2023 Poetry Contest
Van Isle Poetry Collective Poetry Contest
Submit an original, unpublished poem up to 600 words in length. There is no minimum word requirement or theme. Entries should be in Times New Roman 12 point font, single-spaced.
The contest is open to residents of Vancouver Island, and the Gulf Islands.
The Van Isle Poetry Collective Poetry Contest opens April 1st 2023 and Closes May 31st 2023
​
Prizes: $250.00 first prize, $100.00 second, and $50.00 third
Winners will be published with a full page colour bio and featured on our website.
Runners up will be published in our Summer 2023 edition.
​
Entry fee: $20 for the 1st poem, $5 for each additional entry.
​
Entries will be received via Google Forms & entry fees can be sent via etransfer to vanislepoetrycollective@gmail.com or by cheque payable to April Hilland (memo: Poetry Contest) can be mailed to Van Isle Poetry Collective, 431 Walton Heath Place, Nanaimo, BC, V9T4M1.
If you do not have a Gmail account, you can download this form and enter via email.
JUDGES
KAMAL PARMAR- GUEST JUDGE
Kamal Parmar is the current Poet Laureate for Nanaimo. Her work has been published in the UK, India, and in a number of Canadian literary journals and magazines. Her books of creative non-fiction and poetry include 'Filigree and Flint' (1997), 'Fleeting Shadows' (2010), 'In the Rising Mist' (2013), 'Letters to a Son and a Daughter' ( 2019), 'Still Waters' (2020) and her most recent book of poetry 'Just Passing By' (Silver Bow Publishing, 2022). She is currently, an active Board member of the Federation of BC Writers.
DEREK R. SWALLOW
Derek R. Swallow is a poet and fictionist whose works appear in literary journals in Canada and the UK. His first collection of poems, "Photo Fuel: The Poetry of Pictures," was published in 2020. He is currently working on a second collection.
APRIL HILLAND
April Hilland, senior editor of the Van Isle Poetry Collective is excited to judge the Collective's first poetry contest. As an author, poet, and teacher-librarian she is very taken with the written word and can't wait to enjoy all the submissions.