The call for submissions has now closed. Stay tuned for winning poem announcement soon.
RMOW launches annual poetry competition for 16th year
February 15, 2024: Whistler, B.C. – Seasoned and amateur writers of all ages are once again invited to contribute to public art in Whistler through the Poet’s Pause Poetry Competition, with submissions welcome from Thursday, February 15.
The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) invites poets to submit original, unpublished works for the annual competition, which has been running since 2009. The two winning poems will 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.
“This public art, and the winning poetry submissions that are added annually, is such a delightful addition to Whistler,” said Mayor Jack Crompton. “Over the years we’ve received submissions from a wide variety of poets, from school children to accomplished wordsmiths. And while this competition really engages our local creatives, we’ve also received submissions from across Canada, and even further afield. I think this speaks to the special place Whistler holds in so many people’s hearts.”
The two winning poets will each receive a prize of C$250 and will have their work read at a Council Meeting in April as part of National Poetry Month.
Last year, Georgia Butler won with her poem “Pause, Hear, Listen, Love” while Jessica Beth Brown was awarded for her submission “Companion Planting.” Winning poems from past years can be found at whistler.ca/poetrycompetition.
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.
The public can submit poems for one or both display sites. Poems should respond to the themes of the two sculpture sites: the theme for the large metal chimes is “Listening,” and the theme for the giant Adirondack chairs is “Togetherness.” Poems can be of any type and format but must be no longer than 240 words.
The deadline for submissions is Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 3 p.m. PDT.
To submit a poem, email communications@whistler.ca.
Full details are available at whistler.ca/poetrycompetition.
