Organization · Canada

League of Canadian Poets

The League of Canadian Poets runs annual awards and contests for poetry by Canadian poets.

Open to poets

League of Canadian Poets Book Awards (Gerald Lampert, Pat Lowther, Raymond Souster). Annual; 2027 awards open Sep 14, 2026, form deadline Dec 31, 2026, books received by Jan 13, 2027. Fee: $25 per title per award (CAD). Pays: $2,000 per award.
Jessamy Stursberg Poetry Prize for Canadian Youth. Open now; deadline Apr 30, 2027; winners announced in June. Pays: Three cash prizes of $450, $400 and $350 in each category. Up to 1 poems.
Single-poem contests (Lesley Strutt, Arts & Letters Club Poetry Award, Very Small Verse). Very Small Verse Nov 15–Jan 20 each year; Lesley Strutt and Arts & Letters Club open annually in June (close date not stated); currently closed. Fee: $5 (CAD) per entry; Very Small Verse $2.50 members / $5 non-members. Pays: $500 (Lesley Strutt; Arts & Letters Club award); $300, publication in the Poem In Your Pocket Day booklet and poem on a T-shirt or tote (Very Small Verse). Simultaneous submissions: lesley strutt: simultaneous submissions allowed; not stated for the others. Up to 1 poems.
Lillian Allen Prize and Lillian Allen Emerging Artist Prize. Annual; 2025 deadlines were Jun 30 (nominations) and Aug 7 (self-nominations); 2026 round not posted. Pays: $2,000 per prize (two prizes).

Official site: poets.ca. Please confirm the details there before you submit.