youth contest winners will be announced during young poets week. First, second and third prize national winners in each language and age category will receive cash prizes of $350, $300 and $250 respectively. See Re:verse, the League’s youth driven on-line e-zine at www.youngpoets.ca for the winners’ poems. For contest details click here.