April is a month for celebrating poets and all that they bring to the literary arena. The League of Canadian Poets declared April National Poetry Month in 1999 and has commemorated poetry and its role in Canadian culture every April since then.
How National Poetry Month is Celebrated
Librarians, booksellers, schools, publishers, literary organizations, and poets are encouraged every April to rejoice in their love of poetry. This is done through public events, media promotion, youth initiatives, and events through schools and community organizations. For poets and poetry organizers who are planning National Poetry Month events, the League offers funding for performances. Like the League's goal in general, National Poetry Month strives to improve the audience for poetry across Canada.
History of National Poetry Month
Canada's National Poetry Month was inspired by the Academy of American Poets who created an annual National Poetry Month in the U.S. in 1996. The Academy chose April for their month to put poetry on a pedestal and the League of Canadian Poets was inspired by their fellow American poetry lovers.
Young Poets Week
One event the League puts on in April to honour National Poetry Month is Young Poets Week. In 2011, YPW runs from April 10 - 16. There are resources for teachers to access and through the Young Poets website, youth are encouraged to chat with published poets and their peers. In six Canadian provinces, the League sponsors readings in classrooms from poets.
A "Poetic License" contest is held for young poets during April. The first, second, and third place winners receive $350, $300, and $250 respectively.
History of The League of Canadian Poets
The League of Canadian Poets was founded in 1966 by five poets and is a voice on many issues – freedom of expression, grievances, contract advice, Public Lending Right, and CanCopy. The League puts out a bimonthly circular to keep its 700+ members informed on matters that affect poets. The League is also involved with other arts and literary organizations on matters that affect their members. They are a non-profit organization, the sole national association for professional publishing and performing poets across Canada.
Words From a Poet Laureate
Pier Giorgio Di Cicco, a Poet Laureate from Toronto, shares his thoughts on National Poetry Month, "National Poetry Month is the wake-up call to Canadians to look at the poetry in their lives, on their pages, in their various schemes for a better quality of life. You cannot build a good future without the ideals and grace of poetry. In a world that screams prosperity and wealth generation, the poets remind us that human cities are the only cities worth having. Poetry is a way of life, a way of respecting your creativity as a citizen. It's the most precious thing we have. Life is drudgery without it."
Enjoy a poem that touches your heart this April!
Toby Welch - Toby is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in magazine articles, online writing, e-books, and manuscript editing.
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