Poets Standing on Guard for WE
It’s an absurd time to be alive.
The pumpkin-skinned president of our nation’s closest ally is mounting a war on our economy (At the expense of his own citizens. That’s how tariffs work, bud).
He’s spouting rhetoric about annexing The Great White North into the 51st state (But he’s not serious, is he? Is he???).
It’s a pivotal moment in Canada’s modern history, spurring national pride in rallies and boos during the US national anthem, the likes of which we haven’t seen since Molson’s “I am Canadian” commercial ran in the 90’s (Also, not a bad spoken word piece which was actually updated this year). Across the country, people are answering the call to stand on guard for who and what is Canadian, and to respond to Trump and his cronies with a polite but resounding, BACK OFF!!! (Sorry, not sorry.)
Meanwhile, questions are being raised on whether the nation’s posturing is warranted, considering our scarred, living history of colonialism, and whether diverse and marginalized communities are represented. Maybe the national identity isn’t so quintessential as it once was. Because Canada is supposed to be in all of us command, eh?
In March, award-winning poet from Stratford, Ontario, Heidi Sander launched the national CANADA IS OUR POEM PRIZE which invites poets to submit work on what Canada means to YOU – as a place, an idea, viewed from inside or out; for better or worse; from nostalgic or fresh experiences as a newcomer; as a celebration or critique; or whatever rings true from your place in the here and now. Those who enter their poems have the chance to get published in an anthology, and to win a $1000 prize!
And that’s why we’re partnering with Heidi to bring you a special poetry slam competition at the Handsome Daughter on May 27th. All are encouraged to enter in any form or style; however, we’ll be helping Heidi to select one poem at our slam to represent our own community. This is an opportunity to bare the cultural soul of what it means to be Canada - be it as raw, real, hopeful or despairing, wonderous, awe-full and everything in between - we want to hear it! On May 27th, we’re throwing a slam whose winner will be guaranteed publication in the anthology, and free entry into the prize!
We’ll be opening sign ups to 12 POETS for a ONE ROUND competition. That means participants will need to prepare ONE POEM to share, on the theme of Canada Is Our Poem. Our regular slam rules apply, and, as usual, 5 judges will be scoring poems from 0-10. However, this time, only 3 of the judges will be selected from the audience, leaving the remaining 2 to be specially appointed CONTENT JUDGES. Their scores will be given extra weight as they will be also looking for the poems to follow the theme.
Stay tuned to our Instagram and website for links to grab your tickets and sign up. 10 spots will be available in advance and 2 will be available at the door. Doors/sign up opens at 6PM, show starts at 7. Admission is $10. Handsome Daughter. May 27th.
BUT HOLD UP! THAT’S NOT ALL!
We’ll ALSO be hosting a short OPEN MIC for anyone who wants to share poems on any topic or theme. 5 SPOTS will be open, with a 3 MINUTE time limit for each reader. Sign up for this will occur at the door - get there at 6PM SHARP to guarantee your spot!
AND we’re featuring the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation’s 2025 VOICES FOR CHANGE youth spoken word team! They’ll be performing their poem, FIGHT FOR HOME, which debuted online and on stage at the Manitoba Legislature during International Development Week, in front of a crowd of municipal and provincial officials which included our own esteemed premier, Wab Kinew!
Partnering with the Resilia Community Wellness Centre (formerly Aurora Family Therapy Centre) for a special edition of the annual program, high school students Ali, Linnaya, Tetiana, and Merek met with spoken word poet and facilitator Steve Locke to learn the craft and create, rehearse, and professionally film a poem based on a global sustainability issue. FIGHT FOR HOME hits close to home and explores displacement in Canada through refugee and Indigenous realities with impactful verse drawn from lived experience.
Hey, that actually fits with the CANADA IS OUR POEM theme. Bonus!
