When聽Clara Costello, U3 Physics and English Major took ENGL 311: Poetics聽during聽the Fall 2023 semester with Dr. Carmen Mathes, she聽not only聽discovered聽a聽love聽for聽discussing and聽analysing聽poems, but also found an opportunity to continue participating in lively conversations with poetry lovers by volunteering for the Montreal International Poetry Prize聽(MIPP).聽
鈥淚 confess that I initially felt anxious about joining, since members of the MIPP clearly seemed to have greater聽expertise聽in poetry than I did, considering that I聽spend聽much of my time聽in聽Physics courses,鈥� says Clara. 鈥淢y anxiety was misplaced, however, as the MIPP team instantly made me feel welcome and valued, creating a community of thoughtful learning and the free exchange of ideas. The MIPP has reinforced my view that poetry is for everyone.鈥澛犅�
The Montreal聽International Poetry Prize,聽a biennial聽award聽of $20,000 CAD聽for an original English-language poem, is聽administered by a committee of 成人VR视频 professors,聽staff,聽and students, under the direction of聽Dr. Carmen Mathes, Associate Professor in the Department of English.听听
Although the Prize was founded in Montreal by Asa Boxer, a 成人VR视频 alum, it has been recognized and lauded for its truly international character.聽Since its foundation, the Prize has featured prominent judges from the poetry world such as Andrew Motion, former Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, Lorna Goodison and Don Patterson, both recipients of the Queen鈥檚 Gold Medal for Poetry, and the late Eavan Boland. This the prize will be judged by Pulitzer Prize winning Mojave poet Natalie Diaz and features an international jury of聽award-winning聽poets from Australia, South Africa, Northern聽Ireland聽and Hawai鈥檌.聽
MA student聽Izzi Holmes聽began volunteering for the Montreal prize during the聽second year of her undergraduate degree, after also enrolling in ENGL 311, and now serves as the Prize鈥檚 events manager.听听
鈥淚鈥檓聽very glad聽to have had the chance to stay involved over the last few years in various capacities,聽whether that聽be聽with social media or events,鈥� says Izzi.聽鈥淪omething I value about the Montreal Prize is that it opens doors for so many people 鈥� of course for the poet who wins the $20,000 prize, but also for the writers who get their work published in the anthology, as well as the students like me who get to learn new skills by being in the Montreal Prize鈥檚 orbit.鈥澛�
The Montreal Poetry Prize Anthology is published聽by聽V茅hicule Press, a small independent press based in Montr茅al, and features sixty-five poems that were selected by that year鈥檚 committee of jurors, as well as the prize year鈥檚 winning poem.听听
"I look forward to reading聽The Montreal Poetry Prize Anthology," says Clara. "I have loved discovering new poets through the MIPP, and I am always eager for recommended poems to read, reflect on, and bring into my life.聽I鈥檝e聽learned that I can never know where a poem will take me."聽
The Prize has been administered through the Department of English since 2019, and since then the 成人VR视频 undergraduate and graduate students who have volunteered聽to steer the Prize through its biennial run have聽contributed to its growth and its outreach efforts.聽The Prize鈥檚 outreach activities include聽聽of published poetry works, and the Fluid Vessels online speaker series, which was聽established聽in 2022 by PhD Candidate Martin聽Breul, the Prize鈥檚 current Operations Manager.聽The series聽spotlights the work of the Prize鈥檚 jury members, as well as other emerging poets, with the aim of connecting poets and poetry lovers from across the world.听听
鈥淓ach聽winter, I look forward to聽,鈥� says Izzi. 鈥淪ince these readings take place online, we get to hear a number of different poets from across the globe read their work aloud, respond to one another, and engage with the audience in real time, no matter where they are in the world, which is so special.鈥澛�
For Clara and Izzi, volunteering for the Prize has been an important and transformative part of their respective journeys at 成人VR视频.聽Since volunteering for the Prize, Izzi has been involved as one of the Editors-in-Chief of 成人VR视频鈥檚 Scrivener Creative Review.听听
鈥淲orking with the聽Montreal Prize聽not only聽instilled in me a passion for contemporary poetry, but also a community, at 成人VR视频 and otherwise, to share it with, both of which have certainly shaped my academic and professional trajectory,鈥� says Izzi.聽鈥淲hat鈥� I have learned about the contemporary literary landscape as well as the inner workings and operations of an arts nonprofit from being involved with the Montreal Prize has also equipped me with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to pursue adjacent literary endeavors of my own, like reviving 成人VR视频鈥檚 oldest literary magazine,聽.鈥澛犅�
Although Clara initially began her journey with the MIPP with some聽reluctance, she now sees how the 鈥渟heer joy of reading and discussing poetry鈥� has shaped her perspective as a science and literature student.听听
鈥淭he Prize has brought a fresh and lively new perspective to the聽rigours聽of my degree requirements by reminding me of the sheer joy of reading and discussing poetry and lifting me out of the classroom setting,鈥� says Clara. 鈥淏eing involved with the MIPP has also given me a valuable window into Montr茅al鈥檚 literary sphere. Promoting the Prize at Literary Oktoberfest this past fall gave me a glimpse of Montr茅al鈥檚 poetry and publishing scene and contributing to MIPP meetings gave me firsthand experience with how a literary community and organization comes together and supports its goals and its members.鈥澛犅�
In light of April's National Poetry Month, we asked Clara and Izzi to share some poetry recommendations with our readers. Here are their recommendations:
Izzi: "In the Montreal Prize spirit,聽I鈥檇聽recommend聽Medrie聽Purdham鈥檚 2021 collection聽Little聽Housewolf, which I聽聽earlier this year. Purdham served as a juror in 2022, and two of her poems were shortlisted in 2024, including 鈥�,鈥� which is now one of my all-time聽favourites. Some other poems I return to often include 鈥溾�� and 鈥溾�� by Margaret Atwood, Kay Ryan鈥檚 鈥�,鈥� Elizabeth Bishop鈥檚 鈥�,鈥� Gertrude Stein鈥檚 鈥�,鈥� Derek Webster鈥檚 鈥�,鈥� Karen Solie鈥檚 鈥�,鈥� and recently, Billy-Ray Belcourt鈥檚 鈥淪entimentality.鈥澛�
Clara: "I was not an avid reader of poetry beyond the classroom context before joining the MIPP. Working with the MIPP has allowed me to discover wonderful poems such as Sachiko Murakami鈥檚 鈥淲e Have聽A聽Problem鈥� and 鈥淵ou Think It Safe to Talk About the Weather,鈥� Sheryda Warrener鈥檚 鈥�,鈥� and Sin茅ad Morrissey鈥檚 鈥�,鈥� which I highly recommend."聽
Submissions for the 2026 Montreal International Poetry Prize are open until May 15, 2026. Submit your poem of forty or fewer lines聽.听听
For news and updates聽regarding聽the Montreal International Poetry Prize make sure to follow them on Instagram @montrealprize聽