As part of our Jubilee celebrations, the library is holding a poetry contest for written poems and spoken word poetry.
Prizes for winners and runners up in six (6) categories. Children, teens and adults are encouraged to enter.
Deadline to enter is 4 pm April 15, 2023.
Each entry should be inspired by JOY, the theme for this year’s Poetry Month supported by the League of Canadian Poets’ events. In recognition of the current popularity of spoken word poetry and the significance of oral traditions in many cultures, we are accepting spoken word entrees as well as written entrees for our Jubilee celebration.
Rules:
- Each entry must be an original, previously unpublished poem.
- Poets may enter more than one poem, but each entry must be submitted individually with its own entry form.
- Entrants must give permission for the Hazelton District public Library to publish their poems.
- Submitted poems become the property of the Hazelton District Public Library and will not be returned. Make a copy of the poem for yourself.
- Winners will be determined by a panel of judges. Decision of the judges is final.
- Entries must be postmarked, time stamped, or physically received at
Hazelton District Public Library
PO Box 323
4255 Government St.
Hazelton, BC V0J 2J0
OR
by 4:00 pm, Saturday, April 15, 2023
Presentation:
Written poems
- Each poem must be covered by a completed entry form containing the title of the poem, the first and last name, age and birthday, and contact information of the poet.
- If the poem is being submitted as part of a school project, additional information is required: the teacher’s name, the school, and the school’s phone number.
- The name of the poet or any other information identifying the poet must NOT appear anywhere else on the submitted poem.
- Poems should be submitted using one side only of standard 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper.
- The title of the poem must appear at the top of each page. If the poem is more than one page long, each page, except the first page, should be numbered in the top right-hand corner.
- Poems should be double spaced, typed on a word processor, or neatly printed by hand.
- Poems written in cursive handwriting will not be accepted.
- Faxed submissions will not be accepted.
Spoken-word entries
- Each entry should be an audio file, preferably in MP3 format.
- Each entry should be attached to an email containing the entry form information: The poet’s first and last names, age, address, contact information.
- The audio file should not contain the poet’s name or any other information identifying the poet.
- The spoken-word artist should give the title of the poem at the beginning of the audio file.
- Each entry should be attached to a separate email and sent to
Eligibility:
- Anyone who lives within the Hazelton District Public Library service area, i.e. Regional District Kitimat-Stikine Area B (Gitanyow, Kitwanga, Cedarvale, Gitwangak, Gitsegukla, Tramville, South Hazelton, New Hazelton, Suskwa Valley, Witset, Tsekya, Two Mile, Gitanmaax, Hazelton, Sik e Dakh, Anspayaxw, Kispiox Valley and surrounding rural areas) is eligible to enter.
- Hazelton District Public Library employees, trustees and their immediate household members may submit a poem but are not eligible for prizes.
- Participants may enter more than one poem, but each poem must be submitted as a separate entry with a separate entry cover sheet or email.
Cash and prizes will be awarded to winners and runners-up.
Judging will occur the week following April 15th, and prizes will be awarded at a celebration at the library Thursday, April 27th.