Connor Poetry Prize Winners
By John Swartz
The winners of the Connor Poetry Prize have been announced. The 4th annual writing contest is held by the Leacock Museum and attracted a record number of entrants over three categories.
“The student category and the elementary category really took off,” said Tom Rose, the museum’s collections and programs supervisor.
The elementary category was only started in 2018, but with only three entries no prize was awarded. This year was obviously different.
“I think it was we opened it up to all of Ontario,” said Rose.
Previously the contest was only open to residents of Simcoe Grey and Bruce counties. There were 17 people entered and because up to 5 poems could be submitted, there were 28 entries. The winner of a $75 prize was Mistica Mariaynesan of Scarborough. Orla Hockman of Toronto and Corbin Hoffmann of Waterloo were 2nd ($50) and 3rd ($25).
In the student category 33 people entered, submitting 40 poems. First place and $200 goes to Hannah Nie of North York. Julia Felgner of Oro-Medonte was 2nd ($100) and Shu Jing of Toronto was 3rd ($50).
The adult category received an average number of entries with 30 people submitting poems. Kate Felix of Toronto won the top prize of $750. Faith Jones of Coburg was second and receives $250 and Roberta McGill of Orillia is 3rd and receives $100.
The poetry prize was created by Harry Connor in memory of his wife K., Valerie Connor a former teacher and Leacock Museum volunteer.
Most of the finishers will be present Saturday afternoon at the museum for a 3 p.m. presentation and reading of their poems. The winning poems will be posted to the museum’s Facebook page after the event.
(Photo by Morningbird Photo/Pixabay)
