Toronto International Festival of Authors
The Toronto International Festival of Authors is an 11-day celebration of words and ideas for curious readers of every kind. Learn more here.
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Calendar of Events
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Shab-e She’r (Poetry Night) LXXVIII
Shab-e She’r (Poetry Night) LXXVIII
The most diverse poetry reading and open mic in Toronto, Shab-e She’r has been bridging the gap between diverse poetry communities, bringing together people from different ethnicities, nationalities, ages, disabilities, religions (or lack thereof), poetic styles, voices and visions. At Shab-e She’r (Poetry Night) we don’t just wait for diversity …
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Celebration of the Poetry of Billy-Ray Belcourt
Celebration of the Poetry of Billy-Ray Belcourt
Join Audreys Books as they celebrate the poetic career of Billy-Ray Belcourt! This event will feature readings by both Billy-Ray Belcourt and his friends, who will each share and read the poems that they found most meaningful in their own lives. Learn more here.
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Fahner, Byenkya and Langevin at the Art Bar Poetry Series
Fahner, Byenkya and Langevin at the Art Bar Poetry Series
The Art Bar is recognized as Canada's longest running poetry-only, weekly reading series. Since 1991, it has featured both emerging and established poets from across Canada and occasionally from abroad. It has become a hub for the poetry community, and entry point for new voices, a place for people to …
3 events,
The LaHave Review submission deadline
The LaHave Review is an online poetry journal edited by Michael Goodfellow and will launch in December, 2019. Each issue will feature one poem per season, a biography of the poet, and an interview. The LaHave Review is named after the LaHave River in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. The river …
National Poetry Competition submission deadline
One of the biggest single poem competitions in the world, the National Poetry Competition is open to anyone aged 17 or older. The competition is for previously unpublished poems of up to 40 lines in length. This year's judges are Mona Arshi, Helen Mort and Maurice Riordan. Learn more here.
5 events,
The Young Buck Poetry Prize submission deadline
Contemporary Verse 2 (CV2) magazine offers a poetry contest exclusively for writers under the age of 35. The YOUNG BUCK poetry prize will be awarded to the author of the single best submitted poem, along with $1000 and publication in CV2. Three honourable mentions will also be awarded, each with …
Words – The Literary and Creative Arts Festival
Words is committed to the advancement of accessibility in the arts, cultural participation within the community, and diversity in our programming. During the first weekend of November each year, Words brings the Southwestern Ontario region together for a celebration of creative ideas, artistic expression, and cultural diversity. Words features emerging …
The Malahat Review Open Season Awards submission deadline
The Malahat Review invites entries for its annual Open Season Awards in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction with prizes totalling $CAN 6000. The contest is open to Canadian and international writers anywhere in the world, with a final deadline of midnight (PDT) on 1 November 2019. All entries are judged …
Words Aloud Festival
The Words Aloud Spoken Word and Storytelling Festival is a small but mighty regional event held in the southwestern Ontario village of Durham (pop. 2500), about an hour-and-a-half north of Guelph. Co-founded in 2004 by Liz Zetlin and Dawna Proudman, in response to a suggestion from Durham Art Gallery curator …
5 events,
Poetry inPrint Residency Exhibition
Poetry inPrint is a writer’s residency in a printmaker’s studio. Collaborating with local author Jacqueline Valencia, organizer of the Toronto Poetry Talks Symposium, this program pairs eight local visual artists, including members of the inPrint Collective, with eight local poets. Artists and poets are at various stages in their career, …
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Toronto Lit Up Launch of Launches
Toronto Lit Up Launch of Launches
The Toronto Arts Council and the Toronto International Festival of Authors have partnered on Toronto Lit Up, an initiative designed to spotlight Toronto writers and empower local artists with career-building opportunities. The programme also gives curious readers access to their local writing community. Toronto Lit Up book release parties take …
3 events,
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Poetry In Voice / Les voix de la poésie Junior Competition Online Finals submissions open
Poetry In Voice / Les voix de la poésie Junior Competition Online Finals submissions open
With the Poetry In Voice / Les voix de la poésie recitation contests, students choose classic and contemporary poems from the junior anthology for grades 6-8. Then they learn them deeply, commit them to memory, hone their recitation skills, and compete for over $75,000 in travel and prizes. Learn more …
Celebration of Poetry in Motion in Halifax
Celebration of Poetry in Motion in Halifax
Supported by Arts Nova Scotia and in partnership with the Halifax Regional Municipality and the Halifax Public Libraries, the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia (WFNS) is bringing Poetry in Motion to Halifax. A public poetry art project, Poetry in Motion will feature short poems and excerpts from longer poems on …
3 events,
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Wolsak and Wynn Toronto Launch
Wolsak and Wynn Toronto Launch
Join publisher Wolsak and Wynn at the Gladstone Ballroom to launch another wonderful season of Fall books, including Gary Barwin's For It Is a Pleasure and a Surprise to Breathe: New and Selected Poems. Learn more here.
