The Griffin Poetry Prize is a Canadian poetry award. It was founded in 2000 by businessman and philanthropist Scott Griffin. As of 2023, the prize is worth CAD130,000, making it the world's largest international prize for a single book of poetry written in, or translated into English.
Before 2022, two separate awards went to one Canadian and one international poet who writes in the English language. In 2022, the two awards were consolidated into a single international prize of CAD130,000. Shortlisted poets are awarded CAD10,000, and a Lifetime Recognition Award comes with an award of CAD25,000.
Concurrently with the merger, the Griffin Poetry Prize also introduced a juried Canadian First Book Prize to honor the year's best debut book by a Canadian poet.Cassandra Drudi, "Emily Riddle wins inaugural $10K Griffin Canadian First Book Prize" . Quill & Quire, May 17, 2023.
History In April 2000, Scott Griffin started the Griffin Trust to raise public awareness of the crucial role poetry plays in society's cultural life. Griffin served as its chairman, with board of trustees Margaret Atwood, Robert Hass, Michael Ondaatje, Robin Robertson, and David Young. In June 2004, Carolyn Forché joined the board. New trustees have been named over the years: in 2014, Karen Solie, Colm Tóibín, and Mark Doty; in 2016, Jo Shapcott and Marek Kazmierski; in 2018, Ian Williams; and in 2020, Sarah Howe. Margaret Atwood, Robert Hass, Michael Ondaatje, Robin Robertson, Jo Shapcott and Colm Tóibín have assumed the role of trustees emeriti.
The Trust created the Griffin Poetry Prize with the aim of helping to introduce contemporary collections of poetry to the public's imagination. Eligible collections of poetry must have been published between January 1 and December 31 of the prior year. Submissions must come from publishers only. Originally, the award was two annual prizes of CAD$40,000 each for collections of poetry published in English during the preceding year. One prize was to go to a living Canadian poet, the other to a living poet from any country, which could include Canada as well.
Among the trustees' responsibilities is to select each year's judges, who select a shortlist announced in April, National Poetry Month. The shortlisted poets then gather for an evening of public readings in May or June; the following evening, the winners are announced and all the poets feted.
In 2010, the total amount of the annual prizes was doubled from CAD$100,000 to CAD$200,000 in recognition of the prize's tenth anniversary. The increased amount of CAD$200,000 was awarded as follows: CAD$10,000 to each of seven shortlisted poets—four international and three Canadian—for their participation in the shortlist readings. The two winners, announced the next evening at the Griffin Poetry Prize Awards, were given CAD$65,000 each, for a total of CAD$75,000 that included the CAD$10,000 awarded the previous evening.
Selections from the shortlisted works are gathered annually in The Griffin Poetry Prize Anthology, typically edited by one of that year's judges. In 2019, House of Anansi Press partnered with the National Network for Equitable Library Services (NNELS) to offer the anthology in print and digital Braille editions.
The Griffin Trust has championed other initiatives. In November 2010, Scott Griffin announced Poetry In Voice/Les voix de la poésie, a bilingual recitation contest for high school students across Canada. Other projects have included funding a statue in tribute to poet Al Purdy,Literary luminaries attend unveiling of statue of 'people's poet' Al Purdy (May 21, 2008) – The Canadian Press participation in international poetry festivals, and donations of poetry books to organizations such as the Correctional Service of Canada, the Scottish Poetry Library, a rebuilt Slave Lake Public Library (which was destroyed in a wildfire in 2011), and other libraries, schools, and colleges.
In 2022, Griffin Poetry Prize officials announced that the Canadian and international awards would be consolidated into a single award of CAD$130,000. Founder Scott Griffin said he originally believed that Canadian poets needed a separate category, but "now that a lot of Canadians have been recognized in the poetry world, we felt it was time they had to compete on the international stage with everybody else". The trust also announced a new prize: CAD$10,000 for a debut work of Canadian poetry. Critics from within Canadian poetry expressed concern about loss of opportunities "given the role the award played in securing grants and jobs". For instance, Alicia Elliot criticized the timing of the change, considering it happened "in the midst of a rather remarkable run for Black poets, Indigenous poets and poets of colour nominated for the Canadian portion" of the prize, and suggested the change implied that Canadian literature "is only relevant and worthwhile if it is being praised internationally."
