The League of Canadian Poets is always interested in conversations with volunteers who would be a great fit for the work that we do. Reach out to admin@poets.ca if you are interested in volunteer opportunities not listed!
Any open positions; salary, contract or volunteer; will be posted to this page. If no positions are posted, then we are not actively seeking candidates.
We want to remove barriers that may limit you from joining our team. Email us at admin@poets.ca to let us know how we can provide you with reasonable accommodations through our application process.
We are currently seeking candidates for:
- Board of Directors: Regional Representatives Chair
League of Canadian Poets and Griffin Poetry Prize Canadian and International Poetry Library Collection: Request for Expressions of Interest
The LCP and the Griffin Poetry Prize are seeking a library to take over the shelving, cataloguing, and circulation of a Canadian and International Poetry Library comprising more than 8,000 titles. Currently, the collection is housed in the LCP Toronto office; however, with little space and minimal staff at the LCP, the collection is not being circulated and shared to its full potential. This collection has never been weeded, and is one of the most comprehensive collections of Canadian and International poetry available. The addition of this collection to a library’s catalogue will add value for existing patrons, and has potential to attract new clientele in the form of writers, poets, researchers, and educators. Historically and artistically, this collection offers an unparalleled scope of Canadian poetry from the past 50 years. Information session on May 1, deadline to express interest is May 21, 2023. Learn more.
Apply today:
Board recruitment
Term: June 2023 – June 2024
Call for Submissions of Interest
The League of Canadian Poets Board of Directors is seeking to fill the following roles:
- Secretary
- Vice President
- Membership Committee Chair
- Regional Representatives Committee Chair
If you are interested in joining the Board of Directors, please complete this form by April 30, 2023: airtable.com/shrYpyugk8Vko1A20
Unfortunately, active Board members are not eligible to participate in any paid League programming, including receiving funding through our event funding streams or other microgrant programs (eg. Workshop and Consultation Fund, PK Page Mentorship Program, awards and contests, etc.). We are so grateful to the members who set aside these membership benefits for sometimes years at a time in order to volunteer their time, energy, and expertise to the governance of the organization!
Board members of the League of Canadian Poets will learn a unique set of skills in policy, governance, and finance, as well as other industry tools that provide insight into funding, program development, and community organizing. Contributing to the League of Canadian Poets with a term on the Board of Directors is an incredible community service for which we are tremendously grateful.
About the Roles
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of the League of Canadian Poets is responsible for overseeing organization programming and finances, human resources, the annual audit, Executive Director and overall direction of the League of Canadian Poets. This oversight and guidance is intended to ensure the League is operating in line with its mission, mandate, vision, and values:
- Mission: The League of Canadian Poets supports Canadian poets and poetry in Canada.
- Mandate: The League of Canadian Poets’ mandate is to enhance the status of poets and foster professional poetry communities. The League works to enlarge the audience for poetry by encouraging publication, performance, education, and recognition of Canadian poetry locally, nationally, and internationally, and supports equitable and inclusive freedom of expression in Canada.
- Vision: A representative and thriving culture of poets and poetry lovers.
- Values: Inclusiveness, representation, accessibility, innovation, and professionalism.
The Board of Directors meets several times per year over Zoom to address organizational business and receive reports on membership, finance, and programming from the Executive Director. Additionally, Board members are encouraged to attend Poets Advisory Council meetings where possible to join in discussion with the Chairs of LCP Community Committees.
It is important to note that the League Board is a governance board: the oversight and leadership provided by the Board is largely in relation to policy, compliance, and long-term strategic planning. Board members do not become closely involved in programming.
Responsibilities include:
- Approving policy documents and the strategic plan
- Monitoring the League’s compliance with policies and reviews policies as needed
- Participating fully in meetings and e-mail discussions while respecting the time and opinions of their fellow Board members
- Supporting connection with the poetry community through the Poets Advisory Committee
Board members are welcome to join committees should they wish to be involved in a more specific area of League business or community.
Vice President
The Vice President must attend at least 4 Board of Directors meetings per year, in addition to the Annual General Meeting. As a member of the Executive Committee, the Vice President should also commit to attending meetings with the Poets Advisory Council up to 4 times per year, as well as with the Executive Committee as needed.
- Board meetings are typically held on a weekday between 11am and 2pm EST, and last 60-90 minutes, in the months of October, January, March, May, and June
- Poets Advisory Council meetings are typically held on the first Sunday of August, November, February, and May, at 11am EST, and last 90-120 minutes
- Executive Committee meetings take place as needed; additional correspondence will largely take place over e-mail.
The Vice President should be prepared to act in the stead of the President when the President is not available. Those responsibilities include:
- Assuring the integrity of the Board of Directors process, including oversight of Board member conduct
- Representing the League from time to time, as requested or required
- Making public statements on behalf of the League
- Maintaining regular communication with the Executive Director
- Chairing meetings of the Board and membership
The Vice President should be prepared to commit to the following:
- Meeting attendance (1-2 meetings in a month, often with a month or two between meetings)
- Reasonable e-mail response times (3-6 days)
- Moderate additional training in the areas of governance, equity, finance, and accessibility.
The role of Vice President is a two-year term, starting in June 2023.
This role is open to Full members only.
Regional Representatives Committee Chair
The role of the Regional Representatives Committee is to ensure the League’s national membership is equally represented to the Board, regardless of geography. Committee members may bring news, concerns, issues, or proposals that relate specifically to the area of Canada that they are representing. The Regional Representatives Committee:
- Assists League staff in reaching targeted communities for research and program development
- Brings news and issues from poets across Canada to the attention of LCP staff and BOD
- Assists the League is planning and hosting geographically diverse and inclusive events and programs
- Suggests projects or initiatives to reach diverse geographic areas of Canada
The Regional Representatives Committee Chair must attend at least 4 Board of Directors meetings per year, in addition to the Annual General Meeting, as well as at least 2 Regional Representative Committee meetings. Additionally, the Chair would ideally attend all 4 Poets Advisory Committee meetings.
- Board meetings are typically held on a weekday between 11am and 2pm EST, and last 60-90 minutes, in the months of October, January, March, May, and June
- Poets Advisory Council meetings are typically held on the first Sunday of August, November, February, and May, at 11am EST, and last 90-120 minutes
- Regional Representative Committee meetings can take place on a day and time suitable for the committee, in the months of July and January
The Regional Representatives Committee Chair should be prepared to commit to the following:
- Meeting attendance (1-2 meetings in a month, most months of the year except April, September, and December)
- Reasonable e-mail response times (3-6 days)
- Contribution to the development of new resources and systems to support regional engagement
- Chairing two Regional Representative Committee meetings per year, with support from LCP staff
- Moderate additional training in the areas of governance, equity, finance, and accessibility
Although an orientation will be provided and LCP staff provide a great deal of support to the volunteer in this role, from administrative support to support for meetings (eg. Preparing agendas, reports, materials, etc.), some Board and/or committee experience is recommended for this role.
The role of Regional Representatives Committee Chair is a one-year term open to re-election for up to 6 terms, starting in June 2023.
This role is open to Full members only; the ideal candidate for this role would be bilingual in French and English.
Established in 1966, the League of Canadian Poets is Canada’s largest professional organization for established and emerging Canadian poets. The League of Canadian Poets’ mandate is to enhance the status of poets and foster professional poetry communities. The League works to enlarge the audience for poetry by encouraging publication, performance, education, and recognition of Canadian poetry locally, nationally, and internationally, and supports equitable and inclusive freedom of expression in Canada.