The Pat Lowther Memorial Award is an annual Canadian literary award presented by the League of Canadian Poets to the year's best book of poetry by a Canadian woman.[1] The award was established in 1980 to honour poet Pat Lowther, who was murdered by her husband in 1975.[1] Each winner receives an honorarium of $1000.[1]

Winners and shortlists

1980s

Year Poet Title Result Ref.
1981 M. Travis Lane Divinations and Short Poems 1973–1978 Winner
1982 Rona Murray Journey Winner [2]
1983 Rhea Tregebov Remembering History Winner [3]
1984 Bronwen Wallace Signs of the Former Tenant Winner [1]
1985 Paulette Jiles Celestial Navigation Winner [4]
1986 Erín Moure Domestic Fuel Winner [1]
1987 Heather Spears How to Read Faces Winner [5]
Jan Conn The Fabulous Disguise of Ourselves Shortlist [5]
Anne Michaels The Weight of Oranges
1988 Gwendolyn MacEwen Afterworlds Winner [1]
Gay Allison The Unravelling Shortlist [6]
Judith Fitzgerald Diary of Desire
Sharon Thesen The Beginning of the Long Dash
Bronwen Wallace The Stubborn Particulars of Grace
1989 Heather Spears The Word for Sand Winner [7]
Joan Finnigan The Watershed Collection Shortlist [8]
Erín Moure Furious

1990s

Year Poet Title Result Ref.
1990 Patricia Young The Mad and Beautiful Mothers Winner [9]
Roo Borson Intent, Or the Weight of the World Shortlist [10]
Barbara Carey The Year in Pictures
Cathy Ford Saffron, Rose & Flame
Erín Moure WSW (West South West)
Jan Zwicky The New Room
1991 Karen Connelly The Small Words in My Body Winner [11]
Dionne Brand No Language Is Neutral Shortlist [12]
Elizabeth Brewster Spring Again
Jan Conn South of the Tudo Bem Cafe
1992 Kate Braid Covering Rough Ground Winner [13]
1993 Lorna Crozier Inventing the Hawk Winner [1]
1994 Diana Brebner The Golden Lotus Winner [14]
1995 Beth Goobie Scars of Light Winner [15]
1996 Lorna Crozier Everything Arrives at the Light Winner [16]
Margaret Atwood Morning in the Burned House Shortlist [17]
Di Brandt Jerusalem, Beloved
Anne Szumigalski Voice
Sharon Thesen Aurora
Sue Wheeler Solstice on the Anacortes Ferry
1997 Marilyn Bowering Autobiography Winner [18]
Roo Borson Water Memory Shortlist [19]
Meira Cook Toward a Catalogue of Falling
Lynn Crosbie Pearl
1998 Barbara Nickel The Gladys Elegies Winner [20]
Dionne Brand Land to Light On Shortlist [21]
April Bulmer The Weight of Wings
Heather Cadsby A Tantrum of Synonyms
Elisabeth Harvor The Long Cold Green Evenings of Spring
Barbara Mulcahy The Man With the Dancing Monkey
Linda Rogers Heaven Cake
Patricia Young What I Remember From My Time on Earth
1999 Hilary Clark More Light Winner [22]

2000s

Year Poet Title Result Ref.
2000 Esta Spalding Lost August Winner [23]
Susan Holbrook Misled Shortlist [24]
Helen Humphreys Anthem
Erín Moure The Frame of the Book
Rachel Rose Giving My Body to Science
2001 Sharon Thesen A Pair of Scissors Winner [25]
2002 Heather Spears Required Reading: A Witness in Words and Drawings to the Reena Virk Trials 1998-2000 Winner [26]
2003 Dionne Brand thirsty Winner [1]
2004 Betsy Struthers Still Winner [27]
Di Brandt Now You Care Shortlist [28]
Mary Dalton Merrybegot
Tonja Gunvaldsen Klaassen Or
Jeanette Lynes Left Fields
Erin Noteboom Ghost Maps: Poems for Carl Hruska
2005 Roo Borson Short Journey Upriver Toward Oishida Winner [1]
Ronna Bloom Public Works Shortlist [29]
Aislinn Hunter The Possible Past
K. I. Press Spine
Sue Sinclair The Drunken Lovely Bird
Jan Zwicky Robinson's Crossing
2006 Sylvia Legris Nerve Squall Winner [30]
2007 Sina Queyras Lemon Hound Winner [31]
2008 Anne Simpson Quick Winner [32]
Alison Calder Wolf Tree Shortlist [33]
Louise Bernice Halfe The Crooked Good
Nadine McInnis Two Hemispheres
Olive Senior Shell
Agnes Walsh Going Around With Bachelors
2009 Alice Major The Office Tower Tales Winner [34]
Margaret Christakos What Stirs Shortlist [34]
Linda Frank Kahlo: The World Split Open
Daphne Marlatt The Given
Sue Sinclair Breaker
Heather Spears I can still draw

