Annually, the Resort Municipality of Whistler invites writers to submit original, unpublished poems for the Annually the Resort Municipality of Whistler invites writers to submit original, unpublished poems for the Poet’s Pause poetry competition.
The poems are displayed at the two Poet’s Pause sculpture sites in Alta Lake Park: the large metal chimes art piece titled “Lost in Sound” at the north part of the park and the giant Adirondack chairs titled “Lakeside Couple” at the south end of the park. The poems are inspired by the sculpture sites or by Whistler.
Poet’s Pause is part of a public art concept created by the late Joan Baron, an artist who developed the two Alta Lake Park sculpture sites with the intention of inspiring creativity.
2026 Poet’s Pause Poetry Competition
The 2026 Poet’s Pause Poetry Competition is now closed. Selected poets will be notified on Thursday, April 2nd.
The two winning selections will each receive a prize of $250 and authors will be invited to read their work during a Council meeting in April as part of National Poetry Month. Both of the winning poems will also be displayed at the Poet’s Pause sculpture sites in Alta Lake Park: one at the large metal chimes titled “Lost in Sound” located in the north part of the park, and the other at the giant Adirondack chairs titled “Lakeside Couple” in the south end of the park.
Previous winners
