St. John's writer Maggie Burton wins $10K Canadian First Book Prize for debut poetry collection

Maggie Burton has won the Canadian First Book Prize for her debut poetry collection Chores. 

The St. John's-based writer will receive $10,000 and a six-week residency in Italy, in partnership with the Civitella Ranieri Foundation.

Now in its second year, the prize celebrates a Canadian first book of poetry written in English. It was established by the revamped Griffin Poetry Prize as part of its two-decade anniversary celebration.

Chores is a semi-autobiographical collection about women's labour and domestic life in Newfoundland. Playing with form, including a poem shaped as a nan's bingo card, Chores examines the everyday with humour, direct language and a feminist lens. 

• The CBC Poetry Prize is accepting submissions until June 1

Burton, a St. John's city councillor, writer, artist, musician and poet originally from Brigus, N.L., found out about the award win on her birthday. 

"The best birthday gift I've ever gotten," she told CBC Books in an interview. She's especially glad that Chores, which centres around the burden of women undertaking unpaid, gendered labour, is shedding light on an issue that doesn't always get the attention it deserves. 

"Seeing this topic be recognized as an important one is very important," she said. "It's a very good thing for women and gender-diverse people who engage in this type of work."

She's also thrilled to see this work, undertaken by generations of women in her family, be recognized and read about. 

"I grew up really close to all my nans and great grandparents and a big extended family of women. I feel like most of their stories are sort of untold."

"I'm very grateful for the opportunity, as a Newfoundland woman, to have our stories heard on the national stage and with the national audience."

I'm very grateful for the opportunity, as a Newfoundland woman, to have our stories heard on the national stage and with the national audience.- Maggie Burton

The winner was chosen by judges A.F. Moritz, Jan Wagner and Anne Waldman out of 43 entries.

"Maggie Burton's Chores is charming and profound, traditional and inventive," said the jury in a press statement. "Its combination of qualities seems effortless but is not only the innate fruit of a vision but the result of skillful poetic design. The book's detailed, intimate awareness beautifully evokes Newfoundland and expands to our worldwide cultural moment."

Founded in 2000 by Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist Scott Griffin, the annual Griffin Poetry Prize previously awarded $65,000 to two works of English-language poetry from the previous year — one Canadian and one international.

In 2023, the Griffin Poetry Prize combined its existing Canadian and international categories into a single $130,000 award. It currently stands as the world's largest international prize for a single book of poetry written in or translated into English. 

• Vancouver poet and translator George McWhirter makes shortlist for $130K Griffin Poetry Prize

The 2024 winner will be announced on June 5 at Koerner Hall in Toronto, featuring readings from the finalists before the big reveal — including one by Burton as the winner of the Canadian First Book Prize.

Last year, Nêhiyaw writer Emily Riddle won the first-ever Canadian First Book Prize for her debut poetry collection The Big Melt.