LCP—A Panoply of Poets
The League lobbies, along with other organizations representing Canadian writers, to ensure that proposed legislation to reform Canadian copyright law will by Lynda Monahan respect our rights, including the As the newly elected Saskatch- right to be fairly remunerated ewan representative on the for our work. national council for the League of Canadian Poets, I thought I Our members organize a variety would take this opportunity to of readings and poetry-related tell you a bit about the League events across the country during National Poetry Month in and its many activities. April of every year. This year The League of Canadian Poets the LCP celebrated the eleventh has garnered a long list of ac- anniversary of National Poetry complishments in its forty-four Month in Canada. Our theme year history, all in the name of was Poetry Planet, and artists promoting Canadian poets and and National Poetry Month parpoetry. These many achieve- ticipants were encouraged to ments include the launch of elaborate on themes of poetry one of the most comprehensive related to our planet, land, culwebsites for poetry in Canada. ture, nature and how we define Check it out at www.poets.ca. Canada. League Council memAs well, the League launched bers host (W)rites of Spring www.youngpoets.ca, a website fundraisers, such as public for youth and two listserves for readings and literary salons, in students and teachers. Plans the province they represent, now in the works include a to help improve awareness of fully bilingual young poets web- the League and to raise funds site, as well as expanding the to support the League’s many websites to make the most of activities. internet potential for marketing. Through the League’s readings The League presents two annual programs, poets are able to profull-length poetry book awards mote their work both locally and each year, The Pat Lowther nationally. The LCP administers and the Gerald Lampert Memo- four readings programs, three rial Awards. The Pat Lowther youth workshops and over four Award is given for a book of hundred readings throughout poetry by a Canadian woman the fiscal year. The readings are published in the preceding year administered at the LCP office and is in memory of the late and all the funding goes directly Pat Lowther, whose career was to the artists. cut short by her untimely death in 1975. The Gerald Lampert For a number of years the SWG Award is given for best first participated in the League's book of poetry by a Canadian Poets in the Schools program. author published in the preceding year. This award is offered The League established Poetry in memory of the late Gerald Spoken Here, a network of pubLampert, an arts administrator lishers, bookstores, libraries and who organized authors tours reading venues from across the and took particular interest in country. The League is involved the work of new writers. The in many other activities, such 2010 winners of these awards, as promoting poetry at national respectively, were Karen Solie and international book fairs and for Pigeon and James Langer festivals. for Gun Dogs. The League also presents the Poetic Licence Membership in the League of Contest for Youth which is open Canadian Poets offers many to young poets from grades benefits, including a year-long subscription to the League’s seven to twelve. monthly electronic newsletter, September/October 2010
participation in the reading programs, participation in National Poetry Month readings and events, and promotion of your readings through the Poetry Spoken Here calendar. There is also a brand new benefits package available for members. All of this and so much more! One of the best benefits, for me, is belonging to a nationwide community of poets. The League offers four categories of membership to all Canadian citizens and landed immigrants. Applications for both full and associate membership are assessed by a membership committee elected from and by the membership. To apply for membership or to learn more about the League of Canadian Poets visit www.poets.ca or contact me, Lynda Monahan at lmonahan@sasktel.net. P.S. The League of Canadian Poets is especially pleased that one of its Life Members, Glen Sorestad, was a recent recipient of the Order of Canada. (Congratulations, Glen!)
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