2013 Senior National Winners

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.

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.

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.

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 Borson, Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo and judges including Fiona Reid and Pierre Nepveu.