9 students across Canada will compete in the 2022 Poetry In Voice national finals
Nine students have been selected to compete in the 2022 Poetry In Voice finals.
The Poetry in Voice competition challenges students in Grades 9-12 to learn two poems by heart and perform them in front of an audience. They can compete in English, French or a bilingual category. A prize of $35,000 will be given to the winners and their school libraries across the three categories.
The nine finalists were selected from a longlist of 42 semifinalists, with three finalists chosen from each of the three categories. Every semifinalist has already earned a $250 prize.
Over 10,000 students participated from schools across Canada by submitting videos of their recitations.
The nine finalists are:
English category
- Bem Denga, Webber Academy, Calgary
- Al Gilbert, Kildonan-East Collegiate, Winnipeg
- Stephanie Omorotionmwan, All Saints High School, Calgary
Bilingual category
- Lauren Altomare, Northern Secondary School, Toronto
- Amira Aouchiche, École Internationale De Montréal, Montréal
- Nadine Berdous, Collège Jean-Eudes, Montréal
French category
- Sarah Hamdi, University of Toronto Schools, Toronto
- Victoria Ngoy Ndombe, Villa Ste-Marcelline, Westmount, Que.
- Camille Racicot, Cégep Du Vieux Montréal, Montréal
The finalists will compete in the virtually broadcast national finals happening on Apr. 21, 2022. Each of the finalists will re-film their recitations and these new versions will be judged by a jury of poets. Former CBC Radio personality Johanne Blais will host the event.
First, second and third place winners in each of the three categories will be announced at the national finals.
You can watch the competition on the Poetry in Voice website.
The Poetry In Voice competition was established by Scott Griffin, chairman and founder of the Griffin Trust for Excellence In Poetry, in 2010. It is typically held in a different Canadian city each year, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the event has taken place virtually.
Last year's Poetry in Voice winners were Thierney Dignadice, Sarah Hamdi and Romy Magdalena Pueyo.