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Stones, di Sciascio-Andrews and Wagner at the Art Bar Poetry Series
Stones, di Sciascio-Andrews and Wagner at the Art Bar Poetry Series
The Art Bar is recognized as Canada's longest running poetry-only, weekly reading series. Since 1991, it has featured both emerging and established poets from across Canada and occasionally from abroad. It has become a hub for the poetry community, and entry point for new voices, a place for people to …
3 events,
Verb Festival
Verb Festival is an annual writers festival in Wellington, New Zealand. They celebrate Aotearoa writers with international guests. Verb Festival features the famous LitCrawl on Saturday 9 November: 25 events in 3.5 hours in 25 venues. Learn more here.
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Writers Read Concordia presents Margaret Christakos in conversation with Sina Queyras
Writers Read Concordia presents Margaret Christakos in conversation with Sina Queyras
The 2019-2020 Writers Read Concordia season emphasizes the local, the influencers, the activist, the transformative, the conversation and the collaborative impulses. Writers Read Concordia presents writer Margaret Christakos in conversation with Sina Queyras. Learn more here.
4 events,
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Mile End Poets’ Festival – Deep Curation: Experiments in Poetry Reading Curation
Mile End Poets’ Festival – Deep Curation: Experiments in Poetry Reading Curation
Opening with a panel discussion on literary event curation, this event will feature Margaret Christakos, Deanna Radford, Danielle St. Amour and Jason Camlot, facilitated by Klara du Plessis. It will focus on different contemporary and historical strategies for literary event curation, while also incorporating a visual arts curatorial perspective for …
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TIFF Docs presents: Margaret Atwood: A Word after a Word after a Word is Power
TIFF Docs presents: Margaret Atwood: A Word after a Word after a Word is Power
The world premiere screening of this fascinating documentary on the renowned poet and novelist behind The Handmaid's Tale and The Testaments is followed by an onstage conversation with directors Nancy Lang and Peter Raymont, interviewed by Carol Off. Learn more here.
5 events,
C.D. Wright Women Writers Conference
The C.D. Wright Women Writers Conference focuses on women-identifying writers from all genres and all experience levels, from journalism to mass market books to literary endeavors, and beyond. The goal is to provide a space for camaraderie, connection-making, and inspiration, and while women-identifying writers are the only presenters at the …
Poetry in Aldeburgh
Poetry In Aldeburgh is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to build on and continue the heritage of poetry and over 30 years of poetry festivals on the Suffolk Coast. Their first festival was in November 2016 and they hold them annually. They also work with local and national organisations in …
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Palimpsest Press Fall Launch
Palimpsest Press Fall Launch
Join Another Story and Palimpsest Press to celebrate the launch of Ceilidh Michelle's butterflies, zebras, moonbeams and Shane Neilson's Constructive Negativity: Prize Culture, Evaluation, and Disability in Canadian Poetry. Learn more here.
5 events,
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John Barton Sonnet Workshop
John Barton Sonnet Workshop
This workshop presents the sonnet as a tool to explore contemporary concerns that can be incorporated into a weekly, even daily writing practice. Participants will write new sonnets and review them with the group to explore and integrate in-depth theory elements. Through revisions, they will see how to exploit the …
2 events,
Vancouver Manuscript Intensive application deadline
Vancouver Manuscript Intensive is structured to ensure that a personal and highly supportive one-to-one mentorship is offered to develop one's manuscript as a whole. They match each of their participants with a talented, often award-winning, professional author who is also a skilled editor in their genre. Learn more here.
