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Review: Titch by Kate Marshall Flaherty
Reviewed by Elana Wolff Titch by Kate Marshall Flaherty Piquant Press, 2023 144 pages, $20.00 ISBN: 9781927396285 The poems in Kate Marshall Flaherty’s sixth collection, Titch, abide between sacred light and enduring beauty-scarred, whole and restored. These are poems that face the world-its natural wonders and human challenges, with strength and reverence; that openly welcome…
Read MoreStanding on Shimmer: a review of Circle Tour by Eva Tihanyi
Reviewed by Josie Di Sciascio-Andrews Circle Tour by Eva Tihanyi (Inanna Publications, 2023) They say an image is worth a thousand words: passion, the heart, a woman’s life journey, her gift of words, endurance and her resolve against life’s decohering forces: the cover art of Eva Tihanyi’s poetry collection Circle Tour, perfectly prefaces with allegory…
Read MoreReview: Orion Sweeping by Anne Marie Todkill
Reviewed by Pearl Pirie Orion Sweeping by Anne Marie Todkill (Brick Books)8.75 x 5.75 Inches | 88 PagesPublication Date: April 1, 2022Trade Paperback ISBN:9781771315692 Orion Sweeping by Anne Marie Todkill has a cover of a pen and ink fox and moon by Arthur Balitskiy I’d consider framing. Divided into four self-explanatory sections: “Earth”, “Air”, “Familia”,…
Read MoreReview: Casa de mi Corazón: A Travel Journal of Poetry and Memoir by Lindsay Soberano-Wilson
Reviewed by Rion Levy Casa de mi Corazón: A Travel Journal of Poetry and Memoir by Lindsay Soberano-Wilson In her small but packed Casa de mi Corazón, we watch Lindsay Soberano-Wilson grow up and into herself. She mainly concerns herself with the question of identity and how it shapes belonging. The first half of the…
Read MoreReview: ineffable, The Mystical Poems by Edwin Varney
Reviewed by Stephen Morrissey ineffable, The Mystical Poems by Edwin Varney (The Poem Factory, Courtenay, BC, 2022). 14 pages. ISBN: 978-1-895593-57-0 Back in 1977, I reviewed Edwin Varney’s Human Nature (1974), published in CV II (Vol. 3, no. 2); it was my first published book review. And here I am, so many years later, reviewing Edwin Varney’s new…
Read MoreWhen the day is nearly done, a review of Timed Radiance, by Donna Langevin
Reviewed by Louise Carson Timed Radiance, by Donna Langevin (Aeolus House, 2022). There are many examples of fine language in this collection of poems that have (mostly) been written as a summation of one poet’s long life. So, I’ll be presenting a lot of quotes. The first one comes from the first poem ‘Even with…
Read MoreTrying to be the tree: a review of somewhere still in wind the tree is bending by Bob MacKenzie
Reviewed by Louise Carson somewhere still in wind the tree is bending by Bob MacKenzie (Silver Bow Publishing, New Westminster, 2018). The tree is on the front cover, a weathered and twisted bonsai-shaped thing, growing out of rock. The title slows me right down; is why I chose to review the book. And you know,…
Read MoreWelcome to my nightmare: A review of Hell-Box by Peter Taylor
Reviewed by Louise Carson Hell-Box by Peter Taylor (Frog Hollow Press, 2020). As the first note at the end of this chapbook explains, “A hell-box is a receptacle for damaged or discarded type.” As a title for anything, Hell-Box rocks. And it hints that the contents will be wildly assorted. They are. But the voice…
Read MoreSnapshots: Review of The Negation of Chronology: Imagining Geraldine Moodie, by Rebecca Luce-Kapler
Reviewed by Louise Carson The Negation of Chronology: Imagining Geraldine Moodie, Rebecca Luce-Kapler (Inanna, 2020). I knew after I’d read the forward, that I’d be interested in the material covered by Rebecca Luce-Kapler in The Negation of Chronology. I’d just finished reading Molly Peacock’s Flower Diary, a biography of American/Canadian painter Mary Hiester Reid…
Read MoreReview: Rags of Night in Our Mouths by Margo Wheaton
Reviewed by Michael Edwards Rags of Night in Our Mouths by Margo Wheaton (MQUP, 2022) I. Margo Wheaton’s second poetry collection, Rags of Night in Our Mouths, takes the form of a place-based memoir, presented in three ghazal sequences. In what the book’s jacket describes as a “Maritime gothic,” the work is set in areas…
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Interested in reviewing for the League? We are always looking for new reviewers and reviews!
