What is it? The prize for the Robert Kroetsch Award for innovative Poetry is awarded annually. The winning manuscript is selected by an established poet, in co-operation with Snare Books. Snare Books was founded in Montreal by Jon Paul Fiorentino and Robert Allen in the early spring of 2006.
So much skillful poetry work goes on in Canada, the judges have a hard job.
2007: Natalie Zina Walschots for Thumbscrews. (Judge: Darren Wershler-Henry)
2008: Geoffery Hlibchuk for Variations on Holderlin. (Judge: Elizabeth Bachinsky)
2009: Sarah Dowling for Security Posture. (Judge: Rachel Zolf)
2010: Jake Kennedy for The Lateral. (Judge: Sina Queyras)
2011: Pearl Pirie [oh my!] for (working title) Thirsts. (Judge: Neil Besner)
The deadline for manuscripts is in January. The announcement is in early March and the book is released in mid-November. It is open to an emerging Canadian writer, defined as a writer who has published two books or less. The winner receives a trade paperback contract with Snare Books which will include the publication of the manuscript and a $500 honourarium.
The prize is named after Robert Kroetsch (born 1927). He’s a Canadian novelist, poet, and non-fiction writer. He’s been studied in literary criticism since the 80s. In 2004 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.
He’s known as a Prairie poet. You might know him thru a couple of his more famous poetry collections: Seed Catalogue (1977) and The Sad Phoenician (1979). He taught for many years at the University of Manitoba. He’s been called the father of Canadian postmodernism.
He’s a sort of father figure in Canadian literature, well-loved and a sweet man. I’ve had the chance to see him read at the Post Modern Conference. btw, Robert Stacey released a 440 page book in October as a results from those symposiums: RE: Reading the Postmodern: Canadian Literature and Criticism after Modernism (University of Ottawa Press, 2010).

KaDo is an Ottawa haiku group. It’s been going for 11 years. We meet once per season at different sites. This time it was at Stepping Stones Gallery and Camellia Teas of Ottawa.

Some raked stone in the Tea room which groups reserve for events, retreats, or to take brushwork classes at.

Rebecca Lyn Cragg (of the tea room) and TA Carter are pictured looking at Asian handicrafts.

Some of the group workshopping haiku, discussing nuances, refinements and variations of form and new publications published or discovered. Including new ones as Mike Montreuil’s the neighbours are talking: haibun.

This time there was also a bonus discussion on what will happen when KaDo does VERSeFest on the 13th. You might want to also read: Versefest: Five Reasons It Will Change The Way You Think About Poetry

Snare books announced the shortlist today. We are:

– Jason Christie on his book Canada Post
– Victor Enns‘ book Lucky Man
– Christine McNair at ditch,
– Amanda Earl at BookThug & Sandra Ridley‘s book recommended
– Kevin Spenst at ditch,
– Shannon Maguire at ditch,
– Leah Laxdal in Descant
– Pearl Pirie‘s book been shed bore
– Jeremy Stewart at ditch,
– Kristian Enright‘s thesis
– Eleni Zisimatos in Quebec Poetry
– Kathy Mac‘s book The Hundefraulein Papers

4 of us are from our (since dissolved) writer’s group, Ampers&s which published two chapbooks. Cool.
They final announcement comes tomorrow…

We can announce now. I am short-listed for the Robert Kroetsch Award

happening Saturday, June 25, 2011 in room 203 of the Jack Purcell Community Centre (on Elgin, at 320 Jack Purcell Lane).
General info:
the ottawa small press book fair
noon to 5pm (opens at 11:00 for exhibitors)
admission free to the public.
$20 for exhibitors, full tables$10 for half-tables (payable to rob mclennan, c/o 858 Somerset St W, main floor, Ottawa Ontario K1R 6R7; send by June 15 if you would like to appear in the exhibitor catalogue.
for information on this or other small press book fairs across Canada, be sure to check out the Small press book fair blog