League of Canadian Poets Announces 2021 Prize Shortlists

Yesterday, the League of Canadian Poets announced their shortlists for three literary awards. Timed to coincide with the celebration of National Poetry Month, the LCP's prizes reward talented poets in three categories: debut collections, writing by women poets, and a general prize open to all League members. 

Each year, a theme is chosen for National Poetry Month. The 2021 theme is, fittingly, "Resilience". 

The three award winners, along with the Golden Beret Spoken Word Award winner, will be announced on May 6 of this year. 

2021 Gerald Lampert Memorial Award shortlist ($2,000):

$2,000 (sponsored by the League of Canadian Poets)
This award recognizes a first book of poetry published by a Canadian writer in the preceding year. 
2021 Jurors: DA Lockhart, Nisha Patel, and Phoebe Wang

• Bertrand Bickersteth for The Response of Weeds (NeWest Press, 2020)
• Jillian Christmas for the gospel of breaking (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2020)
• Valerie Mason-John for I Am Still Your Negro (University of Alberta Press, 2020)
• Bahar Orang for Where Things Touch (Book*hug Press, 2020)
• Tyler Pennock for Bones (Brick Books, 2020)
• Natasha Ramoutar for Bittersweet (Mawenzi House, 2020)

2021 Pat Lowther Memorial Award shortlist ($2,000):

This prize is in memory of the late Pat Lowther, whose career was cut short by her untimely death in 1975, and is open to Canadian women for a book of poetry published in the preceding year. 
2021 Jurors: Puneet Dutt, Doyali Islam, and Cassidy McFadzean

• Cicely Belle Blain for Burning Sugar (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2020)
• Jody Chan for Sick (Black Lawrence Press, 2020)
• Jillian Christmas for the gospel of breaking (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2020)
• Kyla Jamieson for Body Count (Nightwood Editions, 2020)
• shalan joudry for Waking Ground (Gaspereau Press, 2020)
• Noor Naga for Washes, Prays (McClelland & Stewart, 2020)

2021 The Raymond Souster Award shortlist ($2,000):

This award is presented annually for a book of poetry by a League member published in the preceding year. 
2021 Jurors: Cheryl Antao-Xavier, Jacob MacArthur Mooney, and David Martin

• Sadiqa de Meijer for The Outer Wards (Véhicule Press/Signal Poetry, 2020)
• Klara du Plessis for Hell Light Flesh (Palimpsest Press, 2020)
• Jessie Jones for The Fool (Goose Lane Editions, 2020)
• Michael Prior for Burning Province (McClelland & Stewart, 2020)
• John Elizabeth Stintzi for Junebat (House of Anansi Press, 2020)
• Ian Williams for Word Problems (Coach House Books, 2020)

Congratulations to the nominated writers and their publishers. For more information about the League of Canadian Poets, National Poetry Month, and the awards, visit the LCP website.