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POETRY FOR EVERYONE THIS APRIL
  CELEBRATE NATIONAL POETRY MONTH 2006!!!

Established in Canada in April 1999 by the League, National Poetry Month brings together schools, publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, and poets across the country to celebrate poetry and its vital place in Canada's culture. Communities and businesses participate through readings, festivals, book displays, and other events.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

Theme for 2006:   Poetry Everywhere…
Poetry can often be found in the most unusual places. From time to time, we see verse scribbled on bathroom walls, displayed on subway trains, or hear it recited from a street corner pulpit. This year during National Poetry Month, poets across the country will reveal how their communities and other art forms inspire them by reading in some unusual venues and by collaborating with other artists.  For a sample of NPM events, go to the Poetry Month section at www.poets.ca or check your local newspaper and magazine listings for details of events in your area

Youth Initiatives:
Young Poets’ Week runs April 9-15 2006. Teachers who sign on to the www.youngpoets.ca teachers’ list serve will receive daily messages throughout the week, describing easy and effective ways to celebrate with students.  Youngpoets.ca is an excellent source of inspiration for this year's entrants as well as a valuable educational resource, featuring lesson plans, reading lists, a digital history of Canadian poetry and an on-line discussion group. Young writers are encouraged to browse articles or join a chat-room discussion with peers and published poets.

Students in six provinces will also have the opportunity to meet poets in their schools through a series of classroom readings sponsored by The League and organized by provincial writers’ associations. 

This year’s “Poetic Licence” contest winners will be announced during young poets week.  First, second and third prize national winners in each language and
age category will receive cash prizes of $150, $100 and $50 respectively.  See Re:verse, the League’s youth driven on-line e-zine at www.youngpoets.ca for the winners’ poems.

About the League of Canadian Poets
The League of Canadian Poets, a non-profit arts service organization, is the national association of professional publishing and performing poets in Canada. Its purpose is to enhance the status of poets and to nurture a professional poetic community to facilitate the teaching of Canadian poetry at all levels of education and to develop the audience for poetry by encouraging publication, performance and recognition of Canadian poetry nationally and internationally. As well as providing members and the public with many benefits and services, The League speaks for poets on many issues such as freedom of expression, Public Lending Rights, Access Copyright, contract advice and grievance. It is actively involved with other arts and literary organizations in discussion with government bodies on matters that affect writers. Through its bimonthly newsletter, The League keeps members informed of matters both political and professional and provides a common voice for collective response to important issues.   Founded in 1966 by a group of five poets, The League now serves nearly 600 members whose work reflects the regional and cultural diversity of this country.

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