2851 Community Events Contest invites residents to submit poetry and be featured on Library website The Devon Public Library is proud to partner with the Town of Devon to announce the launch of the Community Voices Poetry Gathering, a series of contests inviting community members to express themselves through a poetic lens. This initiative will be a series, with contests throughout the year featuring different topics with the intent of involving local poets or aspiring poets in a fun and inspiring activity, while also bringing voices together. Contest Details Each contest will feature three categories, youth, teen and adult, and a winner will be chosen from each category through an online community voting system. All poems entered will be made anonymous and posted online on the Devon Public Library website for the community to vote on their favourite. Winners will receive a prize package and have their poems featured on the Devon Public Library website, social media pages, and at the Devon Public Library. Contest #1 – The Treaty Relationship The first contest focuses on the Treaty Relationship, bringing Indigenous and non-indigenous voices together to create awareness about what Treaty means. The Spirit and Intent of Treaty is for First Nations and Settler-Canadians to live together peacefully, sharing the land and working together through friendship. Treaties are everlasting covenants that live as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the waters flow. For the first contest, participants are invited to share poetry about what the Treaty Relationship means to them. “Our community is championed by so many wonderful people and this contest is another addition to our work within reconciliation and acknowledging what Treaty means within our community,” said Ray Ralph, Mayor for the Town of Devon. “I’m excited to see the many great submissions for this initiative and look forward to the inspiring messages that are bound to be shared!” “Poetry can be an intimidating genre, but it also allows for a lot of freedom which makes it a great first step into writing,” said Stephanie Johnson, Director of the Devon Public Library. “We wanted to get the community involved to help bring attention to this powerful form of expression that can be so healing, and we’re thrilled to see the talent that will emerge!” The first contest will begin on May 1 and run until May 16. Local poets are invited to submit their work online at https://devonpubliclibrary.ca/poetry-contest. -30- For more information contact: Justin Janke Communications Coordinator Town of Devon P: 780-987-8302 E: JJanke@devon.ca Stephanie Johnson Director of the Devon Public Library Devon Public Library P: 780-987-3720 E: stephanie@devonpubliclibrary.ca Share Print