2010s

Year Poet Title Result Ref.
2010 Karen Solie Pigeon Winner [35]
Elizabeth Bachinsky God of Missed Connections Shortlist [36]
Ronna Bloom Permiso
Sina Queyras Expressway
Damian Rogers Paper Radio
Laisha Rosnau Lousy Explorers
2011 Evelyn Lau Living Under Plastic Winner [37]
Dionne Brand Ossuaries Shortlist [38]
Di Brandt Walking to Mojácar
Alice Major Memory’s Daughter
Pamela Porter Cathedral
Nela Rio La luna, Tango, siempre la luna/ The Moon, Tango, Always the Moon
2012 Susan Goyette outskirts Winner [39]
Stephanie Bolster A Page from the Wonders of Life on Earth Shortlist [40]
Lorna Crozier Small Mechanics
Rosemary Griebel Yes
Amanda Jernigan Groundwork
Jan Zwicky Forge
2013 Rachel Rose Song and Spectacle Winner [41]
Marilyn Bowering Soul Mouth Shortlist [42]
Julie Bruck Monkey Ranch
Lorna Crozier The Book of Marvels
Maureen Scott Harris Slow Curve Out
Evelyn Lau A Grain of Rice
2014 Alexandra Oliver Meeting the Tormentors in Safeway Winner [43]
Elizabeth Bachinsky The Hottest Summer in Recorded History Shortlist [44]
Anne Compton Alongside
Sadiqa de Meijer Leaving Howe Island
Micheline Maylor Whirr and Click
Sarah Yi-Mei Tsiang Status Update
2015 Sina Queyras MxT Winner [45]
Joanne Arnott Halfling Spring: an internet romance Shortlist [46]
Jen Currin School
Judy Halebsky Tree Line
Jude Neale A Quiet Coming of Light
Lisa Robertson Cinema of the Present
2016 Lorna Crozier The Wrong Cat Winner [47]
Rosanna Deerchild calling down the sky Shortlist [48]
Adebe DeRango-Adem Terra Incognita
Maureen Hynes The Poison Colour
Rachel Rose Marry & Burn
Sarah Tolmie Trio
2017 Sue Sinclair Heaven's Thieves Winner [49]
Juliane Okot Bitek 100 Days Shortlist [50]
Anne Carson Float
Julie Cameron Gray Lady Crawford
Alexandra Oliver Let the Empire Down
Johanna Skibsrud The Description of the World
2018 Lesley Belleau Indianland Winner [51]
Mary di Michele Bicycle Thieves Shortlist [52]
Susan Elmslie Museum of Kindness
Beth Goobie Breathing at Dusk
Catherine Owen Dear Ghost
Phoebe Wang Admission Requirements
2019 Klara du Plessis Ekke Winner [53]
Dani Couture Listen Before Transmit Shortlist [54]
Emilia Nielsen Body Work
Laura Ritland East and West
Deanna Young Reunion
Jennifer Zilm The Missing Field