4 events,
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The Art of Rhetoric workshop at Citadel
The Art of Rhetoric workshop at Citadel
The right words in the right order are able to tangibly change reality. Know how to use your words and you know how to make magic. Learn from the greats as we dissect and explore the nuances rhetorical devices of effective persuasion. From Shakespeare to Fred Rogers, we will talk …
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In Our Tongues
In Our Tongues
In Our Tongues is Ottawa’s first Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPoC) reading and art series. The featured artists at this gathering are: Kevin Schofield, Manahil Bandukwala and Eyob Tzu. Learn more here.
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Graham, Drukker and Redvers at the Art Bar Poetry Series
Graham, Drukker and Redvers at the Art Bar Poetry Series
The Art Bar is recognized as Canada's longest running poetry-only, weekly reading series. Since 1991, it has featured both emerging and established poets from across Canada and occasionally from abroad. It has become a hub for the poetry community, and entry point for new voices, a place for people to …
2 events,
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Rykov, Benkya, Rajagopalan and Thompson at Brockton Writers Series
Rykov, Benkya, Rajagopalan and Thompson at Brockton Writers Series
The Brockton Writers Series (BWS) is a bi-monthly literary reading series founded in November, 2009. The series’ vision is to host writers who reflect Canadian literature and Canadian diversity, defining diversity to include: established and emerging writers, writers of colour, queer writers, younger and older writers, aboriginal writers and other …
3 events,
2019 CBC Poetry Prize shortlist announced
The 2019 CBC Poetry Prize shortlist will be announced today. Learn more here.
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Boston Originals
Boston Originals
This event offers a dynamic reading by a distinct array of poetic innovators from the region: Kristen Case, Amanda Cook, Danielle Legros Georges, Suzanne Mercury, Oliver Strand, and Janaka Stucky. The evening will also serve as a welcoming reception for Harvard scholar at risk Chib?ìhè Obi Ach?mbá. Come one, come …
3 events,
YYC POP: Portraits of People submission deadline
Sheri-D Wilson, Poet Laureate of Calgary, is sending out a call out to the community, the entire city and the world — I invite you, to write a portrait in the form of a poem, prose poem, or snapshot/ flash fiction — about someone you know (not about yourself) that …
Woodstock Poetry Festival
The Woodstock Bookshop started and runs Woodstock Poetry Festival, a completely independent festival that has now been running for seven years. This year's poets taking part include Raymond Antrobus, Niall Campbell, Vidyan Ravinthiram, Hannah Sullivan, Mary Jean Chan and more. Learn more here.
1 event,
2 events,
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Garebian, Cok and Rogal at the Art Bar Poetry Series
Garebian, Cok and Rogal at the Art Bar Poetry Series
The Art Bar is recognized as Canada's longest running poetry-only, weekly reading series. Since 1991, it has featured both emerging and established poets from across Canada and occasionally from abroad. It has become a hub for the poetry community, and entry point for new voices, a place for people to …
3 events,
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Lunch Poems at SFU
Lunch Poems at SFU
The raison d'être of Lunch Poems is to invite and welcome everyone to enjoy poetry in a relaxed and casual atmosphere: whether you are new to poetry or have had a long romance with it. Lunch Poems at SFU invites you to join them to lunch on words and feed …
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Young and Whitehead read at Poetry London (Ontario) Reading Series
Young and Whitehead read at Poetry London (Ontario) Reading Series
The Poetry London Reading Series, in partnership with the London Public Library, hosts monthly readings and poetry workshops in London, Ontario. They bring a diverse list of Canada’s finest poets into London for readings, as well as providing a wide range of poetry-related opportunities for local writers and poetry aficionados. …
3 events,
2019 CBC Poetry Prize winner announced
The 2019 CBC Poetry Prize winner will be announced today. Learn more here.
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Citadel Open House / Drop In
Citadel Open House / Drop In
This event offers a chance to explore the writers collective and discover the unique aspects of Citadel. They will be offering refreshments and light snacks. Learn more here.