In April 2023, Scott Griffin gave an endowment to the Writers' Trust of Canada to expand the prize package for what is now the Latner Griffin Writers' Trust Poetry Prize.Nicole Thompson, "Writers' Trust Poetry Prize more than doubles to $60K with Scott Griffin contribution" . Toronto Star, April 5, 2023.
Honorees and judges 2000s +Griffin Poetry Prize winners, finalists, and judges, 2001-2009YearCategoryPoetTitleResultRef.2001CanadaMen in the Off HoursWinnerNine Visits to the MythworldFinalistAnother GravityFinalistInternational and Heather McHugh (trans.)Glottal Stop: 101 Poems by Paul CelanWinner and Chana Kronfeld (trans.)Open Closed Open by Yehuda AmichaiFinalistSelected PoemsFinalistLearning HumanFinalist2002CanadaEunoiaWinnerSheep's Vigil by a Fervent PersonFinalistShort Haul EngineFinalistInternationalDisobedienceWinnerMaracaFinalistHomer: War MusicFinalistConscious and VerbalFinalist2003CanadaConcrete and Wild CarrotWinnerthirstyFinalistPlanet Earth: Poems Selected and NewFinalistInternationalMoy Sand and GravelWinnerMr And Mrs Scotland are Dead: Poems 1980–1994FinalistAmerican Sonnets: poemsFinalistSteal Away: selected and new poemsFinalist2004CanadaLoopWinnerNow You CareFinalistgo-go dancing for ElvisFinalistInternationalWinnerNotes From the Divided CountryFinalistFinalistFinalist2005CanadaShort Journey Upriver Toward OishidaWinnerChanging on the FlyFinalistCamberFinalistInternationalSelected Poems: 1963–2003WinnerOn the GroundFinalistCorpusFinalistFinalist2006CanadaNerve SquallWinnerFinalistLittle theatresFinalistInternationalBorn to Slow HorsesWinner (trans.)Ashes for Breakfast: Selected Poems fby Durs GrünbeinFinalistCompany of MothsFinalist (trans.) by Dunya MikhailFinalistLifetime RecognitionWinner2007CanadaStrike/SlipWinnerAirstream Land YachtFinalistOntological NecessitiesFinalistInternationalScar TissueWinnerTramp in FlamesFinalistSalvation BluesFinalistOoga-BoogaFinalist2008CanadaWinner"Another prize for B.C. poet Robin Blaser, and some advice" ,Vancouver Sun, June 6, 2008. and Erín Moure (trans.)Notebook of Roses and Civilization by Nicole BrossardFinalistWhy Are You So Sad? Selected Poems of David W. McFaddenFinalistInternationalNotes from the Air: Selected Later PoemsWinnerRipple Effect: New and Selected PoemsFinalist (trans.)The Complete Poetry: A Bilingual Edition by Cesar VallejoFinalistSelected Poems 1969–2005FinalistLifetime RecognitionWinner"Robin Blaser and Ko Un Win Griffin Poetry Prizes!" , University of California Press blog, June 5, 2008.2009CanadaWinnerRevolverFinalistCrabwise to the HoundsFinalistInternationalRising, Falling, HoveringWinnerFinalistLife on EarthFinalistPrimitive MentorFinalistLifetime RecognitionWinner
2010s +Griffin Poetry Prize winners, finalists, and judges, 2010-2019YearCategoryPoetTitleResultRef.2010CanadaPigeonWinnerFinalistCoal and RosesFinalistInternationalWinnerGrainFinalistFinalist (trans.)Cold Spring in Winter by Valérie RouzeauFinalistLifetime RecognitionWinner2011CanadaOssuariesWinnerFinalistLookoutFinalistInternationalHeavenly QuestionsWinnerHuman ChainFinalist (trans.)Adonis: Selected Poems by AdunisFinalist (trans.) by Francois JacqminFinalistLifetime RecognitionWinner2012CanadaMethodist HatchetWinnerKilldeerFinalistForgeFinalistInternationalNightWinnerFinalistNovemberFinalist (trans.)Sobbing