![Margaret Atwood spoke to students and teachers about poetry and writing.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1163.jpg)
Margaret Atwood spoke to students and teachers about poetry and writing.
![Damian Rogers, Creative Director, hosted the conversation.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1094.jpg)
Damian Rogers, Creative Director, hosted the conversation.
![Dena Tabyanian, Sarah Kordlouie, Natasha Jadavji, and Arrthy Thayaparan listening to Margaret Atwood.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1112.jpg)
Dena Tabyanian, Sarah Kordlouie, Natasha Jadavji, and Arrthy Thayaparan listening to Margaret Atwood.
![“Poetry,” said Margaret Atwood, “is life condensed.”](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1143.jpg)
“Poetry,” said Margaret Atwood, “is life condensed.”
![National Finalists and their chaperones with Margaret Atwood, Scott Griffin, and Damian Rogers.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1206.jpg)
National Finalists and their chaperones with Margaret Atwood, Scott Griffin, and Damian Rogers.
![The nine finalists before the last round of the contest on May 15, 2013. (L. to r.): Anne Leblanc, Natasha Jadavji, Sarah Kordlouie, Kyla Kane, Khalil Mair, Caitlin Botros, Elisabeth Sohier-Poirier, Aisha Nafees, and Dede Akolo.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1289.jpg)
The nine finalists before the last round of the contest on May 15, 2013. (L. to r.): Anne Leblanc, Natasha Jadavji, Sarah Kordlouie, Kyla Kane, Khalil Mair, Caitlin Botros, Elisabeth Sohier-Poirier, Aisha Nafees, and Dede Akolo.
![The audience at the Isabel Bader theatre on the night of May 15, 2013.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1399.jpg)
The audience at the Isabel Bader theatre on the night of May 15, 2013.
![Judges Pierre Nepveu and Herménégilde Chiasson chat before the show.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1582.jpg)
Judges Pierre Nepveu and Herménégilde Chiasson chat before the show.
![Johanne Blais, CBC C’est la vie's Word Lady, hosted a sparkling evening in English and French.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1408.jpg)
Johanne Blais, CBC C’est la vie's Word Lady, hosted a sparkling evening in English and French.
![Andrée Lacelle, poet and judge at the National Finals.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1374.jpg)
Andrée Lacelle, poet and judge at the National Finals.
![Dede Akolo from Little Flower Academy, Vancouver, BC.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1566.jpg)
Dede Akolo from Little Flower Academy, Vancouver, BC.
![Kyla Kane from Vancouver Technical Secondary School, Vancouver, BC.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1591.jpg)
Kyla Kane from Vancouver Technical Secondary School, Vancouver, BC.
![Caitlin Botros from Father James Whelihan School, Calgary, AB.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1609.jpg)
Caitlin Botros from Father James Whelihan School, Calgary, AB.
![National Finals judges (l. to r.) Andrée Lacelle, Kevin Connolly, Lynn Crosbie, and Fiona Reid.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1613.jpg)
National Finals judges (l. to r.) Andrée Lacelle, Kevin Connolly, Lynn Crosbie, and Fiona Reid.
![Anne Leblanc from Collège Lionel-Groulx, Sainte-Thérèse, QC.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1662.jpg)
Anne Leblanc from Collège Lionel-Groulx, Sainte-Thérèse, QC.
![Natasha Jadavji from Crofton House School, Vancouver, BC.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1682.jpg)
Natasha Jadavji from Crofton House School, Vancouver, BC.
![Sarah Kordlouie from Villa Sainte-Marcelline, Westmount, QC.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1687.jpg)
Sarah Kordlouie from Villa Sainte-Marcelline, Westmount, QC.
![National Finals judges (l. to r.) Herménégilde Chiasson, Andrée Lacelle, and Kevin Connolly.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1510.jpg)
National Finals judges (l. to r.) Herménégilde Chiasson, Andrée Lacelle, and Kevin Connolly.
![Khalil Mair from Toronto French School, Toronto, ON.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1720.jpg)
Khalil Mair from Toronto French School, Toronto, ON.
![Elisabeth Sohier-Poirier from Lycée Français de Toronto, Toronto, ON.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1737.jpg)
Elisabeth Sohier-Poirier from Lycée Français de Toronto, Toronto, ON.
![Some National Finalists on stage. (From l. to r.) Dena Tabyanian, Surat Jalalov, Shannon Couillard, Victor Lewis, and Ben Budlong.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1774.jpg)
Some National Finalists on stage. (From l. to r.) Dena Tabyanian, Surat Jalalov, Shannon Couillard, Victor Lewis, and Ben Budlong.
![Khalil Mair makes a point.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1831.jpg)
Khalil Mair makes a point.
![Johanne Blais congratulates Sarah Kordlouie.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1881.jpg)
Johanne Blais congratulates Sarah Kordlouie.
![Some National Finalists on stage. (From l. to r.) Pearl Zaki, Peirce Dickson, Colin Fehr, and Samantha Starkey.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1914.jpg)
Some National Finalists on stage. (From l. to r.) Pearl Zaki, Peirce Dickson, Colin Fehr, and Samantha Starkey.
![Johanne Blais congratulates Caitlin Botros.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1925.jpg)
Johanne Blais congratulates Caitlin Botros.
![The 39 National Finalists receive a well-deserved standing ovation in the company of Scott Griffin and Johanne Blais.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_1984.jpg)
The 39 National Finalists receive a well-deserved standing ovation in the company of Scott Griffin and Johanne Blais.
![From left to right: Anne Leblanc, Natasha Jadavji, Sarah Kordlouie, Kyla Kane, Scott Griffin, Khalil Mair, Caitlin Botros, Krystyne Griffin, Elisabeth Sohier-Poirier, and Dede Akolo.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_2002.jpg)
From left to right: Anne Leblanc, Natasha Jadavji, Sarah Kordlouie, Kyla Kane, Scott Griffin, Khalil Mair, Caitlin Botros, Krystyne Griffin, Elisabeth Sohier-Poirier, and Dede Akolo.
![Krystyne Griffin, Khalil Mair, Margaret Atwood, and Scott Griffin at the party after the show.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_2043.jpg)
Krystyne Griffin, Khalil Mair, Margaret Atwood, and Scott Griffin at the party after the show.
![Damian Rogers, Greg Keelor, and Ryan Ruddick.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_2103.jpg)
Damian Rogers, Greg Keelor, and Ryan Ruddick.
![Anne Leblanc and Fiona Reid.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_2109.jpg)
Anne Leblanc and Fiona Reid.
![Khalil Mair and Dede Akolo: “Poetry In Voice is way cooler than Model UN.”](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_2163.jpg)
Khalil Mair and Dede Akolo: “Poetry In Voice is way cooler than Model UN.”
![Sarah Pinder, Kevin Connolly, and Roo Borson.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_2110.jpg)
Sarah Pinder, Kevin Connolly, and Roo Borson.
![Scott Griffin congratulates Maxine Owers and Dena Tabyanian.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_2171.jpg)
Scott Griffin congratulates Maxine Owers and Dena Tabyanian.
![Surat Jalalov, Deborah James, Scott Griffin, Alexandra McGowan, and Sam Downs.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_2200.jpg)
Surat Jalalov, Deborah James, Scott Griffin, Alexandra McGowan, and Sam Downs.
![Alexandra McGowan and friends.](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_2083.jpg)
Alexandra McGowan and friends.
![Congratulations to all of our National Finalists. You made the Finals such fun!](https://poetryinvoice.ca/sites/default/files/images/2012-national-finals/SPR_2197.jpg)
Congratulations to all of our National Finalists. You made the Finals such fun!