Airdrie Public Library’s (APL) first annual poetry contest, Poetry in Motion – held July 2 to Aug. 16 – produced some amazing and thought-provoking pieces of writing. The official announcement of the winners will be made Sept. 28, at the Voice and Vision 2019 celebration at APL.
Held in partnership with the City of Airdrie, the contest saw 22 people entering two categories – Youth (ages 13 to 17) and Open. A total of 56 poems were submitted, and six were shortlisted, including a winner and two runners-up from each category.
Participants were required to hold a valid APL membership, and could submit up to three poems, each no longer than 11 lines, including the title.
The prize in each category is an iPad. Furthermore, the two winning poems and the four runners-up submissions will be displayed on Airdrie ICE buses in honour of Alberta Culture Days.
Entries were blind-judged, meaning the authors’ names were not allowed to be attached to the pieces.
As for the judge, APL was very fortunate to have Calgary’s Weyman Chan fill the role. Chan, the 2008 Governor General’s Award finalist for his second book of poetry, Noise from the Laundry, is also the poetry editor of Calgary’s experimental literary magazine, fillingStation.
The public is welcome to attend Voice and Vision 2019, an annual event celebrating the collaborative works of members of the Airdrie Writers Group and local artists.
The two category winners will each read their poems, followed by a reading from Chan at the event.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the Poetry in Motion winners’ announcement at 7:30.
