Poetry In Voice is proud to announce the 2013 champions

Toronto, ON Poetry In Voice/Les voix de la poésie is proud to announce the winners of its third annual poetry recitation competition, held last night at Toronto’s Isabel Bader Theatre. In the inaugural country-wide competition, students competed for $25,000 in prizes and school stipends.

The nine student winners are:

English Prize Stream

Kyla Kane from Vancouver Technical Secondary School in Vancouver, British Columbia, won the first prize of $5,000, and $1,000 for her school library (with $500 reserved for the purchase of poetry books) for the best combined score of three recitations in English.


Kyla Kane, 18, Vancouver Technical Secondary School, Vancouver, BC
Photo Credit Sonia Recchia 

Dede Akolo from Little Flower Academy in Vancouver, British Columbia, won the second prize of $1,000, and $500 for her school library for the purchase of poetry books.

Caitlin Botros from Father James Whelihan in Calgary, Alberta, won the third prize of $500, and $250 for her school library for the purchase of poetry books.

French Prize Stream

Sarah Kordlouie from Villa Sainte-Marcelline in Westmount, Quebec won the first prize of $5,000, and $1,000 for her school library (with $500 reserved for the purchase of poetry books) for the best combined score of three recitations in French.

Sarah Kordlouie,15, Villa Sainte-Marcelline, Westmount, QC
Photo Credit Sonia Recchia

Natasha Jadavji from Crofton House School, Vancouver, British Columbia, won the second prize of $1,000, and $500 for her school library for the purchase of poetry books.

Anne Leblanc from Collège Lionel-Groulx in Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec, won the third prize of $500, and $250 for her school library for the purchase of poetry books.

Bilingual Prize Stream

Khalil Mair from Toronto French School in Toronto, Ontario, won the first prize of $5,000, and $1,000 for his school library (with $500 reserved for the purchase of poetry books) for the best combined score of one poem in English and one poem in French.
 


Khalil Mair,15, Toronto French School, Toronto, ON
Photo Credit Sonia Recchia
 

Aisha Nafees from Westmount High School in Westmount, Quebec, won the second prize of $1,000, and $500 for her school library for the purchase of poetry books.

Elisabeth Sohier-Poirier from Lycée français de Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, won the third prize of $500, and $250 for his/her school library for the purchase of poetry books.

During the two-day National Finals, students were also treated to an exclusive Q-and-A session with Margaret Atwood, and an educational tour at the Art Gallery of Ontario created by Damian Rogers. The students also participated in poetry workshops. The goal was to create a collegial and memorable experience for the students and their chaperones, who had travelled from across Canada to compete in the National Finals.

Margaret Atwood and Scott Griffin (centre) with the 39 competitors and teachers and students
at the Art Gallery of Ontario 

Many of Toronto’s best poets and artists were present at the Isabel Bader Theatre and the reception at the Windsor Arms Hotel including Margaret Atwood, poet Roo BorsonGreg Keelor of Blue Rodeo and judges including Fiona Reid and Pierre Nepveu.


Top row: (from L to R) Scott Griffin, judges Lynn Crosbie, Kevin Connolly, Fiona Reid, Herménégilde Chiasson, Andrée Lacelle, Pierre Nepveu and Krystyne Griffin
Bottom row: Finalists Anne Leblanc from Sainte-Thérèse, QC, Natasha Jadavji from Vancouver, BC, Sarah Kordlouie from Westmount, QC, Kyla Kane from Vancouver, BC, Khalil Mair from Toronto, ON, Caitlin Botros from Calgary, AB, Elisabeth Sohier-Poirier from Toronto, ON, and Dede Akolo from Vancouver, BC.


I am impressed by the inspiring group of students and teachers who came together for this two-day experience, in honour of poetry. This is the first year Poetry In Voice has included students from provinces across Canada and we are so pleased with the participation and dedication this program has garnered from coast to coast,” said Scott Griffin, founder of Poetry In Voice and The Griffin Trust For Excellence In Poetry.

Poetry In Voice aims to promote poetry in the classroom and the community. This year’s contest included 39 participants from secondary schools and Collèges d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEPs) across Canada. Participants were challenged to memorize and recite poems in English or French from a set anthology of classic and contemporary poems. Last night's event was the final contest; all of the finalists had already won their classroom, school and regional contests. Each year, Poetry In Voice awards more than $75,000 in prizes, travel for finalists and library resources.

About Poetry In Voice:
Poetry In Voice is a national recitation competition, reaching across Canada in English and French, for secondary school and Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) students. It serves to engage students in an appreciation of the beauty of language through poetry, while at the same time instilling a sense of confidence through the art of public speaking.

Start here: