Dressing room jitters; (l. to r.) Josh Cape, Eve Mangin, Jeff Hunt, Liana Cusmano, Sydney Gilchrist, Daniela Galdamez, and Alexander Gagliano.
Founder Scott Griffin greets judges before the Grand Finals.
MC Albert Schultz and English Performance Judge Dennis Lee share a word.
French Performance Judges (l. to r.) Gaston Bellemare, Nicole Brossard, and Pierre Nepveu.
The Leland Whitty Trio played jazz between recitations, with Leland Whitty on saxophone, Evan Cartwright on drums, and Gram Whitty on bass.
Albert Schultz hosted the evening with his usual humour and flair.
The nine finalists joined Albert Schultz on stage before the competition. (L. to r.) Liana Cusmano, Alexander Gagliano, Jeff Hunt, Josh Cape, Mary Jane Egan, Sidney Gilchrist, Sadie Anne Hirschfield, Eve Mangin, and Daniela Galdamez.
The judges were seated among the audience. (L. to r.) John Degen, Claudette Jaiko, Gaston Bellemare, Nicole Brossard, Karen Solie, Dionne Brand, and Dennis Lee.
Pierre Nepveu, editor of the anthology in French and French Performance Judge, said a few words at the start of the evening.
Eve Mangin, from Collège Lionel-Groulx, Québec, recites Shakespeare’s “Sonnet XXIX”.
Sadie Anne Hirschfield, from Etobicoke School of the Arts, Ontario, recites “Danse Russe” by William Carlos Williams.
Mary Jane Egan, from Mary, Mother of God School, Ontario, recites “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman.
Josh Cape, from Selwyn House School, Quebec, recites “Give All to Love” by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Liana Cusmano, from Vincent Massey Collegiate, Quebec, recites “Au bout du quai...” by Andrée Lacelle.
Daniela Galdamez, from Bayridge Secondary School, Ontario, recites “The Men That Don’t Fit In” by Robert W. Service.
Jeff Hunt, from St. John’s-Kilmarnock School, Ontario, recites “A Glass Tube Ecstasy” by Jerome Rothenberg.
Sydney Gilchrist, from London Secondary School, Ontario, recites “Plenty” by Kevin Connolly.
Alexander Gagliano, from Upper Canada College, recites “The Flea” by John Donne.
The judges applaud. (L. to r.) John Degen, Claudette Jaiko, Gaston Bellemare, Nicole Brossard, and Pierre Nepveu.
Krystyne Griffin took the stage to describe how the contest would grow in 2013.
Scott Griffin congratulates 3rd-place winner Jeff Hunt from St. John’s-Kilmarnock School.
Scott Griffin congratulates 2nd-place winner Sydney Gilchrist from London Central Secondary School.
Scott Griffin congratulates 2012 Grand Finals Champion Alexander Gagliano from Upper Canada College, between Josh Cape and Daniela Galdamez.
Scott Griffin congratulating all of the finalists (from l. to r.) Liana Cusmano, Mary Jane Egan, Jeff Hunt, Sydney Gilchrist, Eve Mangin, Sadie Anne Hirschfield, Josh Cape, Alexander Gagliano, and Daniela Galdamez.
The three 2012 Poetry In Voice Grand Finals Champions (l. to r.) Jeff Hunt, Sydney Gilchrist, and Alexander Gagliano.
The Grand Finals judges (l. to r.) John Degen, Dionne Brand, Claudette Jaiko, Karen Solie, Nicole Brossard, Pierre Nepveu, Dennis Lee, and Gaston Bellemare.
Catherine Bush and Dionne Brand.
Jeff Hunt with his parents.
Albert Schultz and Nyla Matuk.
Scott Griffin and the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson.
Krystyne Griffin, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson and Martha Butterfield.
Gaston Bellemare and Scott Griffin.
Nicole Brossard, Pierre Nepveu, and Simone Sauren.
Creative Director Damian Rogers and Greg Keelor.