Image shows the IWC Anthology & Poetry Prize committee, left to right: Shauna Oddleifson, Caroline Costa, Rina Garcia Chua and Michael V. Smith.
The Inspired Word Anthology & Poetry Prize celebrates the power of spoken word poetry by poets within the Okanagan region. This anthology is a collection of poetry that reflects the diverse voices and experiences of our local poets.
The inaugural IWC Anthology & poetry prize was launched at the open mic event on January 17, 2025 with the top three prize winners reading from their submissions.
The contest was judged by committee members Caroline Costa, Rina Garcia Chua and Michael V. Smith, and the winners were Kaito Hyde with How do I love?, Emmette MacMillen with rain shadow, and Tristan Biosvert with hunt; her son. The top three poems received prize money, sponsored by the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art.
Also included in the anthology was WILDFIRE DIARIES by Grey Gardiner, Monsters Will Be Monsters by Meg Pearle, Peachland by John Thompson, She by Nisha Gnanasingarajan, 🚲 by Natalie Hoy and The Owls by Roz Wilson.
Copies of the anthology can be purchased for $10 each with all proceeds supporting IWC programming.