Eurithe Purdy and the Al Purdy A-frame Association (APAFA) invite submissions for the 2025 Al and Eurithe Purdy Poetry Prize. The $10,000 prize will honour the most outstanding new poetry book published in Canada in 2024 by an established poet with five or more traditionally published poetry books in print. The recipient of the 2025 prize will be announced on April 21, 2025, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of Al Purdy’s passing.

Eurithe Purdy founded the Al and Eurithe Purdy Poetry Prize in March 2024 to recognize and reward poets of distinguished achievement who demonstrate exceptional talent and a profound connection to the Canadian spirit, which her husband so memorably captured in his works. The inaugural prize was awarded to Alberta writer Sid Marty on April 21, 2024, for his book Oldman’s River: New and Collected Poems.

An endowment established by Eurithe and managed by the APAFA will ensure that this substantive award continues to promote excellence in poetry across Canada while honouring Al Purdy’s legacy in Canadian literature. Al Purdy is often regarded as the ‘unofficial poet laureate’ of English Canada, leaving a significant mark on Canadian literature. Over his prolific career, he authored over thirty poetry collections, a memoir, essays, a novel, and various anthologies. His contributions earned him the Governor General’s Literary Award twice, and he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada and a member of the Order of Ontario. The League of Canadian Poets also honoured him with the Voice of the Land Award, recognizing his substantial impact on Canadian poetry.

Sid Marty, Laisha Rosnau, and Sam Solecki will serve as jurors for the 2025 prize. The shortlist will be announced in March 2025.

The deadline for submissions is Saturday, November 30, 2024. For eligibility information and entry forms, contact the prize coordinator at prizecoordinator@shaw.ca.

For more information on the Al and Eurithe Purdy Poetry Prize, please contact
Fernanda Viveiros at fernanda@shaw.ca