2020s

Year Poet Title Result Ref.
2020 Chantal Gibson How She Read Winner [55]
Roxanna Bennett Unmeaningable  Shortlist [56]
Maureen Hynes Sotto Voce
Doyali Islam heft
Michelle Porter Inquiries
Karen Solie The Caiplie Caves 
Souvankham Thammavongsa Cluster
2021 Noor Naga Washes, Prays Winner [57]
Cicely Belle Blain Burning Sugar Shortlist [58]
Jody Chan Sick
Jillian Christmas the gospel of breaking
Kyla Jamieson Body Count
shalan joudry Waking Ground
2022 Selina Boan Undoing Hours Winner [59]
Sheri Benning Field Requiem Shortlist [60]
Margaret Christakos Dear Birch
Leah Horlick Moldovan Hotel
Lillian Nećakov Il Virus
Rebecca Salazar sulphurtongue
2023 Gillian Sze Quiet Night Think Winner [61]
Sylvia D. Hamilton Tender Shortlist [62]
Annick MacAskill Shadow Blight
Cecily Nicholson Harrowings
Juliane Okot Bitek A Is for Acholi
Lisa Robertson Boat

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Marshall, S. (2015-06-11). "Pat Lowther Memorial Award". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 2022-01-23. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  2. ^ "Columnist wins award". The Globe and Mail, April 15, 1982.
  3. ^ James Adams, "Canucks decidedly hungry for books". Edmonton Journal, May 28, 1983.
  4. ^ Patricia Lakes, "Nelson poet said to be winner of book award". Vancouver Sun, June 6, 1985.
  5. ^ a b "Sullivan honored for poetry book". The Globe and Mail, May 9, 1987.
  6. ^ "Allison, MacEwen make short list for poetry award". The Globe and Mail, April 27, 1988.
  7. ^ "Notes to you...". Edmonton Journal, May 13, 1989.
  8. ^ Maureen Garvie, "Notebook". Kingston Whig-Standard, May 6, 1989.
  9. ^ Philip Marchand, "Recent winners". Toronto Star, May 22, 1990.
  10. ^ "City poet in line for Lampert prize". Edmonton Journal, April 19, 1990.
  11. ^ "League awards poets". Edmonton Journal, June 2, 1991.
  12. ^ "Brand, Brewster nominated for award". The Globe and Mail, May 4, 1991.
  13. ^ Burt Heward, "Ottawa poet wins national contest". Ottawa Citizen, May 23, 1992.
  14. ^ "A passel of poetry prizes". The Globe and Mail, June 9, 1994.
  15. ^ "Beth Goobie wins poetry award". Montreal Gazette, June 26, 1995.
  16. ^ "Future Ink". Vancouver Sun, July 6, 1996.
  17. ^ "Saskatoon poet nominated". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, May 11, 1996.
  18. ^ Judith Isabella, "B.C. tops in a variety of literary awards". Victoria Times-Colonist, July 27, 1997.
  19. ^ "7 writers win prizes". The Globe and Mail, May 9, 1997.
  20. ^ Ken McGoogan, "Prairie publisher celebrates big year". Calgary Herald, June 27, 1998.
  21. ^ "Two Montrealers in running for poetry prizes". Montreal Gazette, April 6, 1998.
  22. ^ Gordon Morash, "Edmonton poets shut out; Their absence from the podium shocks contest organizers". Edmonton Journal, June 13, 1999.
  23. ^ "Spalding wins poetry award". The Globe and Mail, June 6, 2000.
  24. ^ "The lists are in: Prizes, prizes and more prizes". Vancouver Sun, April 8, 2000.
  25. ^ "Speed Read". Halifax Daily News, June 12, 2001.
  26. ^ Alexandra Gill, "A little the verse for wear". The Globe and Mail, January 1, 2003.
  27. ^ "Poets not afraid to self-promote". Montreal Gazette, April 17, 2004.
  28. ^ "Poets shortlist announced". Kingston Whig-Standard, April 17, 2004.
  29. ^ "Shortlists unveiled for Lowther, Lampert prizes". The Globe and Mail, April 21, 2005.
  30. ^ "Poets enter League of their own". Ottawa Citizen, June 11, 2006.
  31. ^ Beattie, Steven W. (April 21, 2014). "Sina Queyras and Adam Sol on the state of Canadian poetry". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  32. ^ "N.S., Toronto poets win League of Canadian Poets honours". CBC Books. June 23, 2008. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  33. ^ "Shortlisted for poetry prizes". The Globe and Mail, April 2, 2008.
  34. ^ a b "Winners of the the Pat Lowther and Gerald Lampert Memorial Awards Announced" Archived September 18, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. Open Book Toronto, June 15, 2009.
  35. ^ Robertson, Becky (July 12, 2016). "Awards: Karen Solie, Marie-Claire Blais among Canada Council prize recipients". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  36. ^ "The shortlists for the Pat Lowther and Gerald Lampert Memorial Awards announced". McNally Robinson, April 7, 2010.