We have a wide variety of books available for review, available digitally and/or hard copy.
LCP Reviews Guidelines
- There is no length requirement, but most reviews fall between 500-2000 words.
- Please complete your review within one month of receiving it.
- Please include your brief biography and relevant links (your website or public social media) when submitting your review.
- Stuck on what to write? Book reviews shine when we can get a sense of you the reader as much as we can the book! Don’t shy away from sharing your experience of reading as well as critique and celebration of the writing.
We are happy to accept titles from our members, as well as titles from presses, publishers, imprints, etc that are based in Canada. Fill out the form below to submit your title for review.
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Poet Ambassador in Residence
The League is thrilled to announce our inaugural Poet Ambassador in Residence, Tara Borin! During their term from November 2023 through to March 2024, Tara will host virtual drop-ins, writing workshops, events, and more! Tara Borin lives in the traditional territory of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, Dawson City, Yukon. They are the author of The Pit (Nightwood Editions, 2021).
The Poet Ambassador in Residence program is an opportunity for the League to work with some of Canada’s most exciting poets in support of our mission. In addition to receiving financial support for their own creative work, the Ambassador will work directly with the League’s community of poets through drop-in consultations, workshops, and events. The Ambassador will also support several of the League’s cherished core programs such as Poem in Your Pocket Day, the LCP Chapbook Series, and Poetry Pause.
Coming soon: LCP Chapbook Series call for submissions
Online drop-in consultations with Tara Borin
- Saturday, November 25, 2023, 12-1:30pm MST | Register here
- TBD (February 2024)
Events with Tara Borin
- Wednesday, December 6, 6pm MST - poetry reading featuring Tara | Registration coming soon
- TBD (February 2024)
- TBD (March 2024)
Workshops with Tara Borin
- TBD (December 2023) - general poetry workshop | Details coming soon
- TBD (March 2024) - youth poetry workshop
Tara Borin is a poet and writer living in the traditional territory of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, Dawson City, Yukon. Their debut full-length poetry collection, The Pit, was published by Nightwood Editions in March 2021. Their poetry has been anthologized in the League of Canadian Poets Feminist Caucus in Conversation chapbook (LCP Press, 2022), Resistance: Righteous Rage in the Age of #MeToo (University of Regina Press, 2021), and Best New Poets in Canada 2018 (Quattro Books), as well as published in literary journals both online and in print. Tara is the 2022 winner of the BC and Yukon Book Prizes Borealis Prize: Commissioner of Yukon Award for Literary Contribution.
This program is not currently accepting applications. The next application window will be announced in 2024.
Member Directory
Looking to get in touch with an LCP member? Our member directory is a comprehensive and searchable database of professional poets in Canada. Click the button below to explore the Directory.
Canada's Poets Laureate
Explore our map and list of current & past Poets Laureate across Canada.
