Liz Howard Wins 2016 Griffin Poetry Prize!

"This is a spectacular occasion. I feel like I'm having an out-of-body experience," said Liz Howard last night. It's thrilling news for a deserving poet! Howard, author of Infinite Citizen of the Shrinking Tent (McClelland & Stewart), has in fact won the 2016 Griffin Poetry Prize. Both Howard and Norman Dubie, who won the International Prize, are bringing home C$65,000, considered the world's largest award for a first-edition single book of poetry in English.

The awards ceremony, attended by some 325 invited guests, was held last night in Toronto. Lauren La Rose reported on the event for The Canadian Press:

Howard said her winning collection has been shaped by her entire life, growing up in a small, isolated town, estranged from her First Nations father, and not fully knowledgeable about her identity. She is biracial and of Anishinaabe heritage.

Howard said her poetry also reflects moving to the city, studying science, and being in an urban environment, while also trying to educate herself about First Nations cosmology and philosophy.

American judge Tracy K. Smith praised Howard for her "bold" debut collection. Smith added that Howard's work assured her of poetry's ability to "have at the real...the messy (and) befuddling matter of being and staying human."

[...]

Michael Wiegers, [Norman] Dubie's publisher and editor, accepted the award on behalf of the ailing writer who did not attend the ceremony.

Wiegers noted that Dubie - who has been writing for about a half-century - actually had taken a 10-year "vow of silence" where he took a break from the craft.

"This award is just such an affirmation of his work and being recognized again," Wiegers said in an interview following the ceremony.

"It's almost like he's starting anew," he added. "(In) each of his collections I think he has a very distinctive voice, but in this case... it's completely unpredictable.

Our congratulations to the winners! For more on Howard, check out this recent interview.