  37. ^ Marsha Lederman, "Evelyn Lau named Vancouver poet laureate". The Globe and Mail, October 14, 2011.
  38. ^ Carter, Sue (April 5, 2011). "Gerald Lampert and Pat Lowther shortlists announced". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  39. ^ Carter, Sue (October 15, 2012). "Richards, Thurston, Goyette win Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia Awards". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  40. ^ Carter, Sue (April 3, 2012). "Gerald Lampert and Pat Lowther shortlists revealed". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  41. ^ Siassina, Maria (June 13, 2013). "League of Canadian Poets announce award winners". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  42. ^ Baldassi, Julie (April 5, 2013). "League of Canadian Poets announces 2013 shortlists". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  43. ^ Carter, Sue (June 9, 2014). "Anne Compton, Alexandra Oliver, Murray Reiss win League of Canadian Poets awards". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  44. ^ Carter, Sue (April 1, 2014). "League of Canadian Poets reveals award shortlists". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  45. ^ Tobias, Conan (June 3, 2015). "League of Canadian Poets announces annual award winners". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  46. ^ Robertson, Becky (April 1, 2015). "League of Canadian Poets 2015 awards finalists revealed". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  47. ^ Robertson, Becky (June 20, 2016). "Awards: Lorna Crozier wins big at League of Canadian Poets awards". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  48. ^ Robertson, Becky (April 4, 2016). "Awards: League of Canadian Poets announces shortlists for annual poetry awards". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  49. ^ van Koeverden, Jane (July 10, 2017). "Louise Bernice Halfe wins Raymond Souster poetry prize". CBC Books. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  50. ^ Medley, Mark (April 6, 2017). "Finalists for Canadian poetry awards announced". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  51. ^ Porter, Ryan (June 18, 2018). "The League of Canadian Poets announces winners of the 2018 Annual Poetry Awards". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  52. ^ Carter, Sue (April 30, 2018). "The League of Canadian Poets announces shortlists". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  53. ^ Porter, Ryan (June 10, 2019). "Tess Liem, Stevie Howell win 2019 Book Awards for poetry". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  54. ^ van Koeverden, Jane (April 23, 2019). "Klara du Plessis nominated for two 2019 League of Canadian Poets prizes". CBC Books. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  55. ^ Gee, Dana (May 11, 2020). "Vancouver poet scores national prize". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  56. ^ Yohannes, Samraweet (April 21, 2020). "Doyali Islam, Thomas King and Billy-Ray Belcourt shortlisted for 2020 League of Canadian Poets Awards". CBC News. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  57. ^ Smith, Charlie (May 6, 2021). "Vancouver poet Jillian Christmas and UBC creative writing professor Ian Williams win national awards". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  58. ^ "Jillian Christmas, Bertrand Bickersteth & Ian Williams among finalists for League of Canadian Poets awards". CBC News. April 15, 2021. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  59. ^ Drudi, Cassandra (May 5, 2022). "League of Canadian Poets announces 2022 awards winners". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  60. ^ Drudi, Cassandra (April 21, 2022). "Shortlists announced for 2022 League of Canadian Poets book awards". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  61. ^ "Matthew James Weigel, Gillian Sze, Adebe DeRango-Adem win League of Canadian Poets book awards". Quill & Quire, May 4, 2023.
  62. ^ Cassandra Drudi, "League of Canadian Poets announces 2023 Book Awards shortlists". Quill & Quire, April 20, 2023.

External links

Recipients of the Pat Lowther Award
Categories