Trinidad-born poet
is on the shortlist for this year’s Griffin Trust For Excellence in Poetry Prize.
There are seven books shortlisted in two categories for the Griffin Poetry Prize – International poetry and Canadian poetry. The two winners, to be announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday, June 6, will each be awarded $65,000 (plus a $10,000 each appearance fee).
The Canadian category has three nominees including 66-year old Dionne Brand, a past winner of both a Governor-General’s Award and the 2011 Griffin Poetry Prize and a former poet laureate of Toronto. She was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2017 for her contributions to Canadian literature and poetry, and for raising awareness of issues related to gender, race and intercultural experiences. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Toronto.
Also on the Canadian shortlist is British Columbia’s Eve Joseph, and Waterloo’s Sarah Tolmie, an associate professor of English at the University of Waterloo.