If you have a correction or would like to add a Poet Laureate, please fill out this form
Marie-Célie Agnant // 2023
Louise Bernice Halfe – Sky Dancer // 2021-2023
Georgette LeBlanc // 2018 – 2020
George Elliott Clarke // 2016 – 2018
Michael Pleau // 2014 – 2016
Fred Wah // 2011 – 2013
Pierre DesRuisseaux // 2009 – 2011
John Steffler // 2006 – 2008
Pauline Michel // 2004 – 2006
George Bowering // 2002 – 2004
Comox Valley:
Lawrence J.W. Cooper // 2019 – 2021
Natalie Nickerson // 2017 – 2019
Kevin Flesher // 2015 – 2017
Nanaimo:
Kamal Parmar // 2021-2023
Valina Zanetti // Youth Poet Laureate // 2019 – 2021
Tina Biello // 2017 – 2020
Kailey DeFehr // Youth Poet Laureate // 2017 – 2018
Naomi Beth Wakan // 2013 – 2016
New Westiminster:
Elliott Slin // 2021 – Present
Alan Hill // 2017 – 2020
Candice James // 2010 – 2016
Don Benson // 1999 – 2007
Edna Anderson // 1998 – 1999
Surrey:
Renée Sarojini Saklikar // 2015 – 2018
Tofino:
Heather Hendry // 2022-2024
Christine Lowther // 2020-2022
Joanna Streetly // 2018 – 2020
Vancouver:
Fiona Tinwei Lam // 2022 – Present
Miss Christie Lee (Christie Charles) // 2018-2021
Rachel Rose // 2014 – 2017
Evelyn Lau // 2011 – 2014
Brad Cran // 2009 – 2011
George McWhirter // 2007 – 2009
Victoria:
John Barton // 2019 – 2022
Yvonne Blomer // 2015 – 2018
Argatu Ali // Youth Poet Laureate // 2018 – 2019
Maita Cienska // Youth Poet Laureate // 2017 – 2018
Ann-Bernice Thomas // Youth Poet Laureate // 2016 – 2017
Janet Marie Rogers // 2012 – 2014
Linda Rogers // 2009 – 2011
Carla Funk // 2006 – 2008
Banff:
Derek Beaulieu // 2022 – 2023
Steven Ross Smith // 2019-2020
Amelie Patternson // 2017-2018
Calgary:
Wakefield Brewster // 2022 – 2024
Natalie Meisner // 2020 – 2022
Sheri-D Wilson // 2018-2020
Micheline Maylor // 2016 – 2018
derek beaulieu // 2014 – 2016
Kris Demeanor // 2012 – 2014
Edmonton:
Titilope Sonuga // 2021 – 2023
Nisha Patel // 2019 – 2021
Ahmed “Knowmadic” Ali // 2017-2019
Pierrette Requier // 2015 – 2017
Mary Pinkoski// 2013 – 2015
Anna Marie Sewell // 2011 – 2012
Roland Pemberton // 2006 – 2011
E.D. Blodgett // 2007 – 2009
Alice Major // 2005 – 2007
Saskatchewan Provincial Poet Laureate:
dee Hobsbawn-Smith // 2023 – 2025
Lauren (Lo) Klassen // Youth Poet Laureate // 2022 – 2024
Carol Rose GoldenEagle // 2021 – 2023
Warsha Kashan // Youth Poet Laureate // 2021 – 2022
Peace Akintade // Youth Poet Laureate // 2020 – 2021
Bruce Rice // 2019 – 2021
Alasdair Rees // Youth Poet Laureate // 2019 – 2020
Brenda Schmidt // 2017-2018
Gerald Hill // 2016 – 2017
Judith Krause // 2014 – 2015
Donald Kerr // 2011 – 2013
Robert Currie // 2007 – 2010
Lousie B. Halfe – Sky Dancer // 2005 – 2006
Glen Sorestad // 2000 – 2004
Moose Jaw
Robert Currie & Gary Hyland // Lifetime Poets Laureate
Winnipeg:
Chimwemwe Undi // 2023 – 2024
Duncan Mercredi // 2020 – 2022
Di Brandt // 2017 – 2019
Provincial Poet Laureate
Randall Adjei // 2021 – 2023
Barrie:
Tyneisha Ternent // 2022 – Present
Victoria Butler // 2018 – 2022
Damian Lopes // 2014 –2028
Bruce Meyer // 2010-2014
Brantford:
John B Lee //granted in 2005 in perpetuity
Cobalt:
Ann Margetson
Cobourg:
Jessica Outram // 2019 – 2022