1 event,
4 events,
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the ottawa small press book fair
the ottawa small press book fair
“once upon a time, way way back in October 1994, rob mclennan and James Spyker invented a two-day event called the ottawa small press book fair, and held the first one at the National Archives of Canada...” Spyker moved to Toronto soon after the original event, but the fair continues, …
Make-Unmake Mandala – a border crossings workshop
Make-Unmake Mandala – a border crossings workshop
Join Arts Educator Sheniz Janmohamed as she makes and unmakes nature mandalas/land art inspired by the flora, fauna and landmarks of Mississauga. A mandala translates as 'circle' from Sanskrit. The mandala is often used a symbolic tool for ritualistic practices in Buddhist and Vedic traditions. Nature mandalas are created by …
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Poets & Players with Khalvati, Dunthorne, Garland and Ask My Bull
Poets & Players with Khalvati, Dunthorne, Garland and Ask My Bull
Poets & Players is known for its imaginative programming of complementary arts — poetry with music, dance and visual art — in several striking settings in Manchester, UK, particularly the Whitworth Art Gallery. Newer writers are showcased alongside established poets and musicians. This event, which is part of the Carcanet …
1 event,
1 event,
4 events,
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Shab-e She’r (Poetry Night) 7th Anniversary
Shab-e She’r (Poetry Night) 7th Anniversary
The most diverse poetry reading and open mic in Toronto, Shab-e She’r has been bridging the gap between diverse poetry communities, bringing together people from different ethnicities, nationalities, ages, disabilities, religions (or lack thereof), poetic styles, voices and visions. At Shab-e She’r (Poetry Night) we don’t just wait for diversity …
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Maureen Hynes + E Martin Nolan at Tree Reading Series
Maureen Hynes + E Martin Nolan at Tree Reading Series
Running since May 9, 1980, the Tree Reading Series (Tree) is one of Canada's longest-running literary events and an essential part of Ottawa's vibrant literary community. Tree is a non-profit organization that supports established and emerging writers from Ottawa and across Canada by offering a supportive public venue for writers …
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Jacobs, Ferrante and Rogal at the Art Bar Poetry Series
Jacobs, Ferrante and Rogal at the Art Bar Poetry Series
The Art Bar is recognized as Canada's longest running poetry-only, weekly reading series. Since 1991, it has featured both emerging and established poets from across Canada and occasionally from abroad. It has become a hub for the poetry community, and entry point for new voices, a place for people to …
2 events,
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Gordon Hill Press 2019 Fall Launch
Gordon Hill Press 2019 Fall Launch
The launch of Gordon Hill Press' very first season will be held at the brand new Knife | Fork | Book space at Artscape Youngplace. The launch will feature readings by all their fall authors – Roxanna Bennett, Gary Barwin, Danny Jacobs, and Tom Prime. It should be a great …
1 event,
1 event,
2 events,
Banff Centre Bliss Carman Poetry Award submission deadline
Prairie Fire is now accepting entries for the Banff Centre Bliss Carman Poetry Award, Short Fiction and Creative Non-Fiction Contests. Although the deadline is November 30 (postmarked), you may submit anytime. The 2019 poetry judge is Jennifer Still. Learn more here.
3 events,
2019 Minola Review Poetry and Fiction Contests – submission deadline
Minola Review's inaugural Poetry and Fiction Contests are now open! Enter to win the grand prize of $750 in each category, plus publication in Minola Review. Submissions will be accepted until December 1, 2019. The contests are open to Canadian and international women and non-binary writers anywhere in the world, …
Priscila Uppal Memorial Award for Poetry submission deadline
Named “Canada’s coolest poet” by Time Out London, Priscila Uppal was a tour-de-force and her poetry was anything but sit-down, tame, or by-the-book. She often used humour to confront darker issues head on, wasn’t afraid to laugh at our beautiful and messy world, and found joy in the glamorous through …
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A Toronto Gathering for Nelson Ball
A Toronto Gathering for Nelson Ball
Nelson Ball (b. 1942) was a much beloved Canadian poet, bookseller, and publisher. He died on August 16, 2019, in Brantford. He was the author of dozens of poetry books and chapbooks and ephemera, published by Coach House, ECW, Mansfield, Curvd H&z, Apt. 9, Proper Tales, Monks Press, Book*hug, Weed/Flower, …