Superpower: Selected Poems of Tadeusz RózewiczFinalistLifetime RecognitionWinner2013CanadaWhat's the Score?WinnerSailing to BabylonFinalistPersonalsFinalistInternational (trans.)The Straw Bird It Follows Me, and Other Poems by Ghassan ZaqtanWinnerLiquid NitrogenFinalistNight of the RepublicFinalistOur AndromedaFinalist2014CanadaRed Doc>WinnerOceanFinalistCorrespondencesFinalistInternationalSeasonal Works with Letters on FireWinnerPilgrim's FlowerFinalistSilverchestFinalist (trans.)Colonies by Tomasz RóżyckiFinalistLifetime RecognitionWinner2015CanadaBlue SonomaWinnerCongotronicFinalistFinalistInternationalWinner (trans.)Something Crosses My Mind by Wang XiaoniFinalist (trans.)Finite Formulae & Theories of Chance by Wioletta GregFinalistFinalistLifetime RecognitionWinner2016CanadaInfinite Citizen of the Shaking TentWinner and Patrick Friesen (trans.)Frayed Opus for Strings & Wind Instruments by Ulrikka S. GernesFinalistTell: poems for a girlhoodFinalistInternationalWinnerConflict Resolution for Holy BeingsFinalist40 SonnetsFinalistHeavenFinalistLifetime RecognitionWinner2017CanadaInjunWinnerViolet Energy IngotsFinalistSilvijaFinalistInternationalFalling Awake WinnerWorld of Made and UnmadeFinalist (trans.)In Praise of Defeat by Abdellatif LaabiFinalistSay Something BackFinalistLifetime RecognitionWinner2018CanadaThis Wound is a WorldWinnerI have to live.FinalistSame DiffFinalistInternationalDebthsWinnerHeaven is All GoodbyesFinalistWhereasFinalistHard ChildFinalistLifetime RecognitionWinner2019CanadaQuarrelsWinnerFinalistFinalistInternational (trans.)Autobiography of Death by Kim HyesoonWinnerFinalistLake MichiganFinalist (trans.)Negative Space by Luljeta LleshanakuFinalistLifetime RecognitionWinner
2020s Prior to 2023, the Griffin Poetry Prize was separated into two categories with prizes specifically for Canadian poets and another for international poets with each winner receiving $65,000. However, in 2023, the Canadian-specific prize was eliminated with only one winner selected each year who wins $130,000.
2020-2022 +Griffin Poetry Prize winners, finalists, and judges, 2020-2022YearCategoryPoetTitleResultRef.2020CanadaMagnetic EquatorWinnerHow She ReadFinalistheftFinalistInternational (trans.)Time by Etel AdnanWinnerHow to Dress a FishFinalistAriasFinalistLima :: LimónFinalist2021CanadaWinnerFinalistPluviophileFinalistInternationalMusic for the Dead and ResurrectedWinnerObitFinalistUnderworld LitFinalist and Changtai Bi (trans.)My Name Will Grow Wide Like a Tree by Yi LeiFinalist2022CanadaWinnerDream of No One But MyselfFinalistLetters in a Bruised CosmosFinalistInternationalShoWinner (trans.)Late to the House of Words by Gemma GorgaFinalist and Dzvinia Orlowsky (trans.)Eccentric Days of Hope and Sorrow by Natalka BilotserkivetsFinalistAsked What Has ChangedFinalist
2023-present
Canadian First Book Prize +Canadian First Book Prize winnersYearPoetTitleRef.2023 2024ChoresCassandra Drudi, "Newfoundland poet Maggie Burton wins 2024 Griffin Canadian First Book Prize". Quill & Quire, May 29, 2024. 2025NorthernyInderjit Deogun, "Dawn Macdonald wins $10K Griffin Canadian First Book Prize". Quill & Quire, May 21, 2025. 2026Devotional ForensicsCassandra Drudi, "Joseph Kidney wins 2026 Griffin Canadian First Book Prize". Quill & Quire, May 20, 2026.
Griffin Poetry Prize