Ted Amsden // 2011 – 2018
Jill Battson // 2009 – 2011
Eric Winter // 1997 – 2009
Dufferin County:
Harry Posner // 2017-present
Emery:
Laurence Hutchman // 2018 – present
Kingston:
Jason Heroux // 2019 – present
Helen Humphreys // 2015 – 2019
Eric Folsom // 2011 – 2015
London:
Tom Cull // 2016 – present
Penn Kemp // 2011 – 2013
Mississauga:
Ayomide Bayowa // 2021 – 2024
Lisa Shen // Youth Poet Laureate // 2023 – 2025
Paul Edward Costa // 2019 – 2021
Pujita Verma // Youth Poet Laureate // 2018 – 2020
Wali Shah // 2017 – 2019
Rebecca Zseder // Youth Poet Laureate // 2016 – 2018
Anna Yin // 2015 – 2017
Norfolk County
John B. Lee // granted in 2011 in perpetuity
Ottawa:
Albert Dumont (English) & Gilles Latour (French) // 2021 – 2022
Margaret Michèle Cook (French) & Diana Young (English) // 2019 – 2021
Andrée Lacelle (French) & Jamaal Jackson Rogers (English) // 2017 – 2019
Patrick White // 1987-1990
Cyril Dabydeen // 1984-1987
Catherine Ahearn // 1981-1984
Owen Sound:
Richard-Yves Sitoski // 2019 – 2022
Lauren Best // 2017-2019
Rob Rolfe & Larry Jensen // 2015 – 2017
Terry Burns // 2013 – 2014
Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm // 2011 – 2012
Kristan Anderson // 2008 – 2010
Liz Zetlin // 2007 – 2008
Sudbury:
Kyla Heming // 2022 – Present
Vera Constantineau (2020-2022)
Chloé LaDuchesse // 2018 – 2020
Kim Fahner // 2016 – 2018
Thomas Leduc // 2014 – 2015
Daniel Aubin // 2012 – 2013
Roger Nash // 2010 – 2011
Toronto:
Lillian Allen // 2023 – Present
A. F. Moritz // 2019 – 2023
Anne Michaels // 2016 – 2019
George Elliott Clarke // 2012 – 2015
Dionne Brand // 2009 – 2012
Pier Giorgio Di Cicco // 2004 – 2009
Dennis Lee // 2001 – 2004
Windsor:
Mary Ann Mulhern // 2019 – 2022
Samantha Badaoa (Youth Poet Laureate) // 2019 – 2020
Marty Gervais // 2011 – 2019, Poet Laureate Emeritus
Woodstock:
Barry C. Butson // in perpetuity
Montreal
Bertrand Laverdure // 2015 – 2017
Fredericton:
Jordan Trethewey // 2021 – 2024
Jenna Lyn Albert // 2019 – 2021
Ian Letourneau // 2016 – 2018
Moncton:
Kayla Geitzler (Anglophone) // 2019 – 2022
Jean-Philippe Raiche (Francophone) // 2019 – 2022
Sackville:
Laura K. Watson // 2021 – Present
Shoshanna Wingate // 2019 – 2021
Marilyn Lerch // 2013 – 2017
Douglas Lochead // 2002 – 2011
PEI Provincial Poet Laureate:
Julie Pellissier-Lush // 2019 – present
Deidre Kessler // 2016 – 2019
Diane Hicks Morrow // 2013 – 2016
Hugh MacDonald // 2009 – 2013
David Helwig // 2008 – 2009
Frank Ledwell // 2004 – 2007
John Smith // 2002 – 2004
Cape Breton:
Rita Joe // 1932 – 2007 // Lifetime “Poet Laureate of the Mi’kmaq people”
Halifax:
Sue Goyette // 2020 – 2024
Asiah Sparks // Youth Poet Laureate // 2023 – 2024
Damini Awoyiga // Youth Poet Laureate // 2023 – 2024
Dr. Afua Cooper // 2018 – 2020
Rebecca Thomas // 2016 – 2018
El Jones // 2013 – 2015
Tanya Davis // 2011 – 2012
Shauntay Grant // 2009 – 2011
Lorri Neilsen Glenn // 2005 – 2009
Sue MacLeod // 2001 – 2005
St. John’s:
Mark Callanan // 2023 – Present
Mary Dalton // 2019 – 2023
George Murray // 2014 – 2017
Tom Dawe // 2010 – 2013
Agnes Walsh // 2006 – 2009
Yukon Provincial Poet Laureate:
pj johnson // 1994 – present